Funny Safety Training Film for Soldiers on Leave | Once Too Often | 1950

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This humorous short movie - originally titled as "Once Too Often" - is a 1950 US Army training film for soldiers on leave. The film features Oscar-winner Jack Lemmon in his first starring role. Lemmon played Mike, a happy-go-lucky, Private Snafu-like catastrophe of a soldier who has ten days leave and demonstrates ten different ways to be careless with one’s safety, from accepting rides from drunk drivers to falling asleep while smoking. Once Too Often is a series of lessons on what not to do to stay safe and how to avoid unnecessary risk.
The US Army first proposed the film in early 1949, in response to startling statistics that showed that, in the previous calendar year, one-third of lost time accidents and fully two-thirds of fatal accidents involving military personnel occurred while in off-duty activities. The film was intended to be shown to all military personnel and was later cleared for public release.
CONTEXT
In the United States Military, leave is permission to be away from one's unit for a specific period of time. Under normal circumstances, all personnel are granted 30 days of leave per year. This time is usually used for vacations and other extended time periods away from the service that are longer than three days or need to be taken in the middle of the week. Leave is accumulated at the rate of 2.5 days per month. A member's leave is annotated in the monthly Leave and Earnings Statement.
Funny Safety Training Film for Soldiers on Leave | Once Too Often | 1950
TBFA_0143
NOTE: THE VIDEO REPRESENTS HISTORY. SINCE IT WAS PRODUCED DECADES AGO, IT HAS HISTORICAL VALUES AND CAN BE CONSIDERED AS A VALUABLE HISTORICAL DOCUMENT. THE VIDEO HAS BEEN UPLOADED WITH EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. ITS TOPIC IS REPRESENTED WITHIN HISTORICAL CONTEXT. THE VIDEO DOES NOT CONTAIN SENSITIVE SCENES AT ALL!

[@TheBestFilmArchives]

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[@rsmalarz]

My dad was the assistant director of this film. He said Jack was a pleasure to work with.

[@jdoggs08753]

Your Dad was GREAT!!... I can TELL YOU.....they STILL NEED tapes like THIS ONE TODAY.....kids are ABSOLUTE idiots & take the damn PHONE away.....fuhgheddaboudit!!! TRUTHFULLY....sad

[@37thraven]

Did he ever get to see it screened to soldiers? Get any thoughts or commentary?

[@rsmalarz]

@@37thraven I think it was more of a situation wherein the actors did their parts and moved on. So, it's doubtful.

[@37thraven]

@@rsmalarz No worries. I was just curious what the reactions might've been. It's very similar in narration & tone to the 1950's Disney (Goofy) life lessons videos, I got linked here from. Can't help imagining soldiers laughing and throwing popcorn at the screen! 👌

[@NinoNiemanThe1st]

Who would know this and is there anything else to collaborate your claim? Every old video comes up with someone claiming it's his aunty/uncle/godmother/grandfather involved. The clip was hilarious, but I'm very suss about these people who claim their long-gone relatives were involved in them.

[@bruceghent8776]

That's a very young Jack Lemmon!

[@stannousflouride8372]

24 or 25 y.o.

[@maddyg3208]

He later won an Oscar for playing a very similar carefree/irresponsible/immature character in "Mr Roberts".

[@johnbockelie3899]

Mike taking chances with the fates.

[@somethingelse4878]

I thought I recognized him

[@zakofrx]

@@maddyg3208 and he also was similar in the "Wackiest Ship in the Navy" and another movie about him being a lowlife private.. Great actor.. My favorite movie of his was him playing a former Republican president and James Garner was the former Democrat President.. He cared about saving money a lot and Garner cared about women.. They both were on the run becsue a person in the Goverment was trying to kill them due to information they had about dirty tricks..

[@erictaylor5462]

During WWII my grandfather was a mechanic in the USMC he was in New Caledonia. As a reward for good work he was assigned a mission to hand deliver classified papers to San Diego, and once the delivery was complete he would get 24 hours leave to visit his wife. 9 months later my dad showed up.

