Duties Of A Secretary (1947)

[@jb6712]

I'm four years into retirement, and I'm still feeling strong anxiety for this young woman's first weeks in her new job!

[@tj921able]

LOL 😂 😂

[@CocoaPuff01]

Why? Everything's done by computer software today

[@poetcomic1]

@@CocoaPuff01 Yeah, now you can push a wrong button and wipe out the business.

[@CocoaPuff01]

@@poetcomic1 cntrl+z should bring everything back 😊

[@paulalinhares8849]

This film demonstrates how much we’ve declined in setting high expectations for employees. These days we can hardly expect employees, especially millennials, to even show up to work. And if they do, we cannot complain if they show up in their pajamas lest we hurt their feelings and get reprimanded by HR. Frankly, I think it would do us good as a society to go back to a time when bosses actually were as tough (managerial) as this guy in the film.

[@DianeLake-sw3ym]

Sorry but, I have to post again. I was reading some comments from people thinking they were being funny. But, they actually were being insulting to office workers of the era. That thing about secretaries being just fun girls for the boss is just Hollywood fantasy. These ladies were real professionals who worked hard and did a good day of work. They also trained for becoming a secretary. It was not some lay on your back kind of thing for some ding a ling. They were smart and capable and Professional. To insult and put them down is really crass. They had enough to deal with back in the day when Hollywood did make cheap jokes about them. These women deserve our respect for being the groundbreakers for Professional women in the workplace today

[@noneofyourbusiness7094]

Thank you for posting this comment!

[@th3Reader]

True. As far as I know, they were like an office worker anf manager at the same time. Heavy workload and doing their best, while at the same time being exposed to daily sexism and discrimination. Truly an important step towards womens rights

[@DianeLake-sw3ym]

I did Secretary and Reception work i n the 80s and I am so jealous of the way the desks had spaces for the typewriters when you were done. this one she pushed down and over. I've seen some on these videos where they swing up with opening the top. Never had that back when I started out or after. They just sat on top like always. No tucking away. I find back then they did so many clever things like pocket doors and those iron boards that fold up and out of the way without all the trouble of today, They had linen drawers and even drawers for clothes that came out of the wall. Things really were done clever and so conveienent and out of the way without all the clutter

[@CocoaPuff01]

No one wants this big bulky desks. Besides we use laptops and tablets today. Not typewriters.

[@DianeLake-sw3ym]

@@CocoaPuff01 Oh, I know that,,,I'm using a laptop now! Lol. But, serious, I just think that is so cool. Before computers when typewriters were still used they just sat on the desk taking up room when not used. I would have been cool to have one of those old style things where the typewriter was tucked away. I just think they have alot more cool ideas and stuff back then. Really clever ideas. You should see this old film about 'new' kitchens. There were some really awesome things

[@MahouKat]

The secondhand anxiety I was feeling from this was unreal 😭

[@tarabarno7811]

A job is a job is a job...getting settled in is always a challenge. What I find muzing is that back in those days a young lady out of High School was competent to work with skills and responsibility. Now days I am not confident anyone out of High School is capable and willing.

[@All_you_need_is_love2018]

We’re no longer in the industrial age. We’re now in the knowledge age, where a higher level of skills is required.

[@rinwesley3092]

Oh man, I've had those 'screwed up first day on the job' dreams. They're truly horrible.

[@Musictroper76]

She should have started at least a week before the other secretary left to shadow her.

[@CrashingCrockery]

This was just a joy! So unexpectedly funny; more fun than watching any contemporary sitcom or ordinary old training film, thank you for uploading!

[@libratude9595]

What's so funny about it?

[@CrashingCrockery]

@@libratude9595 Oh, the overt drama, as far as the frazzled "new girl" being careless, the dark dramatic music, the boss who is not dissimilar to the daunting husband out of "Gaslight," it just seemed a bit too ominous and film-noir-like for a mere film about secretarial duties.

