Item 3155 - Smile 'Til It Hurts

Identity area

Reference code

ES OVNI RSC-3155

Title

Smile 'Til It Hurts

Date(s)

  • 2009 (Accumulation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

Video

Context area

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story explores the clean-cut, smile-drenched singing phenomenon Up With People. Since 1965, this peppy youth group has sung to 20 million people worldwide, performed at four Superbowl halftime shows, and been parodied on The Simpsons and South Park. Talent was not required of its members, just a common enthusiastic vision to change the world one squeaky-clean song at a time. But its cheery façade concealed the more complicated reality of an organization founded on conservative American ideals and cult-like utopian ideology. Up With People was born in response to the liberal counter-culture of the ‘60s by the ultra-conservative religious sect, Moral ReArmament. Over the years, they were embraced by world leaders from US Presidents Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush to King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Noor of Jordon and Pope John Paul II. The organization's access to global dignitaries and developing countries was noticed by corporate giants---like GM, Exxon, Halliburton and Searle---who gave millions of dollars to back the popular group. Artistically cut with kitschy and never-before-seen archival footage, and the honest reflections of former members, SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story reveals what can happen when ideology, money and groupthink converge to co-opt youthful idealism. A cautionary tale spanning decades, SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story is an entertaining, relevant, and evocative look behind the curtain of the American dream.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

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Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Press: No; Catalogue: No; Itinerancies: No; Online archive: No; Television: No

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Llengua: Inglés. Països: United States of America

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

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    Notes area

    Note

    Master es betacam PAL falta sinopsis en catalan falta sinopsis en castellano

    Note

    es sobre el grup VIVA la gente!!!

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Slug

    smile-til-it-hurts

    Access points

    Subject access points

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    Name access points

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    ES_OVNI_2009_stolee001-smile-til-it-hurts

    Institution identifier

    OVNI

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

    • Catalan

    Script(s)

    • Latin

    Sources

    Accession area