Archive Watch

Why We Respect the Law (1950)

1950 · Ephemeral film · 12 min · dir. Gil Altschul

  • Drama
  • Documentary

Synopsis

Kent steals some wood from a lumber yard for some construction work on a baseball field. Afterwards he feels guilty about it, and goes to see a lawyer for advice on what to do. The lawyer gives him a speech about how disrespect for the law can lead to even worse crimes than stealing. After Kent shows the proper amount of contrition, the lawyer cuts a deal with the lumber company to have Kent work off the value of the wood he stole, teaching Kent a valuable lesson: while all that high-falutin' talk about respect for the law may be important, having the money to afford a slick lawyer who can keep you out of jail is much more important.

Synopsis from TMDb

Details

Director
Gil Altschul
Studio
Coronet Films
Released
1950-08-19
Running time
12 minutes
Language
English
Collection
Prelinger Archives

Cast & crew

Reviews on the Internet Archive

★★★★★ · Respect towards the law. · uadcap · 2023-12-11

The user going by "Dodsworth the Cat" demonstrates with his review, that he has failed to understand the significance of this films message, which is one of common interest. The film helps to teach, that to reflect upon our behaviour and consider how it will influence future development, is in the best interest of everyone. All his review does is deflect from what is actually being presented, so in effect his review and expressed attitude towards something that is a most serious subject, is disrespect towards the law (Quod tibi hoc alteri.). This very disrespect, as the film so beautifully…

★★★★★ · Law = Capitalism = Happiness · dynayellow · 2003-09-09

Kent steals some lumber from a construction site to build a backstop for his baseball team. He's not sure why the owner is raising such a ruckus about this, so he consults his father's lawyer. In the most jaw-droppingly awful defense of the law ever put to film, the lawyer steals Kent's shoes, imagines a world where hillbillies attack homes at random, and makes the following deductions: - The universe has physical laws, therefore laws are a part of nature. - A child who starts out stealing pennies from his mother's change will end up an armed felon. He actually says, "Peace and happiness are…

★★★★ · Steve Nordby · 2003-10-13

This film is great because it displays contradictictory opinions that behaviorists and Republicans hold: society's laws are the laws of nature, yet it's not a crime if you don't get caught! You see, it is your attitude and respect for the law that is the problem, not the laws themselves. Law is infallible, and you must be punished or you will not respect the law. Don't ruin your life! Obey! OBEY! And so lawyer enlists poor Kent to snitch on his co-defendants. Yow!

★★★★ · "Give Me Your Shoes!" · Spuzz · 2005-03-21

A young whelp goes into a law office, to talk with a lawyer because, well he feels guilty about stealing some boards for his baseball field, and well, the lumber company won't miss them. "Give me your shoes" the lawyer barks, "what?" whippersnapper says. Lawyer says again, "Give me your shoes, you won't miss them"! The whelp understands, but the lawyer keeps on going and going using example after example of why stealing is bad and why the law is needed. Pretty soon, he talks the kid into convincing him and his fellow thieves to work to earn the wood. Very very strange, just a tad too long.…

★★★★ · Effective for 1950 younsters · ERD. · 2009-05-13

WHY WE RESPECT THE LAW was an effective basic film made to teach the 1950's youngsters why it's important to follow the laws. Well acted and directed.

★★★ · The Film That Lumbers Along · Dodsworth the Cat · 2022-12-17

The guy who played Eddie in "Developing Friendships" (Coronet, 1950) stars in this film as Kent Lawrence, a young man who wants free legal advice after he and some friends stole some lumber. There's a bust-a-gut moment when some far-too-dramatic music fills the soundtrack as bandits rob Kent's home and smack his sister. And I love the threatening fist raised by tough-guy Joey. He may have had acting lessons in high school but evidently has never had boxing lessons. "Laws are wiser than any man," sayeth the lawyer, What? Who does he think wrote and passed laws, aardvarks? A screed against…

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