Insects as Carriers of Disease (available on A/V Geeks. Also available for download from Google Video).

This Disney film is in the same vein as Cleanliness Brings Health, explaining to poor rural people how disease is spread by insects and how such spread can be prevented by proper sanitary practices. Mr. Careless practices very poor hygiene and sanitation in his home, and thus has a lot of insect pests sharing it. He thinks those pests are harmless until the godlike narrator/animator shrinks him to insect size and shows him exactly how flies, mosquitoes and lice spread disease. The film is amusing and effective is conveying its message, using a light touch to soften the usual scare tactics involved in teaching hygiene and sanitation. Fun and charming, in the true Disney fashion.

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

Introduction to Haiti (available for download from Open Video Project. Also, available for download from Prelinger Archive).

Standard-issue color travelogue of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with a focus their history of democracy. There is some subtle racism here, as the narrator seems to be amazed that the “negroes” can govern themselves, and seems thoroughly baffled by their culture. But mostly, this is ordinary, with some nice color footage of the island and its people in the 40s.

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