[@riggs20]

She was stressing me out so much! Why am I watching this right before I begin a new job? :-)

[@aubreyannesimpas4632]

HOW WAS IT

[@ThePretzelHead]

Dreaming Dreamer I'm just chilling and she has stressed me out

[@donalex4759]

Gloria Willis gives an amazingly endearing performance. You almost feel protective of her when the boss is being mean to her, and you start cringing when she makes the next mistake. She is adorably childlike in the first half: her stricken facial expressions after she screws up, then a sudden happy dawning of realization as she learns and things become easier for her, and finally mature confidence in her skills at her chosen profession ... she is always believable and never phony. I am surprised that she didn't do more acting. It must have been by choice, because she was really great at generating empathy. This is an A quality film because of her, even when "Rifftrax" is mocking it. :)

[@Shedrack-tt9rv]

Agreeing with you 💯%

[@Lily_Anne]

Wow - did this bring back memories! I did notice that she turned the calendar over twice, and she didn't write the new appointment down on it. But this was great. Thanks for uploading it!

[@tj921able]

I like how organized her workspace was. That tends to make a job easier & more pleasant to do.

[@brianarbenz1329]

The secretary is played by Gloria Willis. A post on another channel by a man who said he is her son said Gloria made just a few films, instructional and promotional in nature, but also acted off Broadway, including with Jean Stapleton, who was a friend of hers. The son said Gloria grew up poor and was a lifelong progressive working for Civil Rights, labor causes and humane treatment of animals. He said she died in 2005 and was particularly admiring of a new rising presidential prospect named Barack Obama. Very interesting to see the story of a talented person not a household name, but very devoted to her art.

[@xdarkridex]

I came looking for this. I'm shocked she didn't have more of a career. She has a unique look and a certain charisma. And yeah, she's gorgeous. Such a shame there's not a library of performances out there.

[@brianarbenz1329]

@@xdarkridex She had a great stage career. I have wondered if the name Gloria may have been given to Edith Bunker's daughter because Jean Stapleton was a close friend of Gloria.

[@lemonielala3080]

That typewriter table was genius though! 😯🤩

[@taylorharbin3948]

You can still find used desks like that. They're beauties!

[@CocoaPuff01]

@@taylorharbin3948 they're huge and bulky

[@sharegreats2157]

Not only educational but also instructive this film was!

[@millybartholomew2380]

This was surprisingly motivational and wholesome....I better get back to work now lol!

[@tj921able]

LOL 😂 😂

[@alphonsocarioti512]

The first few weeks on a new job is the most challenging. It's also exciting. You are learning new procedures, meeting new people and moving your personal success forward.

[@flyboy3480]

I thought she was going to light his office on fire a 27:00 when she dumped the ashtray and a tissue in the trash.

[@worldtrav3l3r86]

This is still a great training video...thank you. Please upload more if there are any.

[@CocoaPuff01]

It doesn't apply to the real world. That secretary has been replaced with a Google calendar

[@deliarodriquez4989]

Boy do I remember those days.getting myself all work up before I even go in.yhat sucks

[@RachelSDay1982]

She actually had a Training Manual to refer to??? I had to learn the job as I went along. Every legal secretarial position that I worked in, I was pretty much on my own. However, I had determination. I enjoyed learning about the law. I read everything I got my hands on.

[@reflexxuns767]

I had a job as financial manager of a large dental clinic (over 100 employees). My training consisted of half a page of large handwritten information by the person leaving. I had to learn fast!

[@MrMoritz74]

A nice story. I come from Germany. In my country, the enterprises used manual typewritera until the Last 1960th (i.e. Olympia SM, Continental Ideal, Adler or Triumph). Greetings from Germany!

[@chuckf6163]

She was very beautiful! Love the ladies from that Era, beauty and class.

[@bgurtek]

Absolutely fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Choclatcotton]

She’s a good actress

[@All_you_need_is_love2018]

I can’t imagine working without a laptop, mobile phones, Zoom, MS Office, or having electronic copy of my files saved up in the clouds.

[@drewconway7135]

Stubs out cigarette, dumps hot ashes into wastebasket. Zero fucks given.

[@iambored2094]

Lol, I thought that also, but a lot of garbage cans were metal back then, I have one from my grandmother. But the papers obviously could ignite 😊

[@itsnotsupposebly6792]

More suspenseful than Cape Fear😬

[@lukehauser1182]

This is too scary, I have to turn it off!

[@smalliesxd]

The guy who plays Mr. Harmon is really good at playing a terrifying boss one minute and an adorable friendly guy the next lol

[@danmac9545]

now I can be a full fledged secretary

[@CocoaPuff01]

That's no longer a career

[@eldermillennial2000]

In the real world, you'll find out common sense is not so common!

