This is a Theatre of Life series entry of educational shorts. This one takes place at a fire department in LA. When someone calls for an emergency, she's asked what street. She answers with a name then they ask if it's "Avenue" or "Street". She says "Place". Then they ID by looking at lots of file cards put on a circular file. We find out one fire was caused by someone smoking in bed. One of the men is preparing a meal when he gets called for duty. When he returns, that meal is burned so he opens a can of baked beans and serves that for lunch when they're called again. The film ends after we're told and shown how to prevent a fire from even starting. So on that note, Going to Blazes! is worth a look for anyone interested in these vintage PSA films.
10 Reviews
20,000 Fires A Year In Los Angeles
boblipton20 June 2020
Gunther von Fritsch directs this typically handsome 'Theater of Life' short -- camerawork courtesy of Floyd Crosby -- along with the narrator, who speaks in short paragraphs, like he's reading things off small index cards.
Firemen have been a favorite of the movies since early in the 20th Century. LIFE OF AN AMERICAN FIREMAN was a major hit for Edison -- much more so than LIFE OF AN AMERICAN POLICEMAN. That's because a fire man is the guy who comes by to save life and property in an emergency. Cops, especially at the time I write this, alas -- are not always seen as benign.
Firemen have been a favorite of the movies since early in the 20th Century. LIFE OF AN AMERICAN FIREMAN was a major hit for Edison -- much more so than LIFE OF AN AMERICAN POLICEMAN. That's because a fire man is the guy who comes by to save life and property in an emergency. Cops, especially at the time I write this, alas -- are not always seen as benign.
This Public Service Announcement highlights the fact that . . .
oscaralbert13 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
. . . America is filled with inconsiderate smokers, who set fires to their houses every six minutes or so just to interrupt firefighters as they're sleeping, eating, or taking showers. GOING TO BLAZES! is chock full of such fascinating statistics. Lighting up "coffin nails" reduces about 105,000 homes and 780 public schools to ashes annually. (No wonder the girls on the playgrounds at recess are always dancing in circles chanting, "Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!") Fortunately, the invention of "Permanent Press" fabrics has cut the 15,000 yearly ironing-related infernos in half. Perhaps the best way to avoid becoming a fire victim is to live inside a whale, like "Pinocchio" or "Jonah," GOING TO BLAZES! seems to imply. (Of course, this lifestyle option is more practical for Alaskans or Hawaiians to adopt that it is for folks living in the Bible Belt.) Just remember that IF you reside within the City Limits and you ignite twigs in those iron grill-topped burn boxes at your municipal park to roast your marshmallows, these twigs MUST sport a "UL" safety label, or your local firefighters will race over with a six pack of bottled water to douse your marshmallows as they yell at you!
Fair Short
Michael_Elliott6 March 2009
Going to Blazes! (1948)
** (out of 4)
Part of MGM's "Theatre of Life" series, which was often co-produced with The Associate Press as well as a group that the film is centering on. This film centers on the Los Angeles Fire Department and how they live, work, react to calls and even how they cook. If you're a fan of the "Theatre of Life" series then I'm sure you're going to love this film but I'll be honest and admit that I really don't care for the series, although I've only seen three to date. This one comes off very well in the heart and story its trying to tell but I found the direction to be too dry for its own good. It seems like the series just wanted to point a camera at a certain event and show us and on this level the movie works as a documentary but at the same time it makes the subject matter come off rather dry and lifeless. We get many great scenes including the firemen trying to cook and eat before the next call comes in but there's no energy behind the scene. Another good scene shows us how the calls come in and how the addresses are found but again, it comes off mostly dry.
** (out of 4)
Part of MGM's "Theatre of Life" series, which was often co-produced with The Associate Press as well as a group that the film is centering on. This film centers on the Los Angeles Fire Department and how they live, work, react to calls and even how they cook. If you're a fan of the "Theatre of Life" series then I'm sure you're going to love this film but I'll be honest and admit that I really don't care for the series, although I've only seen three to date. This one comes off very well in the heart and story its trying to tell but I found the direction to be too dry for its own good. It seems like the series just wanted to point a camera at a certain event and show us and on this level the movie works as a documentary but at the same time it makes the subject matter come off rather dry and lifeless. We get many great scenes including the firemen trying to cook and eat before the next call comes in but there's no energy behind the scene. Another good scene shows us how the calls come in and how the addresses are found but again, it comes off mostly dry.
