Synopsis

Produced in 1950

Animated film commissioned to support the Marshall Plan centered around European recovery and its effect on productivity and the idea of single market. After World War II, the Marshall Plan transferred over $13 billion ($90 billion today) of material and technical assistance to 18 European countries. To help explain to average citizens how the plan actually worked.

Two neighbors, a shoemaker and a hatter, argue about how best to recover their livelihoods after the war. The hatter believes in producing few hats at a high profit per hat, protected by tariff. The shoemaker sees the need for lots of shoes. He wants to lower their cost through mass production and make his profit through export and free trade. The shoemaker eventually proves that free trade can bring prosperity to them both. Even though this cartoon was produced 69 years ago the free trade vs. protectionism argument is still hotly debated today.

Production company
Halas & Batchelor

Produced in the United Kingdom

Cast & Credits
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Cast
voice Lionel Gamlin
Credits
Unknown:
Director Joy Batchelor
Director John Halas
Production Company Halas & Batchelor
Sponsor Economic CoOperation Administration
Producer John Halas
Producer Joy Batchelor
Script Joy Batchelor
Script Philip Stapp
Animator Stan Pearsall
Animator Bob Privett
Animator Wally Crook
Animator Houston, Kathleen
Editor Jack King
Music Matyas Seiber