Pete Smith

On the way to interview a novelist, Lane and Christina are involved in a car crash which leaves literary critic Christina brain-damaged. Lane undertakes the assignment and becomes attracted to the novelist's 15 year old daughter, leading to stormy emotions.

A mans awakens to find himself alone in the world. (imdb)

Ben Kinnear and Mike Paddock are detectives with the Melbourne Police force's elite Zero Tolerance Unit. When a freak accident involving a dead magistrate lands them on the front page of the local paper, Ben and Mike are busted down to uniformed duties. But when Ben discovers a strange link between the accident and the business affairs of a shady casino boss he and Mike have been investigating, the pair decide they can no longer turn a blind eye to the corruption rife amongst their own colleagues. (imdb)

Re-enactment of how the 726-carat Jonker diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 by the family of Jacobus Jonker; how it was sold to Harry Winston; and how it was cut by Lazarre Kaplan. (imdb)

This Sports Parade series entry follows the life of Dixie Dan, a harness race horse, from birth through age three. (imdb)

A Pete Smith Specialty shorts series entry. Dave demonstrates a variety of household items and furniture which, while modern, is much more trouble than the progress is worth.

When dwindling membership and increasing overheads makes a local bowling club and prime candidate for a takeover, it's all hands on deck to save the club, in what turns into an epic battle where young meets old, greed meets good and people rise to the occasion in extraordinary circumstances. (imdb)

Brett Sprague is a violent and psychopathic man, who is released on parole after serving a sentence for assault. As he returns to his family house and we watch him and his brothers, Stevie and Glenn, for the next 24 hours, it becomes clear this day will not end well. (imdb)

Laurel and Hardy demonstrate the uses of wood in this World War II propaganda film. (imdb)

After the audience is instructed how to use the 3-D glasses they received, demonstrations of three-dimensional films are presented. Various objects move towards the camera, including a ladder being shoved out a window, the slide on a trombone, a woman on a swing, and a thrown baseball. (imdb)

A humorous look round various studios on a film lot. One of the " Pete Smith Specialties", produced and narrated " by a Smith named Pete." (imdb)

In this Pete Smith Specialty, Dr. Harold E. Edgerton demonstrates stroboscopic photography, which he helped develop. This process allows us to see in slow motion what happens during events that occur too fast to be seen by the naked eye. Examples shown here include a bullet in flight as it shatters a light bulb, the moment of impact when a kicker kicks a football, and a the motion of a hummingbird's wings as it hovers. (imdb)

In this Pete Smith Specialty, we see clips from several unidentified silent movies that are woven into a story, with humorous commentary by Smith. (imdb)

Among the pests that are dealt with in this Pete Smith short are a wolf cruising in a convertible who refuses to take no for an answer from an attractive young woman, the small son of a customer in an antique store who causes damage to expensive "objets d'art," a dried-out fountain pen, and a woman who rudely stares at a diner through a restaurant window. (imdb)

While a group of Special Forces train a village to defend itself against Terrorists, the Captain of the group locks horns with the resident America Nun, who seems to be slightly better at everything that he is good at. (imdb)

This short, comedic film addresses Murphy's Law in three ironic situations. (imdb)

An attempt to explain the economic cycle of inflation and unemployment. (imdb)

A chef helps a housewife cook a duck dinner that will not give her husband indigestion. (imdb)

This comedy short contains a "Wotaphony" newsreel and a short film from Super-Stupid Pictures entitled "The Downfall of Thaddeus G. Blotto, Esq." As the audience views footage from unidentified silent movies, the narrator makes humorous comments while telling the (alleged) story. (imdb)

This short features professional bowler Andy Varipapa. He first shows the correct way to grip a bowling ball and the proper form for delivering the ball down the alley. He then performs several trick shots. (imdb)

Trader Hound, a dog who walks upright, wears human clothes, and speaks English, is in darkest Africa with a young sheik who is looking for adventure. With their native guides, they are searching for a lost princess, Nina T-Bone. After sleepless mosquito-filled nights, clothes lost to a mischievous monkey, and a battle royal between a lion and a gorilla, they make their way to Izorgi Village, where the fierce Afri-Curs live and where Nina T-Bone may be a prisoner. (imdb)

A humorous history of the bicycle since 1819. (imdb)

Highlights the odd 1930s fad of playing baseball while riding donkeys. (imdb)

After a period of separation, Sarah visits her research scientist mother on a remote New Zealand island. Before long Sarah becomes inextricably involved in events involving both Maori legend and an Albatross. (imdb)

A "Pete Smith Specialty" on cookery. (imdb)

