(1940)

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1/10
That's something you don't hear these days... *SPOILERS*
icehole48 April 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Ah, yet another short film that's quite dated. The short itself is about a manager at a Chevrolet car dealership that's having trouble with his workers. They talk about how the manager gets involved with his employees and turns them into better salespeople. The acting's pretty bad, and the guy in one scene puts a handkerchief on his head for no apparent reason. You have to remember that this wasn't designed for public view; it was supposed to be only for chevy managers. MST skewered it rightfully, however.
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1/10
The first thing Harry drilled into me... was HARRY!
marcus_stokes20008 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
*SPOILERS For Hire!*

Oh, sweet 'Hired', what are you about?

Leadership?

The story of one man, who is helped to become better by his boss and said boss' handkerchief-wearing dad?

Learning how to be a better seller for Chevrolet?

Or are you simply a bizarre short about nothing with people whose actions leave us dumbfounded (BUT HE BOUGHT THE FLIPPIN'CAR!!!), confused ('We hope you buy your next TEN CARS from us.' TEN CARS???) or wondering if they're just plain stupid (where does the handkerchief come in?)? Joel and the bots (and us) had so much fun with this not-so-short it's unbelievable.

'Good night, stay pink, soft and oily.'

Hired!: 1/10.
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1/10
hired to get mocked by Joel, Servo and Crow
lee_eisenberg12 April 2006
"Hired!" is another so-called educational film where we don't learn anything. As far as I could tell, the plot involved someone looking for a job; in my opinion, the people behind this drudge of a movie don't deserve jobs. This one is only noticeable because on "Mystery Science Theater 3000", Dr. Forrester made Joel, Servo and Crow watch it before he made them watch "Manos the Hands of Fate"; if you ask me, "Manos the Hands of Fate" was more interesting.

If I made an educational film, it would feature a 1950s suburban boy explaining to his parents - to the tune of "U Can't Touch This - why he won't eat meat.
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Transporting us, like a time machine, to a happier era...
Mike Sh.28 December 2001
Ah, the 1940's. Just thinking of that blessed decade brings out the Miniver Cheevy in me. Would that I could have lived in that felicitous time in our nation's history. I mean, sure, we had just come through a horrible depression, we were fighting a war on several fronts against some of the most frighteningly evil dictators in memory, and would soon be forced to confront international Communism. And yet, it was also a time of innocence, of self-confidence, of cheerful sunny optimism. All the cops were kindly and helpful, all the priests looked like Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald or Pat O'Brien, and none of the criminal element so much as said "hell" or "damn".

Nowhere can that happy epoch be relived quite the way it can in the short instructional films of that era. "Hired!" is a great example of the genre. A paunchy be-Brylcreemed fortyish sales manager at a car dealership hires a young salesman who quickly proves a disappointment. Not that the young man doesn't try; he just doesn't seem to have enough on the ball. Mr. Sales Manager, disgusted and despondent over the turn things have taken, stops by his dad's place one Friday afternoon to gripe and grouse. Crumudgeounly old Dad, handkerchief firmly set on head, sets his son straight by telling him that he must work with his salesmen to get the most out of them. It isn't enough, Dad growls, to train them and let them be. You must show them how to do their jobs, encouraging them every step of the way.

Sonny the Sales Manager is inspired by Dad's talk, and shakes things up the following Monday. In no time flat, a miracle is effected, and sales are through the roof!

And so we see that with a little mental effort and a lot of elbow grease, stick-to-it-iveness, and good old American gumption, all sorts of difficulties are overcome, and all our dreams can come true.

Thank you Jam Handy, for this slice of Americana. In tribute to you, I will keep my marmalade close by, where I can easily get it.
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3/10
Walmart should watch this short.
Aaron137525 March 2012
While very dated and poorly executed this short film made some good points. I say Walmart should watch this short, mainly because they have a nasty habit of throwing their workers to the wolves with very little training. Most of the time management has nothing to do with the new employees initial training, instead electing to sit in their office and drinking coffee or giving things to an irate customer who has been caught stealing. Yes, this one has a man who is in charge of his own car dealership. He is frustrated by the lack of productivity from his staff, however, his dad points out that you have to work with your employees and not just assume they are going to be great at what they do. Great points, valid points, but it is still an extremely boring short to view with very little entertainment value. It is not without some humor, but the humor found within is not intentional as the father inexplicably puts a handkerchief on his head and the one guy jumps down one of his employee's throats for the way he demonstrates a vehicle despite the fact he sold the car. So while this one does make very good points, it is rendered almost unwatchable by the way it is presented.
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5/10
Rather Entertaining and Educational
gavin69427 December 2015
A middle-aged auto sales manager is having poor results with his staff, so he gets some advice from his handkerchief-wearing father.

Most people probably see this divided in two parts, featured on "Mystery Science Theater 3000". And that is a good way to see it, because Joel and the bots o above and beyond in making fun of it. Definitely one of their better riffs.

But what I found most interesting is that the film is about door-to-door car salesmen. Was this really a thing? Today most of us have a car, and we only buy a car when we need one and go to a lot. A salesman would have a real challenge in trying to convince someone to buy a car if they were not already planning to...
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10/10
Gah! Flying elves are back!
Domitian13 November 2001
Oh....this short. What can I say...only that the second half is on the episode of MST3K with Manos, the best one ever. I have some questions, most notably, why is everyone so doughy looking? Was that in style in this time period, like parachute pants and sandals were later? And why is that doughy man (who looks like Nihls Bohr) so full of hate, does he have a demon? Thank God above for his old man, who sets him straight. If it wasn't for "dad", this whole thing would be nowhere NEAR as funny as it is. The dialogue, the characters, the whole "napkin on the head, evil glowering look" thing the old man does...priceless. I wouldn't trade this short for all the "Mr. B Natural" and "What to do on a Date" in the world! "But he BOUGHT-THE-CAR!!!"
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We're Hired!!!!
ticklemetorgo17 May 2005
Beautiful short about one of my former careers, CAR SALES!! Though done a bit different than what I did. Brylcreemed new car sales guy gets interviewed by brylcreemed doughy sales manager who feels that new guy will be perfect for the sales team. Despite studying all the sales manuals and listening to Cop Killer by Body Count, he can't get the hang of selling cars (except one to old man Simmons) He's bummed and wants to kill himself. So does doughy guy who asks for advice from his senile dad (improper use of handkerchief)Dad sets him straight by telling him he must show his salesmen what they are doing wrong, how to go about it the right way and to use more brylcreem. Sales skyrocket thru the roof, all the sales guys get their big commission checks and go back home to their bottle of booze(and brylcreem)and live happily ever after!!
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