Will Machines Take Our Jobs | Educational Film From 1936

This 1936 short video – originally titled as “Men and Machines” – is a dramatized educational film sponsored by the American National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). It was narrated by the preeminent American radio and television broadcaster, author and world traveler Lowell Thomas. The film takes the point of view that mechanization of the workplace, in which workers are replaced by machines, is actually a good thing for both labor and business. It argues that the introduction of labor-saving machines results in cost savings and more leisure time for employees. The concluding narration accompanies a montage of consumer goods and reminds viewers that “we Americans are sitting on top of the world.” The film was distributed in a multimedia package as part of the “Business Facts Program” for employers.