Directed by
Grasshoff, Alex, American, 1928 - 2008
Subject of
Davidson, Bruce, American, founded 1946
Lethin, Lori, American, born 1955
Punch, John, American, born 1961
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
1981
Medium
polyester film
Dimensions
Duration: 42 Minutes
Length (Film): 1500 Feet
Caption
This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
Description
A feature film with the title The Wave, from the ABC Afterschool Special television series. It consists of a single reel of 16mm color polyester film with optical sound.
The film follows a high school class whose social studies teacher, Ben Ross (Bruce Davison), attempts to teach them a life lesson through a weeks-long experiment called The Wave. It begins with the class watching a film about the Nazis. At the end of the film, some of the students admit that they find the fact that the German citizens were unaware of the Nazi's crimes incredulous and they didn't understand why people followed Hitler. In response, Mr. Ross devises an experiment where he incrementally indoctrinates the students. Lauree (Lori Lethin), one of the students in Mr. Ross' class, informs her parents about how impressed she is with the impact the game is having on the rest of the students. However, later in the film her position changes and she gets into a physical altercation with David (John Putch), her boyfriend who is also a student in Mr. Ross’ class. At the end of the film, Mr. Ross chastises the students in the class for following him blindly, some of them begin weeping after his revelation.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place filmed
United States, North and Central America
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Portfolio/Series
ABC Afterschool Special
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
color films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Education
Film
Television
World War II
Youth
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.96.1a
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5aeab9a0f-eddb-46c4-a1fc-84f7c4978521

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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