LIQUIDS Description; 16 mm., sound, 10 min. Producer: American Film Registry Reviewers; (A) J. H. Shmyer, Bradley University (B) John L. Biester, Beloit College Possible Utility: (A) "My recommendation would he that this film is definitely worth while for superior high-school students and first year college groups. I t certainly should not he offered to seniors studying physical chemistry." (B) "This film could be used as a point of departure in discussions of liquids particularly in high-school physics classes. I t might be of help in college courses designed for the general student who may be quite unfamiliar with the phenomena illustrated. However, I would IWL n~comrnrr~d the filw for most wllege dwrnir~ryrourwr;." I.'ilm Conkvt; (.4) ..Tw3ts qunlir~~tivcly the followi~~g topirr;: slrriarr filnl.i. viecositv oi liuuids. xdheriun end rolwsion i l l liouids. These topics are given a short animated presentation followed by actual photographed demonstrations, some of which are very good and not usually mentioned in college generalchemistry texts. There is an extensive group on huhbles and liquid jet behavior." (B) ". . .using water as the example. The principles underlying the phenomena, illustrated are not considered." General Crztinsm and Rating: (A) "The film has merit and meets the test of general accuracy. It gives the impression of having added something new to the student's knowledge; for example, that two jets do not fuse until brought into contact by the static charge carried by a stick of sealing wax. This fact, however, was not suffioiently developed in my estimstiou." (B) "It should be pointed out that a t least on the print reviewed, many of the scenes were difficult to follow because photography appeared to be poor. This might also be due to extensive cutling of the 6lm aver a period of use." Sugqestions for Improvement: (A) "Realizing that I am expree sing just one opinion, may I suggest: "(1) Abolition of openings. film with beautiful scenery shots which always suggests to the student, 'Now relax while we entertain you.' "(2) Introduction of a quantitative aspect such as an equation or two, perhaps the one for viscosity, and detailing something of its terms and its overall significance. "(3) In general, I find that most films tend to treat the subject less rigorously than we do in class work. Should not the
film endeavor to elucidate some of the more obscure but important aspects of the subject that give the student some difficulty?" NEW WORLD THROUGH CHEMISTRY Description: 16 mm., sound-color, 20 min. Producer: du Pont Co. Reviewers: (A) C. W. Keenan, University of Tennessee (B) M. D. Peterson, Vanderbilt University Possible Utility: (A) "The chemistry involved.. .is so deemphasized that the filmis poorly suited for any specific chemistry (B) ". . .it is of no value to course, even a survey-type course!' teachers of chemistry at any level.'' (A) "The film could be suitahle for a. course in customer relations, general salesmanship, or for giving a very glossypictureof what chemistry and engineeling can do to change crude raw materials into more useful products." (B) "It is solely advertising, aimed a t nontechnical audiences." Film Content: (A) "This film gives a salesman's view of the manufaoture and use of modern plastics from the raw materials to the finished products. Color scenes of mining, machinery, and spinning precede scenes showing various products of modem du Pont polymers and their uses." (B) "The film shows very brief flashes in plant and laboratory of manufacturing and testing steps for a. few producbs, without any adequate explanation of what is being shown, fallowed by long demonstrations by lovely models of neoprene, lucite, rayon, and nylon articles, in rooms of 'Hollywood' splendor." General Criticism and Rating: (A) "The film is desorihed in semitechnical terms, little attempt being made to distinguish chemically hetween neoprene, chlaraprene, and kerosene or eelan, viscose, cellulose, nylon, and luoite. Even in telling about the uses of the plastic products We film avoids anything technical. . . . The film is not inaccurate, hut i t is not very informative. There did seem to be a lapse in continuity at one point where neoprene and eellulose-derived products were shown together subsequent to a. description of the manufacture of neoprene." Suggestions for Imp~ovemat:(A) ". .the filmwould have to he completely redone and oriented toward thechemistry of polymers to be of real value. Many of the shots of polymerizations, extrusions, and combustions could he used and interspersed with diagrams clarifying the chemical reactions which take place."
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