Pete Smith tells the story of 'Sparky', a German shepherd dog trained to lead his blind master, a country doctor who lost his sight in a fire, and now has to depend upon the dog to lead him in his daily rounds. 'Sparky" was the dog who was responsible for the Interstate Commerce Commission passing a special ruling allowing guide-dogs to travel first-class in Pullman cars to accompany their blind partner, and not as animals confined to the baggage car. (imdb)

The Green Bay Packers teach football tips. (imdb)

This short looks at the sport of rock climbing. A team of three men ascend a rock wall on Southern California's Tahquitz Rock (also known as Lily Rock) above Idyllwild. The various climbing techniques are explained, as well as the dangers one encounters in this sport. We also see the team rappel from the summit. A second team, used for comic relief, has nothing but problems. (imdb)

A Pete Smith short that deals with the newly-created 3-D process. (imdb)

This Pete Smith Specialty showcases former heavyweight boxing champion 'Max Baer' with various sparring partners in the ring. Slow motion is used to illustrate how Baer uses his skills. (imdb)

This is the final entry in the Pete Smith Specialty series. Smith pays tribute to stunt man Dave O'Brien, who took many falls and spills (and upon whom objects fell) when he played hapless characters throughout the series. (imdb)

A wife explains the habits her husband has that drive her crazy. (imdb)

Fishing adventures are presented. Marlin fishing, one of the world's most exciting sports fishing activities, can be had in among other places in the waters between the California mainland and Catalina Island. (imdb)

A humorous look at the inconsiderate pests whose annoying habits make enjoying a movie impossible. (imdb)

The Flying Codonas, fourth generation of a family of trapeze artists, practice and perform amazing feats high in the air. Close-up and slow motion photography show how it's done. (imdb)

The first part of this short is a "Metrophony" newsreel. It contains actual newsreel footage with humorous commentary (e.g., a flotilla of gondolas is parodied as being the Harvard/Yale regatta). The second part parodies silent movies with a film called "Minnie the Pretzel Twister" starring 'Cynthia Goosefeather.' (imdb)

A "Pete Smith Specialty" - a fairly serious look at radio hams in the usual jokey format. Shows aircraft using morse code. (imdb)

Five years after he narrated STRIKES AND SPARES, Pete Smith returns to the subject of bowling with two pros: Andy Varipapa, who threw some trick shots in the earlier movie and Ned Day, who demonstrates proper form and technique. (imdb)

A dog living in a junk yard finds out that all stray dogs will be exterminated by 3 o' clock that afternoon, so sets off to find a master before the deadline. (imdb)

Choreographer 'Dave Gould' and his students demonstrate various tap dancing steps. Also featured are an adagio and Russian sword dancers. (imdb)

A sketch of human foibles that lead to major aggravations. (imdb)

A man tells his harrowing story of one evening at midnight being alerted by a telephone call from his Aunt Tilly in distress at the old deserted Smith mansion. The man drove the two hours to the isolated mansion to find that it was haunted by various creatures after him. As the movie viewers are wearing metroscopic glasses watching it in 3D, the man, as he relives the story, and thus the viewers by association, are bombarded by weapons coming right at them wielded by these various creatures. (imdb)

On off-camera narrator takes us through several scenarios of "just suppose." First, we watch what would happen if a private detective behaved at home as he does in the movies. It's a ticket to a domestic disturbance. Next, a son gets to treat his father the way his father treats him. In the third episode, to a shopkeeper's chagrin, a man shops for a hat the way a woman does (imdb)

This Pete Smith Specialty is a humorous look at a student's first flying lesson, in a propeller-driven biplane. (imdb)

This rare Technicolor entry in the Pete Smith Specialty series shows various events at a rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. (imdb)

Documentary showing different "home remedies" for various ills. (imdb)

In this Pete Smith Specialty comedic short we see various ways a wife may unintentionally hold her husband back.

Another in the long series of "Pete Smith" shorts from M-G-M in which William Newell meets and falls in love with Sally Payne, and begins to budget for their plans to get married. His budget, alas, does not include nor anticipate the plans of Sally and her parents. This short was reissued in June of 1950 to be shown as a trailer with 1950's "Father of the Bride" and some sources think this short was made for that express purpose and date it as a 1950 film.

A boogie-woogie piano introduces what purports to be a jitterbug lesson, starring prize winner Arthur Walsh, his partner, and then later various other couples. We start with steps imported from other dances, like the waltz, then sped up. Next Walsh and his partner show some basic steps, but the movements are too swift for the narrator to describe them or the viewer to learn how to do them.

Demonstrates how accidents happen when proper safety devices are neglected.