[@TomMarvan]

Beautiful San Diego can have that effect.

[@adityaK12]

How horny he must have been to get it done in a day.

[@bradleysmall2230]

so gramps was not a fan of cond-0ms

[@lordeden2732]

Good things come from nice intentions!

[@erictaylor5462]

@@bradleysmall2230 For one, it was 1943, for another they were married, and they'd been trying for kids for 8 years.

[@pal5683]

"The driver took it for granted that most other drivers were fools." This is the exact advice my dad gave me when I started driving. Dad is a wise, wise man.

[@frednitney5831]

Perhaps your dad saw the movie?

[@marydonohoe8200]

My mom used to say, “You have to drive for everybody.”

[@conniewojahn6445]

No doubt, his advice has served you well many, many days. And, because you're paying attention, other people who would otherwise be hurt, weren't. So, your dad saved more than just you. I don't know him, but I really like him.

[@jonesbn92]

Ah yes good old asbestos. That will remove any danger.

[@jarikinnunen1718]

They put man in to asbestos suit and Messerschmitt 163 rocket plane at same time. Very secure.

[@ramixnudles7958]

Some like it hot.

[@balancedactguy]

It sure is!

[@VidkunQL]

It's true, asbestos pajamas can survive any fire.

[@samuelmmmk181]

@@VidkunQL Not here mate. Australia will find a way to burn or kill it.

[@sfperalta]

The production year from the film credits show 1950. According to IMDB, Jack Lemmon's first acting jobs were around 1949-1950, making this definitely some very early work from him. You could tell he was something pretty special, even in this small comedic role.

[@glasswhisperer]

He was also in WWII military training videos, one I remember off the top of my head was "How To Behave In Britain" that was from '43 ish

[@keyweststeve3509]

@@glasswhisperer I saw that but it was Burgess Meredith, not Jack Lemon.

[@lennoxmacduff2037]

Next step is to dress like girl )))

[@skipads5141]

@@keyweststeve3509: Yeah, his Grumpy Old Men father.

[@robintate]

Thanks @Steven. I’m actively looking for more of Jack’s earlier performances during this era.

[@joshuapowell2675]

"Mike is a pretty good soldier on the post. But when he takes off, he leaves his common sense behind." Anyone who's ever been in charge of troops can relate to this. Article 15s for everyone

[@TraGeekGaming]

Mike, with his reckless behavior, is the kind of guy you'd want taking his leave in the town of "enemy area".

[@KookueCachoo]

XD

[@HansDelbruck53]

What the hell does that mean?

[@user-ex7mr3ln4y]

@@HansDelbruck53 There's a training film for spies. They constantly refer to Germany as 'enemy area'. Its pretty funny.

[@leechowning2712]

@@HansDelbruck53 Since these films were made for general use, they could not say "Germany", "Italy" or something like that. So for the general movies they would say "enemy area". They are refering to a film made for introducing spies to "how to spy", more or less, and Mike is one of the people they are taught to watch for. He will often be a source of information, since he does not think. Imagine a German agent in this film, wanting to get sailing times for the troop ships he will be on. He would be a huge asset, since he cannot avoid being obvious and would quite easily be led to say when they would sail, and from which harbor, in plenty of time for a German welcoming committee to be waiting for them.

[@HansDelbruck53]

@@leechowning2712 Don't try to lecture me on espionage. I used to work for the NSA back in the cold war era.

[@DennisSullivan-om3oo]

Sequel: After using up all his lucky breaks, Mike gets deployed to the Korean War.

[@FORGOTENcreatr1]

I think my favorite part of this is that for some reason he keeps his uniform on the whole time!

[@himoffthequakeroatbox4320]

Who else thought he was going to catch VD?

[@Laura-wc5xt]

could not have a better actor than Jack Lemmon, he was perfect for the part.....cheers

[@whereswaldo5740]

The drinking parts were live.

