Darkness Defeated (silent, 1940s)

Silent footage from a 1940s dramatized narrative produced by the San Francisco Exchange Club for Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc. The film portrays the journey of a blind man and his partner as they seek assistance at the Guide Dogs for the Blind School in Los Gatos, California. Through its storyline, it showcases the training exercises and the life-changing impact of guide dogs. With color photography by H. McClelland Bourland and a cast provided by Stanford University’s Department of Speech and Drama, the film emphasizes the transformative relationship between humans and animals, particularly in fostering independence for individuals with blindness. However, the film reflects some outdated terminology, characteristic of the era in which it was made.

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