Wild bears that bother livestock are captured with ropes and shipped to zoos.

One of Pete Smith's assistants auditions animal acts for his short subjects.

This Pete Smith Specialty showcases the Cristiani Family, a circus act. They mount and dismount moving horses and perform acrobatic feats while riding them.

A film showing how race horses are trained.

The remarkable talents of baseball pitcher and trick artist Johnny Price are showcased including throwing two balls at once to two catchers, pitching blindfolded, throwing and hitting hanging upside down, and fielding fungoes in a jeep. (imdb)

Two expert badminton players demonstrate how the best play the game, including some slick trick shots. Meanwhile, befuddled bungler Bellamy B. Birdbrain bumbles his way through building a backyard badminton court.

This Pete Smith Specialty demonstrates the uses of micro- and macrophotography. We see extreme closeups of the mechanical workings of a tiny wristwatch, the surface of a cat's tongue, and several insects.

A husband endures the many irritating traits of his wife.

A series of mishaps happening to a homeowner, while he take a relaxing day off from the office. The trouble is about to begin when he starts to rest at home.

A demonstration of trick shots by champion bowler Andy Varipapa.

This 'Pete Smith Specialty' short covers subjects such as snoring, boomerangs and amateur photography.

In this Pete Smith Specialty, cameraman Charles T. Trego films water skiing champion Preston Petersen, as he and two unnamed female skiers perform various tricks and feats of skill in their sport.

This Sports Champions entry visits a rodeo and highlights the three main events: bronco busting, bull riding, and bull-dogging steers.

Life in mid-century America is humorously compared to life at the turn of the century. Subject covered are keeping accurate time, proposing marriage, waking up in the morning, and going to the movies.

Each year a new edition of the Ice Capades would skate into L.A. and the odds were high that both Ralph Staub (for Screen Snapshots) and Pete Smith (for his Specials) would show up and make a Short of the opening show. They both did for the 1949 edition of the Ice Capades. The show always had a clown act or two, so Smith concentrated on them, while Staub would go ga-ga over the movie stars in attendance.

The audience is asked questions about sports facts and records involving tennis, wrestling, swimming, golf, and cycling.

This Pete Smith Specialty tries to find the answers to some questions that have plagued mankind: Are women drivers worse than men?; How much money does the average gumball machine collect in a month?; Are certain food combinations harmful (e.g., milk and pickles)?

A series of questions testing one's knowledge of fun facts about horses and equestrian in general are asked. The questions deal with horse age and size measuring terms and protocols, race track gambling lingo, harness racing lingo and training techniques, Lipizzan stallions, and non-horse terminology using horse words. In-between the questions, other horse facts are presented and shown, including hapless novice equestrian Horace trying to saddle, mount and ride a horse.

Documentary about an unusual Beverly Hills shop called the Patio Shop, run by former film director Harry Lachman.

Light-hearted film about Franklin D. Roosevelt's dog Fala.

A "Pete Smith Specialty" short that looks at legendary movie stuntman Harry Woolman planning and rehearsing stunts for films.

This serious entry in Pete Smith Specialty series encourages industry to hire people with disabilities to help with the war effort. As a boy, Ben Helwig was blinded in an accident while playing baseball. He eventually acquired a guide dog and now works in a defense plant.

A short showing how carelessness and accidents can harm the war effort, and steps on how to avoid them.

This Pete Smith Specialty shows water-safety and life-saving techniques taught by the American Red Cross to advanced swimmers.

In this Pete Smith Specialty, we meet new father Mr. Thunderstruck as and his wife start raising their new baby girl and experience the issues of new parents.

A quiz where viewers are given 10 or 15 seconds to answer questions about the United States and its involvement in World War II.

This MGM short, part of the A Pete Smith Specialty series, focuses on the young men who have signed up to serve their country. Speed, teamwork and accuracy are the hallmark of all army units and this is demonstrated by different army squads - a rifle squad, a machine gun squad, a mortar squad, anti-tank gunners and shore batteries - all of which work with the fluidity of athletes and athletic teams.

Two professional dancers beautifully demonstrate the rumba and conga while actors humorously display some incorrect techniques for those dances.

Two lion cubs escape from the zoo and go on an adventure. Along the way, they have run-ins with several other animals, and they make a mess of someone's house.

This Pete Smith Specialty showcases a group called the Water Bugs. Its members devise new ways to experience thrills on the waters of California lakes. Included in this film are paddle boats with outboard motors, two people using a single pair of water skis, and a water skier towed by a low-flying airplane.

This Pete Smith Specialty looks at the notion that a man chases a woman till he catches her. Who's really chasing whom?

