Forty Years of Human Service (film #555 on Prelinger Archive). [Category: Public Service]

This 30s film tells us about the work of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, a charitable hospital for tuberculosis patients who can’t pay for medical treatment. This was back in the days when tuberculosis was a dread, debilitating disease that required years of treatment with dicey chances of success. This is basically your standard-issue “look at all the good works we’re doing––give us money” film, but it does have some extra historical value in showing us the tuberculosis treatments of the day, all to an incredibly schmaltzy organ soundtrack.

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: **. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.