This film is part of Free

New Schools for old-U.S.A.

A new take on the education system, while Britain's waiters and Alaska's fishermen air some grievances.

Anthology 1938 21 mins

Overview

This is March of Time at its most varied and engaging. Beginning with a thumbs-up for modern education methods in American schools, it gives a flavour of its occasional progressivist outlook, before moving on to a human interest story concerning aggrieved restaurant staff. There's a sombre final thought on the struggles faced by the fishermen of Alaska, who want to protect their livelihood.

While the discussion on schooling and the feature about a discontented waiter pique the interest, the best is saved for last here. The report from Alaska is visually stunning – with use of library pictures kept to a relative minimum – and carries emotional clout. Choppy editing matches the choppy waters facing the fishermen, who seem to find themselves swimming upstream by trying to safeguard their trade.