“I’M A CIVILIAN HERE MYSELF“ U.S. NAVY WWII DEMOBILIZATION FILM W/ ROBERT BENCHLEY XD13624

Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website This black & white educational film is about helping sailors re-adjust to civilian life after World War 2. This is from 1945. This film stars comedian Robert Benchley, Hugh Beaumont, and Ava Gardner and was directed by Joe E. Brown. Opening: This comic training film was designed to help sailors re=adjust to civilian life after World War II. It features a uniformed Navy officer, played by Robert Benchley. Benchley mentions having to go to a “separation center“ that will assist in the process. He states he is going to shoot a movie that will help explain -- (:06-1:40). The movie portion begins: two women in bathing suits sit poolside as others frolic in the water. A woman dives off a diving board into a pool. Women give a sailor cigarettes and a drink. Men play catch, baseball, and swim. Robert Benchley portrays all the main parts in the movie. He passes by some women. He speaks to a line of men asking them what they’re doing. A man passes out. A man shakes hands with a sailor who’s ready to leave, he speaks with the man at a desk. Sailors ask questions of their counselor. Types of people who can assist are shown (insurance, etc.). A hand writes on a paper. Forms are filled out, the counselor talks with a man looking for work (1:41-5:37). Men sit in the office waiting to see a counselor, a man picks up a booklet about getting back into civilian life. A man dresses in civilian clothes, his Navy lapel button on his jacket. He sprinkles powder on his navy clothes and puts them in a box. The civilian then whistles and walks down the street. He enters a bar and grabs a drink. Two MPs chat with another man at a bar. The man gets up from a couch and stares at a picture which talks to him. He then goes and talks with a counselor, played by Hugh Beaumont, about his skills and what his former jobs were (5:38-10:41). A doctor checks a man. He then moves on to another as others wait to be checked. A line of men are ready to be checked. A man pulls his pants down (offscreen). A leaving sailor is payed at a window. A sign reads: “Send your money home where it will be safe!“ (10:42-12:14). Two sailors ready to leave talk while in their bunks, two others join in. Robert Benchley wears pajamas and is approached by the other men, they talk. He tries to sleep in a bottom bunk but a voice speaks with him. He dreams that he’s still a sailor and is leaning on a piano, a piano player plays. He drinks booze and continues to drink. He goes over to a woman, who has a man, and then sits alone, sipping his drink. He spies a pair of legs. A woman smiles at him but he isn’t attracted to her. She comes over and talks with him. He leaves the table. He goes over to the bar and orders another drink and downs it. Keeps drinking. He drinks more and finally the woman’s looks improve. She now looks like Ava Gardner (12:15-18:22). He whispers into her ear. He wakes up, he’s in his bunk alone. He warns the viewer to not hook up with strange women, hang on to your money. The sailor has an exit interview with a Navy Officer who’s job is to make sure you are squared away to leave (18:23-19:55). Sailors, including an African American sailor, on their last day are being discharged by an officer, he speaks to them and explains their final instructions. The men listen intently. The names of each individual are then called one at a time and they come and claim a piece of paper. A ticker tape parade in NYC. Robert Benchley waves his arms to the crowd. His name is then called, he shakes the hand of the officer. Times Square in New York City. Happy Navy men leave (19:56-22:43). End credits (22:44-22:51). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit