''So Much for So Little'' is a 1949 American animated short

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

directed by

Chuck Jones Charles Martin Jones (September 21, 1912 – February 22, 2002) was an American animator, painter, voice actor and filmmaker, best known for his work with Warner Bros. Cartoons on the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of shorts. He ...

and

Friz Freleng Isadore "Friz" Freleng (; August 21, 1905May 26, 1995), credited as I. Freleng early in his career, was an American animator, cartoonist, Film director, director, Film producer, producer, and composer known for his work at Warner Bros. Cartoons ...

. In 1950, it won an

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

at the 22nd Academy Awards for Documentary Short Subject, tying with '' A Chance to Live''. It was created by Warner Bros. Cartoons for the

United States Public Health Service The United States Public Health Service (USPHS or PHS) is a collection of agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services which manages public health, containing nine out of the department's twelve operating divisions. The assistant s ...

. As a work of the United States Government, the film is in the

public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...

. The Academy Film Archive preserved ''So Much for So Little'' in 2005. Produced during the

Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that year. Subsequen ...

administration, it attained renewed relevance during the modern Medicare for All movement in the United States, nearly seven decades later.

Plot

The cartoon begins by stating that, annually, 118,481 babies — out of well over two million born — will die before reaching their first birthday. From there, we are shown John E. Jones, a baby who, unless good oversight of the environment is maintained and John himself is provided consistently good

healthcare Health care, or healthcare, is the improvement or maintenance of health via the preventive healthcare, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, treatment, wikt:amelioration, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other disability, physic ...

, may potentially add to this statistic. Most of John's life is depicted: his school years, marriage, later life (as a father), and his golden years. Along the way, health service information is detailed. Before the film ends, it rewinds and returns to John as a baby, reminding the audience about the importance of proper, ongoing care availability to ensure he enjoys a robust, full life. The viewers are informed that it costs each American just three cents a week to safeguard John's, and all babies', well being.

Home media

This documentary short appeared as bonus features in '' Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2'' and '' Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1''. It was remastered in '' Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection: 15 Winners'' and '' Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection''.

References

External links

*
''So Much for So Little''
at the

National Archives and Records Administration The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:So Much For So Little 1949 films 1949 short documentary films 1940s Warner Bros. animated short films American short documentary films Best Documentary Short Subject Academy Award winners Short films directed by Chuck Jones American animated documentary films Documentary films about health care American social guidance and drug education films Warner Bros. Cartoons animated short films Films scored by Carl Stalling Articles containing video clips 1940s English-language films English-language short documentary films 1949 animated short films Short films directed by Friz Freleng Films with screenplays by Chuck Jones

Plot

Home media

See also

References

External links