Shows what lifeguards do in the off-season.

This Pete Smith Specialty offers a look at Marineland of Florida, featuring the various marine life on display there.

Despite the school just having won an important basketball game, its students are more interested in one of its teachers, namely Charles C. Peterson, who teaches them in the fine art of playing billiards. He teaches them how to properly hold the cue, gauge the correct distance from knuckle to cue ball, and create the proper spin on the cue ball to position it properly for the next shot.

Modern meteorology and a hard-working government weather team put their science and organization to work as a cold front moves from Alaska toward the citrus groves of Southern California. First, the scientists predict the storm's course, giving several days' warning to farmers and growers. The growers, typified by the Morgan family, prepare the oil-burning pots throughout their grove. Then, as the temperature dips below freezing, they light the pots.

In this Sports Champions entry, power boat racers use specially designed outboard motor boats in a race on California's Salton Sea.

A look at colorful (and mostly imported) birds, ranging in size from hummingbirds to storks.

Highlights the fast-paced and dangerous world of professional auto racing.

A satire on movie newsreels combines with humorous narration of silent screen footage in this one reel comedy short.

This "complete show on one reel" starts with Super-Stupid Picture's "The Heel of a Nation", in which the narrator tells a humorous story while the audience sees scenes from a totally unrelated, unidentified silent movie. Then comes a "Wotaphony" newsreel. The last segment is a spoof of James A. FitzPatrick's Traveltalk series. We see a Pitts Fatrick Travel Squawk titled "A Visit to Schnozzle Isle." Schnozzle Isle is just off the coast of a Polynesian land.

In the fourth entry of this short film series, producer Pete Smith makes comedic "explanatory remarks" over random film clips to create a "Wotaphony Newsreel" and then spoofs an unidentified silent film in "Passions of Horse-Pistol Pete".

The first part of this short is a "Wotaphony Newsreel" showing events celebrating National Safety Week. Highlighted in the footage are a head-on crash of two trains, a car crash, and traffic grid-lock in New York City. In the second part, Super-Stupid Pictures presents "Mad Mike: Arch Fiend of the Universe."

A comedic short using old silent film footage with added humorous commentary by Pete Smith.

A documentary showcasing water sports activities such as sailboat racing and surfboard riding, including Christian Peterson doing a human surfboard at 45 mph.

A short compilation of newsreel clips featuring people performing strange stunts with humorous narration added by Pete Smith.

This short looks at the following questions: How would you act as an expectant father?; How many greeting cards are sold in the USA each year?; Why do radiators make that pounding noise?; Why do animals yawn?

Ingenious humankind has built numerous safeguards into tools and machinery used in modern industry, big and small, but those devices cannot protect one from one's own carelessness, as demonstrated by this movie's everyman, Wrong Way Butch, working in a machine shop. Butch is easily distracted or just isn't watching what he is doing when he should be focused on the use of the tool in hand. He chooses the wrong tool for the job, and wears inappropriate clothing.

This Pete Smith Specialty shows newsreel footage events that live up to the title. They include, among others, a diaper derby (the father who puts a diaper on his child fastest wins), a fireman's ball (two teams of fire fighters use high-pressure water hoses to move a large ball to score goals), and a basket race (men run a footrace while balancing a "tower" of ten baskets on their heads).

An exmination of the sport of championship diving.

Pete Smith special about billiard.

Real-life investigator Jo Goggin uses a motion-picture surveillance camera to gather evidence. This Pete Smith Specialty short (a rare serious entry in the series) dramatizes how Mr. Goggin works. A farmer claims that an accident caused by the negligence of Goggin's client has confined him to a wheelchair, and he has sued the client for $100,000. Goggin sets out to show that the man is a fraud. (imdb)

A humorous look at various circus and other acrobatic feats. One of the "Pete Smith Specialties" produced and narrated by "A Smith named Pete."

An examination of the problem of the house guest who has overstayed is welcome, and how to get rid of him.

A music quiz, plus a survey of various unusual musical instruments.

Shows the difficulties an overweight woman goes through trying to lose weight.

A look at two modern fathers with their sons. In case one, dad takes his tyke with him for a game of cards with a bachelor friend. They put the boy to bed in the guest room then try to play. They boy spits his milk, plays with the window shade, dispatches a prize tropical fish, and breaks rare decanters. Dad never loses his temper, but the host does. Finally, just desserts. In case two, dad can't leave well enough alone and insists on visiting his son's new tree house. Does disaster await?

A few different methods that are supposed to help with memorization are presented.

Wartime housekeeping tips by a home-economics pro who comes to the aid of a bumbling, vertically challenged husband and his statuesque bride.