Mr. Blabbermouth!

1942
5.7| 0h19m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 08 August 1942 Released
Producted By: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Country:
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, America was rife with rumors about the size of Japan's armed forces and how well-equipped they were to wage war against the U.S. Using animation, the first part of this film dispels these rumors by showing that the U.S. had more raw materials and more fighting ships. The narrator also cautions moviegoers against spreading rumors (which are often initiated by enemy infiltrators to create fear and dissention) and believing everything they read in the newspapers. Just because "they say" something, that doesn't make it true.

Genre

War

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Director

Basil Wrangell

Production Companies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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Mr. Blabbermouth! Audience Reviews

Evengyny Thanks for the memories!
Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.
Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?
Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
MartinHafer This is an amazingly well made propaganda film--one that is backed up with facts and isn't about stirring up the people. In fact, unlike most propaganda, its aim is to CALM the public--to get them to understand the facts and NOT give way to crazy rumors. In essence, this short film demonstrates that propaganda CAN be good, as propaganda consists of an argument meant to sway opinion--and isn't always bad. In particular, the industrial output of the Allied nations is compared to the Axis--showing that victory is all but inevitable (which turned out to be true)."Mr. Blabbermouth" is also effective because in addition to using a lot of facts, it also employs a nice sense of humor when addressing the nay-sayers and people who spread wild rumors. You can't help but laugh AND be a bit inspired and relieved when you see the film.All in all, at the time this came out, there couldn't have been a much better tonic for frightened Americans. Folks WERE falling prey to insane rumors and they needed to relax and understand that the war was winnable--just not immediately. And, to understand the need to keep your head and confront rumor-mongers for the good of the nation. A wonderful little piece of history that seemed very well reasoned and constructed throughout. Well worth seeing.
bkoganbing This wartime short subject from MGM early in America's participation in World War II instructs us not to listen to the doubters and naysayers among us. The film grew out of an editorial by Manchester Boddy from the Los Angeles Times who was also the person responsible for the idea that was later filmed by MGM in Malaya.Mr. Blabbermouth is constantly saying that we peace loving folks can't defeat a martial people with a ruthless war spirit instilled by a dictator who wants to conquer. We also are lacking in the many resources needed to win the war.The film is a lesson in geopolitics if nothing else and makes certain assumptions that the forces that are allied with America to defeat the Axis will always be with us and the natural resources they bring to the table. When narrator John Nesbitt starts talking about these, think of today's world situation.Which makes the film incredibly dated, but still an interesting piece of history.
Neil Doyle This short subject is typical of the wartime propaganda films warning us against believing all the false rumors spread by the Mr. Blabbermouths in society who want to impress others with their know-it-all attitudes in spreading misinformation.Since we all know people like Mr. Blabbermouth, it's easy to accept the idea that common sense must prevail against this sort of thing if we're to be good citizens. World War II was rife with sayings like: "Loose lips sink ships." Taking a stance against the Mr. Blabbermouths of the world was commonly accepted as the right thing to do.Based on an editorial that appeared in The Los Angeles Daily News, it begins with a blackout during an air raid alarm and shows how the gossipers talked about it the next day, with some of them spreading false rumors implying that the Japanese were better equipped for war since they'd been training for it for years. We then see some amusing sequences of Mr. Blabbermouth spreading his own lies and finally getting his comeuppance from the neighborhood barber who knows how to shut him up.Along the way, the narrator points out how much better equipped the United States was than Japan in terms of military preparations to fight back against the attack with a wealth of aluminum and steel.Amusing and timely, it's done with a sense of humor but teaches a good lesson.
elyrest At first glance this seems to be a stereotypical patriotic U.S. WWII film. It is much more than that even when you factor in some of the cringing portrayals of the enemy. If the enemy were as idiotic as they are often portrayed why were they such a problem? This film balances the jingoistic part with a very good message about attitude. Mr. and Mrs. Blabbermouth are the people who always make the worst of a good situation. If there is any good to be found they will bury it. This film tries to give the American public a feel good boost about their situation in the war. It's a morale builder and it works. I know that I would have felt more optimistic after seeing this short in 1942.