[@zakofrx]

All they did was film him during his real down time from his military service..

[@TheTerryGene]

We were actually shown this film when I went through Basic in 1971. I remember thinking: “Jack Lemmon!”

[@boilerup9985]

It's not spaghetti, it's linguine

[@TheTerryGene]

@@boilerup9985 Now it’s garbage!

[@tomgunn8004]

My Dad got home from the war in December 1945. I was born 9 months and 20 minutes later!

[@fleetwoodray]

Funny seeing Lemmon here. He did serve as a ensign on a aircraft carrier during WWII. Went back to Harvard to finish his degree in War Service Sciences, then likened to music and acting.

[@HansDelbruck53]

"likened to music and acting." What does that mean?

[@MarkFoster321789]

@@HansDelbruck53 Meaning changing academic education studies for drama and music.

[@HansDelbruck53]

@@MarkFoster321789 My point is that "...then 'likened' to music and acting" is nonsensical.

[@Timotheus157]

Jack Lemon was always a joy to watch. Great that they picked him for this film. He has the perfect expressive face that speaks to us.

[@ramixnudles7958]

I remember my dad picking up a hitchhiking soldier. Of course, my dad was in the service also. The guy tried to give me a quarter. My dad wouldn't let me accept it. I have no idea how much soldiers made in 1964, but it couldn't have been much.

[@johnc2438]

In 1968, when I entered boot camp, my pay was $102.30 a month. Two years later, while serving in Vietnam, my pay had just about trebled to a tad over $300 a month! But the G.I. Bill paid only $175 a month when I entered college in 1972.

[@stanwolenski9541]

@@johnc2438 Same time frame for me but my pay was a bit higher since I had 1 then 2 then 3 dependents both while in the army and later on in college.

[@armybeef68]

@@johnc2438 What's trebled?

[@AllenMarshClips]

@@armybeef68 Tripled.

[@jamescoulton5138]

Ahh . Smoking in bed

[@huthealex]

Mike: "what's your name?" Girl: "Norma" Mike: *gestures and mouthes silently for a while* "I have a cousin named Norma!" greatest pickup artist of the twentieth century

[@yeetosyeeterofyeet1825]

Al Hu LOL

[@37thraven]

It's like a teetotaler guessing how to play a drunk in a play for the first time 😂 Mumbling about buying her a drink, then loudly demanding the order, to a genuine realization he knows another Norma (and that that somehow matters?) to more mumbles. On second thought, maybe Jack kinda nailed drunkspeak lol

[@anntroxel1797]

To Norma!

[@mbabist01]

And to think that Jack Lemmon was, in real life, an ensign and a Harvard grad!

[@ChrisCaramia]

"Captain, it is I, Ensign Pulver! Now, what is this about no movie tonight?"

[@mark9531]

@@ChrisCaramia Mr. Roberts

[@blueridger28]

How in the fuck did Mike every make it through boot camp?

[@jacobriddle7230]

blueridger28 same way Carl did

[@jeanneratterman]

Jack Lemmon hardly changed over the years. Fun that humor was strong in the education films. Keep their attention. 👍😉👍

[@CrashandTrash596]

I'm just waiting for Walter Matthau to show up and then it's a buddy comedy. (That's an uber young Jack Lemon)

[@mr.d6296]

Thank You for your service, Mike.

[@lelandfranklin3487]

Jack Lemmon was good...even in basically a silent movie...and sooo early in his career.

[@brianjones7660]

First time I saw a guardian angel with a Bronx accent….😇 At 14:10, he’s hungry and toisty….😂

[@hawkmaster381]

I wonder if I have a couple of wise cracking guardian angels? Lol

[@js9884]

Haha ..me to..it looks like they told them to walk into wardrobe and just pick out anything ...what are they even wearing lol

[@sellersgarner]

@@js9884 that's what you learn when running, blacked out drunk, in asbestos pajamas, through props and costume or whatever. I think it was called "stuff from those plays but no tights" . That was the order US Govt. made to some theaters or something.