[@LB-ku6ry]

This was good. She struggled at first. She didn’t knock on the door to his office. She just walked in. At the end, she was a fine secretary. This was so pleasant to view.

[@jeffwynings3782]

Why didn’t she bring the binder with all of the notes the other secretary made? That would’ve been helpful on her first few days.

[@tj921able]

I agree.

[@aproverbshome173]

Great video!!! They need more training for people starting work. In these days many people not taking pride in their apperance and work performance!

[@MrRibby88]

First they got rid of secretaries and started calling them "Admin Assistants".....fast forward to 2020 and practically everyone of working age types their own documents......and the number of admin assistants in the US drops dramatically year after year.

[@KDM209]

Receptionist.....

[@lizettewanzer8650]

Anyone remember when they were called Gal Fridays?

[@benwhitmore6970]

Goes to show you that in just 50 years everyone is doing at least enough work for two people.

[@ruth4489]

And in 10 years we will all be replaced by AI, or artificial intelligence.

[@CocoaPuff01]

@@benwhitmore6970 no, we've use technology to become self sufficient

[@CrazyCoon100]

Lol...what happens at this office stays at this office Um..ok but imma need a raise

[@jessmorgan6732]

15 minutes in, I expected her to try to brush her teeth with the letter opener.

[@roachtoasties]

Mr. Harman would make Miss Hayes job easier if he would provide her a laptop with Microsoft Office and internet. :/

[@amymdee3]

Mr. Harmon and some of his clients might need some training on tactful business etiquette and fundamental interpersonal skills. This girl should consider finding a job working for someone who isn’t going to throw a mini tantrum every time she overlooks something.

[@livelifeincolour]

To be fair, the boss's bad behaviour was a dream.

[@diankreczmer6595]

She is not good at taking dictation. But a fast typist But when a boss screams at you ,leave!

[@StoutProper]

When a boss screams at you, tell them if they do that again you'll be waiting outside work to have a chat with them about letting their mouth write cheques their hands can't cash

[@MarvinClarence]

@@StoutProper And prepare for a police report if you decide so to do.

[@hopefletcher7420]

I was a secretary in my early 20s...way back in the early 70s...and one day I took a call from a man looking for one of our salesmen. He really angry and yelling at me; I kept quiet and took the message but when I Hu g up the VP of our office was standing by my desk and asked about the call. When I told him he said "Next time, hang up. I don't pay you enough to take abuse." Mr. Zickefoose, you were a nice guy.

[@pkmnan00bis]

Like how she realized the first part was just a dream because she messed up on her first day so bad she effectively destroyed the company and *survived*

[@cinerama62]

Just watch your P's and Q' s or you'll never work in this town again.

[@itsnotsupposebly6792]

Hilarious🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tj921able]

This was enjoyable to watch, plus informative. Thank you for sharing it. God Bless You & stay safe.

[@zhaoliang4217]

I know it was a different era but I can’t believe bosses would spank adult secretaries just for little mistakes like adding a paragraph break (at 8:55). Thank god for modern hr laws.

[@livelifeincolour]

What made you think he spanked her?

[@fannycraddock99]

He can clean out his own filthy ashtray!

[@hopefletcher7420]

Spoken like a woman of the 21st Century! I was a secretary in the early 1970s when I was in my early 20s. In addition to cleaning out an ashtray and all my secretarial duties, I had to keep the meeting room ready for visitors, bring in the coffee service for meetings with visitors, change the water bottle in my boss' private sparklers machine (and back then it was a heavy glass 5 gallon bottle), and even go down and move his car if he was in a spot with limited parking times. He was going for his PHD and I typed his papers and learned some juicy stuff about the office which I kept to myself. I enjoyed it, but the pay was low.

[@goose7215]

​@hopefletcher7420 dang girl you got scammed. And ya'll why no one wants to work for a pay like that

[@Musictroper76]

It is almost comical the amount of mistakes she made on her first day.

[@prakashm1468]

It was just her dream.

[@robinmariasmith1237]

I counted at least 16 mistake she did just adout everything she was told when in onecand out thr other poor girl

[@theodora7101]

17:28 This part was very funny!

