A Hitch in Time (1955) is a classic short comedy film featuring the timeless humor of early post-war cinema. When a quirky inventor accidentally activates his experimental time machine, chaos ensues as he and his unsuspecting friend tumble through different eras in history. Full of slapstick moments, clever dialogue, and old-school charm, this rare gem captures the golden age of British comedy shorts.
Enjoy this restored public domain classic and take a trip through time—one laugh at a time!
📽️ Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Short 📅 Year: 1955 🎞️ Public Domain Film
00:21That blissful smile on John's face is because John has reached the end of his first hitch, and John is getting out.
00:28He is now contemplating the advantages that all civilians take for granted, like a solid gold jagalack, a penthouse overlooking the river, a good job, and a beautiful wife.
00:45And a pinch to send home to me wife, poor wife, no cares have I to grieve me, no pretty little girl to deceive me.
01:01Uh-oh. Here it comes. The message.
01:05As we go rolling. Hi, Mac. Rolling home.
01:11Name is Grogan. Technical gremlin. First Class.
01:16Yeah, yeah, I know. And you're here to show me why I should re-enlist.
01:20About all the multitudinous advantages accruing to the re-enlistee.
01:25Look, Buster, I don't know what all the trick sarcasm is about, but I'm getting out of this man's Air Force.
01:31Capital O, capital U, capital T.
01:35Out.
01:36Hey, you getting out too?
01:38Wait, that's different.
01:41Let's pick up our discharge papers together, uh, buddy.
01:44Are you kidding? Why, the minute they start talking to you, you'll go all soft and sign up again.
01:52But I...
01:53Shut up. Sit down.
01:55Honest, I've been dreaming about getting out ever since I got in.
01:59All these guys are the same. Pushovers. Wild blue yonder pushovers.
02:05I don't know why I'm so soft-headed, but I guess I gotta brief this character so he won't be a patsy and get talked back in.
02:11These G.I. magic wands, always fouled up.
02:25Later, later.
02:26Now then, the first thing they're gonna try to do, they're gonna try to tell you how much better off you'll be staying in the Air Force.
02:44Okay, just for the record, let's take a look.
02:47That's you, and that's your re-enlistment paycheck.
02:50Airman voice class, four years service, $137.59 a month.
02:55And this is what the average veteran of your age is earning in civilian life.
03:00$253.47.
03:02That's $115.88 more than you make, Mac.
03:09Why, that's an outrage. That's... that's...
03:11Of course, to be perfectly fair, the civilian does have to make certain minor deductions from his paycheck that you don't.
03:20Like food, lodging, clothes, higher income taxes, medical and dental bills, and life insurance.
03:27It's, uh, that minor deductions like that there.
03:33Well, uh, it's only $197 a month.
03:38Only.
03:39Another thing I, uh, forgot to mention was that an airman can increase the size of his check by, uh, seniority, advancement in rank, allowances, overseas duty, and flying duty.
03:52And as much as six times your monthly base pay for your first re-enlistment.
03:58But the civilian still makes more money!
04:02Sure, sure. And anyway, the money isn't the important thing, is it, Grogan? It's the job that counts.
04:07Brother, you are so right there.
04:16Today, we find John McRodger, apprentice trail fastwinder, happily at work.
04:22Hey, Mac, there you are.
04:28Hey, uh, there you are again.
04:30Okay, so you're a little lonely. That's natural.
04:36Uh, too bad they don't have service clubs for civilians.
04:39But wow, look at them fancy duds.
04:43Nothing like pride in your appearance.
04:45I, uh, I don't know, Grogan. It just doesn't seem quite what I want to do.
05:00Look, pal, you can't back out now.
05:02Why, why now, uh, you take, uh, retirement.
05:05Do you realize that as a civilian, you can look forward to retiring at the age of 65
05:12with a cool 85 bucks coming in from Social Security every month?
05:18Yeah? Well, in the Air Force, I can retire when I'm 38
05:22and draw down 137 bucks a month for the rest of my life.
05:26What are you, a has-been or something?
05:29Where do they get off retiring you at 38?
05:32It's an imposition.
05:33Some imposition.
05:37Okay, I decide I don't want to be imposed on.
05:40I decide I'm gonna stay in another 10 years.
05:42Till I'm 48.
05:44Then they really impose on you.
05:47$229 a month.
05:49And, and, Grogan, I've already got four years done.
05:53Well, uh, you can retire on that kind of dough as a civilian, too.
05:58Oh, absolutely.
05:59All I gotta do is I gotta save up about 90,000 bucks
06:03and put it out at 3% interest.
06:06A cinch.
06:07All right.
06:08Yeah, I know, I know.
06:10You save 60 bucks a week for 30 years.
06:12Okay, okay.
06:13So it's ridiculous.
06:15Well, I'll admit there's a few good things about the Air Force.
06:19Like 30-day paid vacations.
06:21And medical expenses and a 10,000-buck insurance policy thrown in.
06:26And family allowances.
06:28And housing.
06:29And free education.
06:30You know something else, Mac?
06:39Us guys in the Air Force know more than anybody else in the whole world
06:43how to keep these beautiful crates flying.
06:46Okay, okay.
06:47I've been briefed enough.
06:49Let's get going.
06:50Yeah.
06:50I guess we both know what you want to do now.
06:53Right.
06:54Right.
06:54Look, Buster, if you think you can get by in the Air Force without me,
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