Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films

Jun 27 2003 Not Rated 1h 31m
Documentary, History

This film covers the early history of post World War II educational films, especially those involving traffic safety by the Highway Safety Foundation under direction of Richard Wayman. In the name of promoting safe driving in teenagers, these films became notorious for their gory depiction of accidents to shock their audiences to make their point. The film also covers the role of safety films of this era, their effect on North American teenage culture, the struggle between idealism and lurid exploitation and how they reflected the larger society concerns of the time that adults projected onto their youth.

Plot

This film covers the early history of post World War II educational films, especially those involving traffic safety by the Highway Safety Foundation under direction of Richard Wayman. In the name of promoting safe driving in teenagers, these films became notorious for their gory depiction of accidents to shock their audiences to make their point. The film also covers the role of safety films of this era, their effect on North American teenage culture, the struggle between idealism and lurid exploitation and how they reflected the larger society concerns of the time that adults projected onto their youth.

Written by

Bret Wood

Directed by

Bret Wood

Cast

Richard Anderson, Sonny Bono, John F. Butler

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Livin' Man Productions

Languages

English

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
234
Average Rating
6.9 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA