Round and Round (Widgets) (1939)

Crudely animated wood block figures (sort of like a George Pal Puppetoon) move around while the narrator explains the "widget" theory of free enterprise. A frighteningly simplistic look at global economics. Sorta forgets to mention some of the basics, like profit. Music box soundtrack. I'm not sure who the target audience is, but it was possibly created to teach kindergarteners to buy poorly made junk with no apparent utility. Despite its cheap concept, this film is well-produced. The narration is pretty hilarious.

Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Economics
• stop-motion
• animation
• capitalism
• money
• production
• widgets
• surrealism

[icceman9]

the first guy payed 1 coin and received 1 widget.the second guy payed two coins and received 1 widget,either he was drunk or the seller just fucked over that customer.

[yukon735]

then they move the widgets to china

[xLordOfTheFliesx]

He forgot about profit. How convenient.

[craftiestcraftstress]

Early Childhood Capitalism Propaganda At Its Finest :)

[Leejun85]

Yeah, I hope Mr. Widget shop owner owns his capital and doesn't have an outrageous mortgage or bank debt to service or as shaggy locks said no profit, no widgets. Oh and the narrator also forgot the corrupt union officials and our friends at the IRS and the Federal government taxing business to death to cover their deficits.

[pang5]

Huh. And look at GM now.

[marynightshade]

Hey, where's my widget? I couldn't help but notice that the narrator kind of sounds like FDR-widgets for victory! Widgets for anything and everything-until the farmer says, "You can bite my widget, you ruthless profiteer!" "Is this a union widget shop?" It's all downhill from there...

[SteveTheAtheist]

How come the coins are sooo big (yes, I know it is probably so the viewers can see the coins, just not very realistic *grins*) imagine having a wallet full of those coins.

[1000huzzahs]

This flick is just beggin' for a riffin'.

[sultanamonkey]

neato! Thanks!