Trader Thorne (1956)

★★★★★ · The best car-sales training film ever · Erik Smith · 2007-07-02

Trader Thorne is a fascinating movie – particularly fascinating for those of us who happen to be in the business of selling cars today. And I have to say I’m amused by some of the comments I see on this website. There’s nothing evil, or even dishonest, about the sort of tactics that Hugh Beaumont employs. Beaver's dad doesn’t lie, cheat, or steal. All he does is sell. Honestly, he strikes me a salesman at the top of his game, doing things precisely as they ought to be done. Let’s not view this movie as camp – it’s the most realistic portrayal of the car business I’ve seen. Some of the tactics…

★★★★★ · "The Great Swindle" redux.... · longfade · 2010-06-22

I LOVE this one. It's hard to say what I like the most, though. Thorne is a guy who seems to sincerely love what he does and he does it confidently and joyfully, which is something I always love seeing (rare as it is). It's also great seeing what a swindler he really is, and getting to see some of the tricks of the trade. I found myself thinking of Jim Rockford watching this, because he's almost like a private detective - getting information out of people without their knowing it, steering them into a situation they'd never have been in normally, really just manipulating people but doing so…

★★★★ · Wheels and deals · trafalgar · 2004-03-27

Hugh Beaumont (of "Leave it to Beaver") is the greatest Ford salesman of all time, spending every minute of the day pursuing sales. Driving around town looking for leads, approaching people on the street, even looking up license plate numbers and calling them. In the showroom, he's a shark, playing the high-low game to perfection, and tricking the rubes into buying extras they don't need. Here, he teaches a new salesman (and by extension, those watching this film) the tricks of the trade. It's not surprising that the Ford sales method involves deceit, but I am surprised they allowed it to be…

★★★★ · How to be a sleazeball without really trying · Spuzz · 2005-08-06

Trader Thorne is THE quissential car-training film as far as Im concerned, much more ridiculous and sleaze-inducing than Hired, which seems to get more attention, thanks to Crow and Toms recommendation. Trader Thorne is essentially all about the Veteran car salesman showing Mr. Rookie car salesman the ropes. And man, what a show he puts on! Things immediately go into high gear, when the Veteran salesman shows off his main source of leads, he has a bunch of fellows that spy and or take down license plates of anyone remotely looking into possibly buying a new car. They pass along all the…

★★★★ · Good instructional film for the 1956 Ford dealers · ERD. · 2007-07-04

As an instructional film for the 1956 Ford car dealers, TRADER THORNE did a good job. It was well acted, directed, and had a good positive script.

★★★★ · So That's What Ward Cleaver Did For A Living! · donwert · 2010-10-31

A training film for Ford salesmen made around 1949 or '50 (NOT 1956 as it says in the title) showing the tricks (and I do mean tricks) of the trade, proving the truth in the old adage about never trusting a used car dealer. What interested me about this film---and a couple of others in the Prelinger collection about selling cars---is that it was apparently common practice years ago for car salesmen to cold-call prospects on the street or visit them in their homes. This never happens nowadays. In fact, I'm in my early 60s, have bought @ 20 cars in my life, and have NEVER seen a car salesman…