[@m_d1905]

@@js9884 There are not angels but the Greek fates, they are the wrong sex though, the fates were female. Hence why they said not to tempt the fates.

[@rodansen]

It's fun to see such a young Jack Lemon! He's not even credited...

[@txterbug]

Nothing like a relaxing smoke before going to sleep

[@HansDelbruck53]

Yeah, that nicotine won't ramp up your adrenaline.

[@Cheepchipsable]

Plenty of people would smoke in bed and fall asleep.

[@HansDelbruck53]

@@Cheepchipsable ala Jack Cassidy.

[@superscatboy]

I'm literally having a smoke in bed right now 🤷‍♂️

[@HansDelbruck53]

@@superscatboy Don't wake up crispy.

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

"Put those leave orders DOWN! LEAVE IS FOR CLOSERS!"

[@AC-ih7jc]

Given the NY license plate on his car, the street that Mike is gawping at pretty girls on looks suspiciously like Franklin Avenue in Garden City.

[@joannspumanti3385]

The highway looks like Wantagh Parkway.

[@AC-ih7jc]

@@joannspumanti3385 Granted, this film is a bit before my time, but I don't remember telephone poles ever running along WSP. That, and I don't know of any stretch of WSP that didn't have a median (or had only 2 lanes). If this was indeed filmed near Franklin Avenue, the military base may have been Mitchell Field, and the highway was one of the access roadways on the base. ETA: I showed this to my fiancé who grew up closer to this area, and he said that the train station looked like Mineola (Note the downward sloping overpass of Mineola Boulevard when the camera looks down the tracks). He also said that the residential area where Mike is ogling the gal who is driving the car looks a lot like Garden City just west of where Roosevelt Field is now.

[@bastardmcx5229]

That Mike, wadda galoot...

[@mikecheeseman97]

Hey that's jack lemon!

[@s.marcus3669]

Yeah, the poster says so in the textual description...

[@GhostOrochi]

Fate is never this kind to me and iam ever so carefull.

[@M-7412]

It's probably for the best it ended this way. I'd hate to see Mike shooting himself cleaning his gun. From the stories my dad use to tell me about when him and his buddies were on leave, it's surprising anyone in the military made it back.

[@chilliewhk]

My uncle had a guy in his platoon who dropped his personal crate on his feet while climbing stairs and broke both feet day 1 of boot camp. Basically spent the entire training period in hospital to recover lol. Another guy didn't check to see if his gun was completely unloaded before presenting it to the instructor, so in the process of handing it over the last bullet was shot and narrowly missed the instructor and 3 trainees.

[@ImGoingSupersonic]

I like how hes covered in asbestos to help save the day.

[@hawkmaster381]

This hits close to home. I was always so conscious of the remaining leave time. Lol

[@armybeef68]

I came home for leave, only to watch my dad die from cancer, leave sometimes isn't so great.

[@jamiewalker8772]

@@armybeef68 that hit home real hard man. You are right though…

[@joannspumanti3385]

Wow. Young Jack Lemmon.

[@sharpeslass5452]

A lovely find. Thanks for posting this. (You should put Jack Lemmon's name in the title; you'd probably get more hits!!)

[@kvngn]

I'm a little surprised the Mystery Science Theater boys never did this one.

[@NetworkXIII]

I need those Glengarry leads

[@johnc2438]

First prize: new Cadillac. Second prize: set of steak knives. Third prize: "You're fired!"

[@Airstrip1TV]

It’s Jack Lemmon!

[@richardsteele6776]

One of my all time favorite actors. Jack Lemon. This is the first time I ever saw this film. Thank you for sharing it. Rest in Peace Jack.

[@Rubix1982]

At least Mike isn’t an irresponsible beatnik.

[@Sashazur]

Or a stinking commie!

[@nottherealpaulsmith]

19:31 to truly hammer in how incompetent mike is, we see him literally pick up the coaster before getting his drink and then never actually set his glass down on it

[@armartin0003]

When I was in the service I took a ride from a stranger from the air port to my base every time. I only got threatened once, and that's b/c it was from the father of the girl I asked the ride from.

[@bobcourtier4674]

Dad thought you meant “mustache ride”.

[@briankroenung7995]

The Pine Tree Inn. Route 12 in NY shown on calendar. Appears to be in Brantingham NY. Assume Mike was stationed at Fort Drum. It’s the closest Army base.

[@TeaParty1776]

Ensign Pulver was the morale officer.

[@thegreencat9947]

And laundry.

[@HogRebel]

Getting cramps when you swim right after you eat is an old wives tale that doesn’t hold up. Unless maybe if your in very cold water, then okay. Have eaten & gone swimming right afterward, and never had a problem!

[@sirfortesque8757]

5 years after this its 'Mr Roberts" time. You just gotta love Jack Lemmon and that distinctive facial expressions. ....love it. Thanks so much. I went and watched Mr Roberts right after this. He was only 25 years old here.

[@jonas3197]

I want an asbestos pyjama and blanket so I can savely enjoy my relaxing smoke in bed.

[@thelastjohnwayne]

The Great Jack Lemmon

[@Mysucculentchinesemeal]

Mike woulda gotten a dui at the gate these days.

[@jamesmatticks70]

As a 2 time Academy Award winner, when it really meant something, I’d say he learned his lessons quite well!

[@williamtoth224]

He's driving an Edsel 😂

[@AdolfTrumpler]

20:40 “goodbye for now, we’ll be watching you

[@TheRealMiniIsHere]

This was recommended to me randomly hehe, admit it you watching this now also invested how this all ends and more invested in this than a typical soap on tv now days.

[@originalplasmo]

Choice! Love the film noir style at the card game.

[@jaygreider4753]

Jack Lemmon. WOW!!

[@im1who84u]

9:13 Good thing it didn't rain last night. Someone left the top down.

[@jamesboykin7319]

I wonder if Jack Lemons dad is going to throw spaghetti against the wall.

[@RS-pk4mp]

It was linguine! Now its garbage. Just saying

[@felis1224]

I love watching these old films!

[@Alsatiagent]

Norma never got her drink.

[@paulbennett2112]

When I was a kid at school I had a headmaster that every time we broke up for the holidays he would give a pep talk in assembly stay safe respect your parents and neighbours it kept me in good stead and alive and well more kids could do with that

[@MichaelBrown-pg5dy]

Man, the 1950s were lit.

[@WBDelgado]

Asbestos pajamas 😂

[@skipads5141]

This Mike fella would make a real odd couple with someone.

[@MRB1157]

Who the hell would wear there uniform while on leave. It's like wearing your school uniform on the weekend.

[@liam6979]

Get a few drink bought for you

[@liam6979]

Also hairy 40's bush

[@ClepsidraSideral]

The Generic guy Productions Dramatisation purposes.

[@JackpineGandy]

1950 and he is a private...might not have rated civvies until he got a couple more stripes.

[@zakofrx]

This was WW2, that uniform got him girls..

[@karlhungus5554]

One of the greatest ever!

[@awesomebill721]

"Mike, your reckless. Now stop smoking in bed and put on your asbestos PJs!"

[@jeanneratterman]

“Floiting wit sum goil.” 😆😆😆

[@jamesorth6460]

Not sure what's riskier asbestos or sleeping in bed with a lit cigarette

[@zakofrx]

Back then asbestos was safe and a wonder material that saved lives from fire.... Just like DDT was safe etc...

[@drmacdough4896]

mike the legend

[@desertdinghy9833]

1/2 way through it and I'm totally seeing Ensign Pulver here, without the dialog and navy uniform. Jack Lemmon was so good, he could act with just a look!

[@davidhull1481]

Oh dear, that old wives tale about waiting half an hour after you eat before swimming. The dreaded cramps!

[@peterszar]

It's funny but looking at Jack Lemmon in his younger days, it took a long time for him to age. He looked good well into his 50's/60's, oh well, lucky guy.

[@feralbluee]

20:17 the actress at the bar did a lot of TV in the ‘50’s and 60’s. i don’t remember her name, but i sure remember her face and the type of parts she got. she did very well. 🌷🌱

[@PuffKitty]

Constance Ford 🐈

[@brianmccarthy5557]

Jack Lemmon!!

[@hojoinhisarcher]

made my day Thanks!

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thank you.

[@jessicamiller9970]

No risk no reward

[@prof.heinous191]

I heard Mike spent some time in orthopaedics but came good, he decided to change his name to Jack and try his hand in Hollywood...

[@EBUNNY2012]

Mr. Howell drives around a grumpy young man.

[@37thraven]

That look into the camera at 24:06 is such a satisfying, sarcastic payoff for the whole film, (before the lecture). I'm trying to imagine what the GIs watching this thought. If a lot of soldiers were driving drunk and picking fights, cramming a wild time in on a tight shoreleave. Sure I get it. But 'Be careful changing lightbulbs' and 'don't smoke in bed'? Okay mom 😂

[@Cheepchipsable]

More about cumulative risk. Soldiers aren't called Grunts because of their intelligence.

[@JohnGenericName]

"Sure smoking is safe, if you have asbestos pajamas and blankets." That aged poorly.

[@Cheepchipsable]

Um, it was 70 years ago...

[@JohnGenericName]

@@Cheepchipsable And it aged poorly. Old information that is rendered foolish or extremely wrong as time reveals new information is the entire premise of that joke.

[@spookerredmenace3950]

amazing!!

[@conniewojahn6445]

Oh Oh Mike!!

[@misskim2058]

If there weren’t such a thing as angels, I wouldn’t be here… Several times over.

[@angelsaltamontes7336]

(6:14)---OBJECTIVE: MARGIE!

[@WillieBojangles501]

Mike was a walking disaster, lol. 😂

[@sclogse1]

Note the changing camera shots in the card game.When It's low looking up when he gets his card. Pro work.

[@BrianandSnoopy1]

Should have ended with mike getting hit by the truck But he survives, and after he recover and reports in he get handed orders sending him to Korea. :)

[@shangobunni5]

This is hilarious.

[@peterkwolek2265]

wow, I heard of the RNG gods when gaming, didn't know that concept was way older, and they look like (at least Hollywood's depiction) old time gods from mythology.

[@xylfox]

Funny! Took me about 2 minutes before realizing its Jack Lemmon😅

[@liedenier]

1940s hollywood thinks heaven is ancient rome. 😉

[@vladtheimpala5532]

Those are not angels. They’re supposed to be The Fates. The Ancient Greeks believed in that.

[@convoyjack3310]

damn the roads in the 50s look so much better

[@Spock_Rogers]

Investment in infrastructure.

[@zelphx]

Jack Lemmon didn't even get a line... oh well, he would get lots of them later on.

[@js9884]

He's so great an actor he didn't even need any lines ..harkening back to the silent film era.....maybe that's why they cast him .. I think this sorts was his big break....he's was so great

[@im1who84u]

20:30 I am sure I've met you somewhere before.

[@veganleigh4817]

@@im1who84u Very observant.

[@im1who84u]

@@veganleigh4817 Thank you, but that was easy. Check out the plate on Mike’s car at 9:33. Now check out the plate on the other guys car at 11:53 Looks like “the other guy” stole Mike’s plate.

[@Bronislaavv]

I notice they made him Infantry ; how appropriate.

[@mikmik9034]

Interesting this: John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 - June 27, 2001) Served in U.S. NAVY during WW2. briefly as an ensign on the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain , Democrat, and back to Harvard after. During and for a few years after the war Hitchhiking was actually encouraged, to save gas for the war effort.