Imagine the spot Bert, an office employee, puts his wife Carrie when he announces he is bringing his boss, Mr. Mason, to dinner. That, by itself, would mean a lot of preparations in order to impress the boss. At stake, is a new position in the shipping department, something that Bert would like to be considered. At the height of the Great Depression, this proposition could drive a wife to commit suicide. How is Carrie going to get everything for dinner and make a good impression?
When Bert arrives with Mr. Mason, he introduces him to Carrie. Everything seems to be in order. When they sit to dinner, the only beverage Carrie has is some ginger ale! Mr. Mason proceeds to ask Bert his opinion about who is the best candidate for the job. When he names someone else, Bert tells his boss he has made a wise decision, even though he is hurting inside for being overlooked. Mr. Mason smells something burning, and sure enough, the dinner has been burned! What else could go wrong? Carrie questions Mr. Mason about why has he denied Bert the promotion, as she breaks down feeling their chances escape her husband. It's at this time that Mr. Mason decides to go back to town and he takes a moment to explain to Bert that he has something much better for him because he has taken the right approach and he has put the business needs ahead of his own.
This Vitaphone one reel packs a lot of ideas in a short time. Directed by Arthur Hurley, this short film should be seen by people trying to get ahead in the business world. Of course, times have changed and it's a different environment; no one today could believe in the way Bert reacts, but obviously, the person that really mattered took notice of his sacrifice.
Sylvia Sidney, in one of her earliest appearances, plays Carrie, the wife that dares to question her husband's boss. Lynne Overman is good as Bert, and Berton Churchill is Mr. Mason.
When Bert arrives with Mr. Mason, he introduces him to Carrie. Everything seems to be in order. When they sit to dinner, the only beverage Carrie has is some ginger ale! Mr. Mason proceeds to ask Bert his opinion about who is the best candidate for the job. When he names someone else, Bert tells his boss he has made a wise decision, even though he is hurting inside for being overlooked. Mr. Mason smells something burning, and sure enough, the dinner has been burned! What else could go wrong? Carrie questions Mr. Mason about why has he denied Bert the promotion, as she breaks down feeling their chances escape her husband. It's at this time that Mr. Mason decides to go back to town and he takes a moment to explain to Bert that he has something much better for him because he has taken the right approach and he has put the business needs ahead of his own.
This Vitaphone one reel packs a lot of ideas in a short time. Directed by Arthur Hurley, this short film should be seen by people trying to get ahead in the business world. Of course, times have changed and it's a different environment; no one today could believe in the way Bert reacts, but obviously, the person that really mattered took notice of his sacrifice.
Sylvia Sidney, in one of her earliest appearances, plays Carrie, the wife that dares to question her husband's boss. Lynne Overman is good as Bert, and Berton Churchill is Mr. Mason.