[@ecthelion222]

I think he’s an awful boss to be such a hard ass on her. She’s young and making mistakes but it isn’t NASA. He could learn a lot from his last secretary about courtesy. He’s too passive aggressive but it’s the way they made this reel.

[@taylorharbin3948]

I'll bet they had a lot of fun making this, and swapped stories about real office hijinks between takes.

[@blissy1]

Well all she has to do is turn it up for Mr Harman

[@LucaSitan]

I can never tell if they're 20, 30 or even 50 years old...

[@alexeidarling]

OK, honest question - why wasn't she allowed to correct the dictation? Shouldn't she make sure that the grammar of the letter is correct?

[@letoubib21]

It does be *his* letter, not hers . . .

[@BrittMFH]

Alexei B I'm a legal secretary of approx 35 years and yes, I will definitely correct grammar if it's wrong!

[@rinwesley3092]

The boss really hates paragraphs

[@ThePretzelHead]

Rin Wesley why wouldn't he, after the incident?

[@StoutProper]

You can correct the grammar when you type it up

[@falloutcat3412]

im gettiing ptsd

[@DeathByFashion1]

Oh gosh I had a job like this right out of high school. But my boss im sure had anger management issues. I’m glad he went out of business.

[@deliarodriquez4989]

Didn't she also do another viedeo.shes the bride and there's little flower girl.and she gets all kinds of gift.it looks just like her

[@livelifeincolour]

Tomorrow Always Comes?

[@primavera1912]

Ohhhhh i like this movie it helps a lot thank you

[@HobbyOrganist]

Poor Miss Hayes!!

[@divatech185]

I feel bad for her dictation. Oh no! I feel the anxiety. She went and did everything contrary to her training booklet. UGH! Glad it was a dream! LOL poor thing. I have those nightmares when I start a new job in my career. LOL

[@mikepeterson764]

He hates to see her ago but loves to watch her leave.

[@m.r.e.5731]

School didn't prepare her very well.

[@farahsouissi-vo1rh]

9:37 my heart skipped a beat

[@rubenjames7345]

This is what constituted a clever photoplay? Simpler times, indeed.

[@kaymuldoon3575]

I remember the dust covers for typewriters.

[@abbadabbba232]

If she was my secretary I'd never leave the office.

[@robinmariasmith1237]

She broke so many rules on the first day boy she need t be fired

[@BrittMFH]

robinmaria smith It was a dream

[@blissy1]

And all will be fine !!!!

[@Lisa59]

I'm getting agita just watching this!

[@divatech185]

what happened to all the cool gadgets they had back then? I would love some of those hide away concepts for my area. LOL Even some of the ones I have watched for the 1950s wife in the kitchen. The refrigerators and stoves were the bomb. I know it is off subject here. Just think they had some great concepts. I wish they kept them.

[@cinerama62]

Any body know who the actress is? I spent an hour researching but no luck.

[@aprilsunflower7440]

Gloria Willis.

[@Chuck_502]

and always be sure to le.....00:44

[@MarvinClarence]

Probably a mended reel.

[@Choclatcotton]

Today, don’t allow him to catch you on your cellphone and make sure you slip in time for work.

[@kristinejensen2961]

HAH! I work on Worcester Rd in MA.

[@MikeHolzhauser]

She is so cute looking and nice

[@barbarapineda5730]

Dreaming dreamers, is good too.learn the ol hidden conceal.this a 1940s films, mind parents, times they.were.teenagers, those times.born 1930s

[@whiteknightcat]

Language isn't your first ... language, is it?

[@Choclatcotton]

She ran he acted like he couldn’t stand the sight of her!

[@KDM209]

Ummm, five minutes in 😄

[@kringles65]

Always give the boss a helping hands.😁

[@Dpb-236]

❤😂🎉❤

[@murdaone261]

...BO$ MURDA ONE & $O$ P.

[@shanemckenna9416]

She doesn’t need a job. She needs a man.

[@CocoaPuff01]

This is hilarious

[@kristopherryanwatson]

duties of a secretary = please your boss behind closed doors.

[@seanmccann8368]

Back then, and for decades afterwards the best way to get ahead probably involved getting on her back for the boss

[@AmiraAsmar]

This so adorable