To Live in Darkness

This 1940s safety film delivers a stark, dramatic warning about workplace eye injuries, aimed at industrial workers during WWII’s production boom. Filmed in black-and-white, it unfolds as a cautionary trilogy, spotlighting three men whose carelessness costs them their sight. First, a grinder ignores goggles; sparks fly, and a shard blinds him—his anguished reaction shot in tight close-up. Next, a welder skips his shield; the arc’s glare sears his eyes, leaving him groping in despair. Finally, a chemical handler splashes caustic liquid without protection, collapsing as narration intones the irreversible loss. Each vignette blends staged accidents with melodramatic flair—shadowy lighting, tense music cues—driving home the stakes amid wartime’s urgent output demands. Factory scenes show proper gear in contrast, urging vigilance. Likely produced by an agency like the National Safety Council, it’s a grim, effective plea to protect vision in hazardous trades.