Inflation (1942)

In the ominous backdrop of WWII, the Devil enters a sinister pact with Adolf Hitler, wreaking havoc on the Allied forces. From the ruins of Shanghai, Rotterdam, and Poland, their malevolent partnership stirs chaos and fear. In an alarming telephone conversation, Hitler seeks the Devil's assistance in crippling a new addition to the Allied forces, the United States. The Devil, cunning and unrelenting, devises a wicked plan to annihilate America's wartime economy by triggering severe inflation. As the echoes of this deadly agreement ripple through the world, the Devil sets his destructive scheme into motion. He tempts the American populace into an uncontrollable buying spree, targeting non-war related commodities. The result is a deadly cycle of scarcity and skyrocketing prices, pushing the country towards economic collapse as the government struggles to maintain wartime production. But the Devil's machinations don't end there; he sows the seeds of further destruction through the encouragement of hoarding, black market trading, evasion of ceiling prices by manufacturers, and the premature cashing in of government bonds. Amidst this intricate web of deception, we meet the unsuspecting factory worker, Joe Smith. Freshly blessed with a pay raise, Joe plunges into a frenzy of indulgent purchases, unknowingly playing into the Devil's hands. He lavishes his wife with a fur coat and various luxuries, all bought on a precarious installment plan. But when President Roosevelt's radio address pierces the airwaves, the Smiths are awakened to their unwitting role in the Devil's plot. They must now grapple with the harsh reality of their actions and strive towards a more prudent lifestyle to aid the war effort. Inflation (1942) is a dramatic exploration of the battle between economic stability and consumerist temptation during wartime. It's a chilling reminder that the survival of a nation lies in its ability to resist the Devil's economic activities and embrace non-inflationary government policies. The fate of America rests on the shoulders of its citizens, their actions, and the choices they make in the face of manipulation and deceit.

Inflation is a drama movie featuring Edward Arnold and directed by Cy Endfield.

Inflation is currently streaming on DIRECTV and TCM.