He Describes A 1950s Life Of Crime & Why He Did It.

This is a very unusual 16mm film from the 1950s that attempts to be a documentary. In some ways I believe it is. From what I can tell, the man speaking behind the mask is not an actor. This is a clip from a a police training video made in the state of Michigan to help police officers deal with lifelong criminals and understand them more deeply.

Reading the credits at the end of the film, the criminal is not credited. The film is part of my archive which has thousands of films from the 1950s that I collected over the course of my life.

Although somewhat 1950 styles formal in the way the criminal is interviewed, I find this man and the story he tells and the way he tells it, fascinating. There is something hauntingly real about how he describes his family, his upbringing, his attitude towards the crimes that he committed, what the film describes as "the criminal mind." The interviewer who was a well-known police officer from that time is just asking frank questions spoken with no emotion–we call it flat. The subject is also responding with no emotion. But those of you watching this who weren't around at that time should know that this piece of film was considered outrageously real for its time.

I do not believe that I have seen a recently produced documentary that explains, as bluntly as this one, a life of crime and what might have caused someone to become a criminal, breaking the law as consistently and as coolly as this gentleman did.

If you found this of interest, I would appreciate your clicking on the super thanks button below the video screen to the right. Your support helps me to go forward in my archive and find more clips of interest to you and other subscribers.
Thank you
David Hoffman filmmaker

[DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

A subscriber figured out who this is =

[IrmiZen]

He's willing to talk about everything except for what went on with his family. That says a lot.

[marko.rankovic]

It took almost 70 years before the YouTube algorithm recommended this to me

[Eur]

Taking into consideration that this was filmed in the 50s the audio is still pretty good

[MexicanMartialArts]

"That's right" sounds a lot cooler than "yes".

[ryswe]

Interviewer asks question. This guy has two options:

Option A: that's right
Option B: none of your business

[peedfarded]

“Where did you go after you got booted out of the army?”
“I took a right.”
“You took a right?”
“That’s right.”

[lucasjelif]

Man, the way they talked back then is so mesmerizing... almost like they're humming a soft melody

[BarryEal]

“So what’s the opposite of left?”
“That’s right”

[hectormunoz]

People in 1950s: He sounds so scary and dangerous.
People in 2020s: He sounds like a polite criminal. Very courteous.

[Madeguydo]

I bet this guy grew up in an abusive household.
"That's none of your business".
Damn that's stone cold.

[justinnardine]

“You stole a car at 17?”
“Yea.”
“What happened at home?”
“None of your business.”

[Theevilify]

"Well, wouldn't nobody worry about me if I got killed...so I don't worry about anybody else."
The way he said that so matter-of-factly is both charming and chilling.

[henrymagdoll]

His voice was stone cold. Nothing could phase him.

“Thats right”

[panther]

How is this mic from the 50’s better than mine?

[bonelesschicken]

“Nobody worry about me if I get killed or anything so I don’t worry about anybody else”

[takaonies]

To my surprise, their conversation is really easy to comprehend and is understandable for me, not an American but a foreign learner of English as a second language, possibly because the 1950’s English is very similar to my English textbooks in every sense, the vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and usage, composition, and so on. I’m really impressed with that.

[ReplyGuyChris]

Idk if it’s the drugs talking but this is the strangest episode of the joe Rogan podcast I’ve ever seen

[barbaragray]

"Whats the opposite of left ?"
"Thats right.."

[iplayer]

A 50s criminal talks more polite then most non criminals these days, Times have changed