Home Town Story is a drama film directed and written by Arthur Pierson's that was released in 1951.
The film stars Marjorie Reynolds, Jeffrey Lynn, and Donald Crisp, with appearances by Marilyn Monroe and Alan Hale Jr.
General Motors had commissioned Home Town Story as a supporting piece for Capitalism.
The plot centers on Jeffrey Lynn as Blake Washburn, a left-leaning journalist and defeated former politician who returns to his hometown.
There, Washburn decides to take on the role of editor of a local newspaper and uses his writings to attack local business interests.
His motivations for doing so are driven by his desire to win re-election.
Washburn's campaign strategy involves exposing the negative aspects of big business on a daily basis, focusing on the excessive profits these corporations generate for their shareholders.
During a school field trip to an abandoned mine, Washburn's younger sister becomes trapped in a tunnel collapse caused by the negligence of a disgruntled employee.
Local industries come to her rescue and successfully extract her from the mine.
A company plane is used to transport her to the city for medical treatment.
This incident causes Washburn to change his mind and recognize the importance of large corporations in accomplishing great feats.
Home Town Story was irregularly distributed by MGM and disappeared into obscurity. However, the film's reputation was revived with the presence of a young Marilyn Monroe in a minor role.
