Synopsis
This 1969 color sponsored film for Champion brand spark plugs produced by Portafilms uses actors portraying a "boss" engineer and a "nerdy" secretary (in fairly stereotypical, sexist roles) as they review the film itself. In this meta exercise, they discuss the process of testing spark plugs, and enumerate the advantages of the Champion brand over its competition (TRT: 28:45). Animated opening titles: “Champion Presents a Plug for Performance” (0:10). A man wearing a suit and glasses uses an 8mm film projector. Animation shows spark plugs dancing erratically in stop-motion. A red heart envelops a spark plug. The man looks nonplussed (0:26). Animation illustrates two blue wires coming together, with an asterisk-shaped spark. An “explosion” (0:48). Montage: A racetrack, trucks, recreational motorboats, cars in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The man switches off the projector in frustration (0:57). A blonde woman in glasses types at an electric typewriter, pencils in a correction. Acting as a secretary, she approaches the man, who represents engineering. She takes dictation (1:08). Animated spark show design evolution (2:34). The man takes a “male gaze” at the secretary. She removes her glasses. A jump cut shows her with a more glamorous hairdo. Befuddled, the man returns to the projector (3:14). Riverside International Raceway in fast-motion, from a car’s Red Chevy Checker taxicabs test fuel economy. A pit stop. Testing a battery with a multimeter. A pit crew at work. A banner, “An…
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Running time
- 28 minutes
- Collection
- Ephemeral Films
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- Plug For Performance
- Riverside
- Raceway
- Champion Spark Plug
- Sales Reel
- Riverside Raceway
- Stock Footage
- Periscope Film