Shake Hands with Danger (1980)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Herk Harvey

Writer:

John Clifford (writer)

Release Date:

3 June 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Short

Plot Keywords:

Ephemeral Film

Cast

Charles Oldfather

...

Narrator

Runtime:

USA:23 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Lawrence, Kansas, USA

Company:

Centron Corporation

Great theme song that'll have laughing all the way to casualty!

A 70's public information film, narrated by a wise old gravel-voiced cowboy who explains that if you're working with heavy machinery and you ignore your personal safety, you're gonna shake hands with danger. A heady mix of unlocked differentials, pressurised hot oil, improper use of gasoline, carelessly discarded Marlboro's and blasé, distracted Village People-looking workmen who lose toes and fingers faster than a blind leper cartwheeling through a mousetrap testing facility. There are some fine stunts, wooden acting, which actually adds to the film's charm (watch out for the 'wasp in the bulldozer cab scene', hilarious, gruesome and sonically a bit John Carpenter), plus a truly outstanding country and western theme song that runs throughout the film - you can't help but smile every time it chimes in; you'll be singing it for the rest of the week!