This film covers the early history of post World War II educational films, especially those involving traffic safety by the Highway Safety Foundation under direction of Richard Wayman. In the name of promoting safe driving in teenagers, these films became notorious for their gory depiction of accidents to shock their audiences to make their point. The film also covers the role of safety films of this era, their effect on North American teenage culture, the struggle between id... (Full plot summary below)
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This film covers the early history of post World War II educational films, especially those involving traffic safety by the Highway Safety Foundation under direction of Richard Wayman. In the name of promoting safe driving in teenagers, these films became notorious for their gory depiction of accidents to shock their audiences to make their point. The film also covers the role of safety films of this era, their effect on North American teenage culture, the struggle between idealism and lurid exploitation and how they reflected the larger society concerns of the time that adults projected onto their youth.
Leave your thoughts about Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films.
| Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittThe interviews with Prelinger are especially smart, discussing the ideological agendas frequently lurking in 'educational' materials. |
| Lessons of DarknessNick SchagerWinds up functioning no differently than the disgraceful, despicable films it scrutinizes. |
| Flick FilosopherMaryAnn JohansonWood delights in exposing the rubbernecking roots of these lurid films... |
| Film Journal InternationalRod GrangerHow effective were the highway safety films in stopping accidents? Opinions differ. How effective is Hell's Highway in curing you of ever wanting to see another one? Completely. |
| New York TimesA.O. ScottSomeday, perhaps, someone will make a documentary of Volvo commercials and Consumers Union test-drive videos, but I doubt it will be as unnerving -- or as much fun -- as Hell's Highway. |
| User ReviewBrian IInteresting look at the dark underbelly of Americana. Refreshingly unpolished documentary. |
| User ReviewDJ PowWowGory! Luckily I was too young to see these films because I know I would have been severely scarred. But I did love those cars we sat in for driver's ed training. Little did I know my school was just poor and had never bought new equipment. Ha! |
| User ReviewJessica RGory! Luckily I was too young to see these films because I know I would have been severely scarred. But I did love those cars we sat in for driver's ed training. Little did I know my school was just poor and had never bought new equipment. Ha! |
| User ReviewChristopher Spretty good doco about highway safety films, mostly about one organization from ohio who pioneered the blood on the highway genre. |
