Larry O'Reilly

Letter to a Hero is a 1943 American short documentary film produced by Frederic Ullman Jr. A school teacher in Monroe, NY writes a letter to her former student who is fighting in WWII. It was nominated for an Academy Award at the 16th Academy Awards for Best Short Subject, Two-Reel.

This Screenliner short shows how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) looks at drug claims that may be fraudulent. In this case, a product called Elixirex is advertised as a cure-all for almost any ailment, including arthritis, rheumatism, and diabetes. After a diabetes patient dies following the use of Elixirex, FDA inspectors start their investigation.

This short goes inside government research laboratories to showcase some of the products that will be used in the near future. Some are for general use, such as computerized assembly lines, nuclear energy and solar powered batteries, and industrial uses for television. Others are consumer products, including video telephones, videotape to make instant home movies, irradiated food, and fully automated kitchens.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol explain the need for safe driving, and the tragic consequences of accidents.

This short film celebrates the hard work, tenacity, and ingenuity of inventors. Highlighted are some seemingly small inventions that have become part of daily life.