Summary

Impulse Payoff

Source Archive Films by Getty Images
Title: Impulse Payoff
File Number: PA-3162 Beta SP
Color: Color
Type: Industrial
Year: 01/01/1952
Subjects: CELLOPHANE PLASTICS MEN DOORS ROLLER SKATES FALLS SLIPS ACCIDENTS HEALTH AND SAFETY DREAMS SURREALISM FANTASY GIANTS MIDGETS CASH REGISTERS CLOUDS SLEEPING WAKING SUPERMARKETS BOYS PIANOS MUSIC ANIMATION INJURIES GROCERIES FOOD SHOPPING PACKAGING CANDY HOUSEWIVES WOMEN HOUSEWORK SEX ROLES CHILDREN SETS MODELS MARRIAGE COFFEE BREAKFAST
Description: Impulse Payoff This how-to film for supermarket salesmen is disguised as a narrative about Bert Adams, a not overly successful salesman On his way to work he steps on a roller-skate and hits his head on his front staircase which causes him to lapse into a dream sequence about an oversize cash register and an angelesque Mr Profit Perched atop the cash register, Mr Profit instructs Bert on how to construct food displays to appeal to the customer's stomach and encourage impulse buying -- for the salesman this equals the impulse payoff Good shopping sequences Boy sighing, shrugging Man in tie gesticulating with pencil Drawer full of pen and pencil sets, scotch tape and other items Man in tie looking at his watch, then kisses wife Wife looking up, coffee cup in hand Man putting on hat CU of the picking up a briefcase Pipe appearing from nowhere, cigarette appearing from nowhere into open fingers Woman inspecting a package in an overstocked grocery aisle Self Service over an illustration of a pie segment A very full basket of food gets replaced by a segment reading, Store Decisions Woman inspecting the vegetables in a supermarket aisle Woman choosing a jar of food from a very full aisle of jars The check-out line in a supermarket with cashier, customer and bagger CU of food on cash register belt Numbers flashing up on a cash register Stacking a jam display in a supermarket A happy woman slowly pushing cart in the fruit and vegetable aisle CU of Vanilla Ice Cream box the Party Snack Department display Cheese and dairy aisle Self-service meat section, two women (one in fur coat) both grab at same steak Pastries, Cookies, Breads section with man picking out a jelly roll (CU) CUs of juice labels, sausage in packages, milk jars, pickled items, cheese, onions, dates Slow pan on an aisle of non-food items CU hands picking up can goods Two boys in cowboy hats looking at cereal boxes CU of cracker package Boxes in display falling over Pan on gum and candy aisle Man in grocery store wrapping segment of cut watermelon, grabbed by boy Items being added to empty supermarket cart man picking up briefcase and hat and walking away happily Mother, father and son with a piano Boy slowly and awkwardly playing the piano Photo animation still of businessman approaching a futuristic Supermarket Photo animation of businessman's mouth talking quickly Two men with pencil and clipboard, get superimposed over with order forms Two men, smiling man's hands getting wider apart, illustration of merchandise shelves with men re-appearing from behind it Illustration of a light bulb over the heads of photo animation men Bell at top of scale, chiming and dissolving into image of smiling man's face Interesting Sequences: CU of stepping on a roller skate, briefcase and hat landing on ground Man falling, head hitting staircase fading into blinking lights, (surreal) Man sleeping at the base of a giant cash register, another man perched cross-legged at top against pink background with swirling clouds Double exposure of blinking lights over man's face, blinking lights over man falling sideways through pink atmosphere, blinking lights over man lying on concrete staircase DOMESTIC SQUABBLES (SS) (00:51:94- 03:15:33) Dad, Mom (both young and attractive), and son sit at breakfast table Dad grimaces, Mom looks frustrated and unhappy (CU's of her face), and son looks bored (he holds head in hands and sighs) Cut to Dad looking angrily at son -- he shoes him from the table -- son shrugs, gets up, and walks away Mom pours Dad coffee, they chat, and things seem better Dad leaves to go to work ACCIDENTS (SLIPS) (DADS) (SS) (03:16:78- 03:32:97) Dad gets ready to leave house -- puts on hat, picks up briefcase, and opens front door CU of his feet outside door he walks down stairs but steps on son's scooter and slips He falls backwards his briefcase flies into the air, his face is exasperated We see from his POV (sky swirls as he falls) The back of his head hits the stair THUD Cut dream-like lights (pink and flashing) He wakes up at the base of a giant cash register SUPERMARKETS (CRAZY MOMS) (SS) (13:49:84- 14:23:94) INT Produce section of supermarket Young housewife picks out bagged vegetables Cut to MCU of her as she fondles the spinach We hear her inner voice: Mmmmmmmmmm, the spinach looks fresh, and all clean ready for cooking! (she smiles) Fi-ine, well I certainly like to shop here Everything looks good She continues to walk by the produce with a deranged smile on her face (very Stepford wives) SUPERMARKETS (MOM) (SS) Many stock shots of Moms picking groceries off the shelves and placing them into shopping carts DOMESTIC SCENES (LAME DADS) (SS) (25:28:20- 26:04:05) Dad and Mom watch son playing piano they smile As the son plays (very poorly), the father grimaces Mom continues to beam
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