Every Minute Counts

This 1940s propaganda film, crafted to boost WWII homefront productivity, targets employers and workers—especially women—in civilian industries. Filmed in black-and-white, it opens with a ticking clock, underscoring the urgency of time in wartime. The narrative highlights real-life struggles: a working mother rushes to drop kids at a neighbor’s before her factory shift, or a woman juggles laundry and a late bus, arriving frazzled at her assembly line job making shells or aircraft parts. Scenes contrast tardiness—empty workstations stalling production—with punctual workers keeping the line humming, driving home the mantra “every minute counts.” Narration urges employers to offer support, like childcare or flexible shifts, while showing women riveting steel or packing supplies, their efforts tied to soldiers awaiting gear overseas. A blend of empathy and stern motivation, it reflects the era’s push to balance domestic duties with industrial demands, rallying all to maximize output for victory.