[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPride MonthAmerican Black Film FestivalSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

American Portrait

  • 1940
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
12
YOUR RATING
Short

Add a plot in your language

  • Director
    • Wallace Fox
  • Writer
    • John Eugene Hasty
  • Stars
    • Alan Ladd
    • Mary Brodel
    • Ben Alexander
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    12
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wallace Fox
    • Writer
      • John Eugene Hasty
    • Stars
      • Alan Ladd
      • Mary Brodel
      • Ben Alexander
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast7

    Edit
    Alan Ladd
    Alan Ladd
    • Young Man…
    Mary Brodel
    Mary Brodel
    • Barbara
    Ben Alexander
    Ben Alexander
    • David
    Marvin Davis
    Charles Miller
    • Mr. Wilkes
    Milburn Stone
    Milburn Stone
    • George
    Hal Taliaferro
    Hal Taliaferro
    • Calvin
    • Director
      • Wallace Fox
    • Writer
      • John Eugene Hasty
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    6.812
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6boblipton

    Selling Life Insurance and Kerosene Lamps

    Alan Ladd was starting to move into credited parts in 1940, a year in which he had roles in a dozen and a half movies, including this one. He plays this in heavy make-up as an old man and using a voice that would be unrecognizable to anyone familiar with his starring movies. At the time he was doing a lot of radio work which called for a facility with voices; two years later, his voice would be part of his starring persona and he would use it for the following two decades.

    Milburn Stone, now best remembered for his continuing role in TV's GUNSMOKE is also on hand.

    This is a nice little industrial film with good production values and a cast and crew that worked hard. It speaks of the importance of salesmen in getting people to accept new and valuable ideas. It's actually to sell life insurance.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      [Prologue] This is the story of improvements and better ways of life which have come into being over the course of the last one hundred years. Inventiveness and ingenuity created the improvements - but the force which brought them into widespread use has been American salesmanship. Improved commodities and services never have been quickly or universally accepted. They have to be sold. So, it is to these salesmen that this picture is dedicated - to the men and women who, in the performance of their daily tasks, are building a better world in which to live.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 13, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • Wilding Picture Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      25 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.