One of the better "Theater of Life" Shorts
spirit1119 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Of the "Theater of Life" shorts I've seen on TCM, this is one of the better pieces. Watching the LA Fire Department in action in 1948 and mentally comparing it to what the situation must be like at this time is mind-boggling. The statistics is what kept getting me, so much so that I shared them with my wife. Imagine: this short says the fire department responds to some sort of fire every 75 seconds--what must that stat be now? It quotes that the U.S. has 350,000 homes destroyed by fires each year--what must that stat be now? I believe they said the estimated annual cost of fires is $600 million--how many BILLIONS must that be now? I'd like to believe that some of these stats may have gone down with better education of the public and the introduction of fire suppression systems and smoke alarms, but who knows? And does it still hold that 30% of all fires are caused by smoking and matches?
Of course, there is some info that is dated, but isn't that the point? And I had to laugh at what must have seemed a clever line to the writer at that time, but hasn't done well with age: "A match has a head, but no brain. But a person has both." This is then used to emphasize that if we just think about it we can avoid most fires.
Of course, there is some info that is dated, but isn't that the point? And I had to laugh at what must have seemed a clever line to the writer at that time, but hasn't done well with age: "A match has a head, but no brain. But a person has both." This is then used to emphasize that if we just think about it we can avoid most fires.
A Fireman's Work is Never Done
wes-connors20 February 2011
This episode of MGM's "Theatre of Life" documentary series goes behind-the-scenes at a Los Angeles Fire Department. The focus is on telling viewers how to prevent house fires. A fire occurs every 75 seconds. We learn how well-trained firemen are, and see them get dressed while answering calls. The opening fire is caused by someone smoking in bed. Fires are caused by human carelessness with smoking and matches. Other causes include misused electrical outlets. "Sometimes I think women do not understand electricity," is what a fireman thinks when he finds a woman's wet stockings hanging on an extension cord. Good footage.
***** Going to Blazes! (1948) Herbert Morgan : Gunther von Fritsch
***** Going to Blazes! (1948) Herbert Morgan : Gunther von Fritsch
Highly recommend.
sevenfingers18 March 2001
As a Fire Officer and Instructor, this could still be a useful tool in the Fire Service. It has value in basic Recruit Academies. It could also be used as a guide for developing modern PSAs for the public. I must find a copy of it!
Fantastic 1950 Slice of Life
CineTigers15 March 2006
This 1948 LA Fire Department documentary was just shown on TCM as a filler and was fantastic! To see those 1950's firehouses and firetrucks in action, being buffed, cleaned and maintained, that are now only seen in parades and classic car shows. Of course much of the film is still the same, the demands and discipline of the job, and how so many fires are caused by simple carelessness. I wonder if showing this film helped people clean and organize their homes. I was fascinated by the "state of the art" technology employed to locate and ring the right fire station from that frantic phone caller, employing a tremendous Rolodex file and crazy patch board. And I always love seeing those 1950's vibrant neighborhood shopping streets full of cars and shoppers. Fantastic visual images take your right back in time. Thank you TCM!
Mid- 20th Century Fire Fighting Equipment and techniques
IClaudius725 February 2019
This was justifiably nominated for an Oscar as a two reel short
about fire fighting in Los Angeles. I found it to be both entertaining
and most informative about techniques and locating fires in a huge
metropolitan area. It also revealed how much work was needed to
find the locations of the fire site to prevent a fire maelstrom. Even
mundane things like hanging hoses up to dry for proper maintenance,
statistics cited just how dependent society is on fire fighters and proper
cleaning of residence to prevent fire issues. Now, it is a historical record
of the techniques but many of the practices are the same. It is WELL WORTH
the time to view this short despite the time frame being in 1947-48.
"Sometimes I think women do not understand electricity . . . "
tadpole-596-91825619 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
. . . the Associated Press spokesperson narrating this timely expose GOING TO BLAZES! laments after noting that dames burn down 15,000 U.S. homes annually by thoughtlessly leaving their electric irons plugged in when no longer being used. When GOING TO BLAZES! was released, the American Core Curriculum for high school gals was Home Economics. At least one hour per week was spent in reminding these young ladies that they soon would have homes of their own (usually within weeks of graduation, if not before), and it would be up to them to unplug this simple household device as soon as all the diapers, socks, and tea towels were ironed. But most of these reminders fell upon unpierced ears, as the millions of bucks lavished on Home-Ec soon went up in smoke. This epidemic of mindless bimbos acting as witless pyromaniacs forced America's Men of Invention to come up with Permanent Press Wash & Wear fabrics. Without these Forward Thinking guys, it's unlikely that very many American families would have roofs over their heads Today. GOING TO BLAZES! may well be the short that saved the USA!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
