Know For Sure (1941)

★★★★ · Now I Know · Felix Wildmay · 2005-06-29

All the elements of a classic. I liked the initial misdirection: first weÃÂÃÂre introduced to a sufferer who is an ethnic type, reinforcing the comforting belief then that syph is only a disease of the lower orders. Then, surprise: a clean-cut college boy is also a victim! Very effective. Just to round out the group, in between these two we meet a sturdy workingman (played, as so often, by Ward Bond) who was afflicted after he picked up a floozy ÃÂÃÂat a dance hall.ÃÂÃÂ That is only one of the dangerous places; we get to watch those student-athletes entering an honest-to-God cathouse. You…

★★★★ · Watch Out for Cold Sores · Christine Hennig · 2005-09-14

This 40s anti-syphilis film features several case studies of various people visiting a public health clinic to be tested for syphilis. The first case, featuring an outrageously-stereotyped Italian immigrant couple whose baby is born dead because of the disease, is fairly maudlin. Other than that, the film is surprisingly straightforward and unsensationalistic in its message. ItÃÂs an interesting example of how the subject was dealt with back in the 40s, though it does contain way too many close-ups of blood being drawn for my comfort level. Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ***.…

★★★★ · WhatÂs a boy supposed to do? · Spuzz · 2006-01-23

Like Walt DisneyÂs mentruation film, I never knew something like this existed, but here it is! A syphilis warning film made by the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences! As we begin, we see a highly stereotyped Italian character named, of course, Tony, waiting for his baby to arrive. When the doctor comes out with the bad news, the baby was killed because it had syphilis! Tony drops his accordian! (GREAT sound). After this, Tony and his wife follow the doctorÂs advice and get cured for this. From there, the doctor meets up with the clinical doctor treating Tony and his wife, and they have sort…