History WesternAnimation / HellBentForElection

* RailroadTracksOfDoom: Inverted. Thomas Dewey’s track is switched to Roosevelt’s line and causes the ''Defeatist Limited'' to derail.

''Hell Bent for Election'' is a 1944 FDR-approved campaign film commissioned by United Auto Workers, inspiring viewers to register and vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the Democratic candidate at the time of the 1944 presidential elections. The film was Creator/{{UPA}}’s (which at the time was Industrial Film and Poster Service) first ever animated movie. The director was none other than Creator/ChuckJones, moonlighting from his regular job at Warner Bros.

* BerserkButton: When Horace hears the mention of “winning the war”, he flips and morphs into Hitler’s face for a split-second.

* TakeThat: A very early political example, particularly towards Republican candidate Thomas Dewey (better known for claiming a premature victory against UsefulNotes/HarrySTruman in the 1948 election that earned him national mockery). While FDR's ''Win the War Special'' is depicted as a modern streamliner, Dewey's ''Defeatist Limited'' is depicted as a ramshackle old freight full of cars exasperating America's problems (i.e. high inflation, HeadInTheSandManagement from the government). The locomotive's number is 1929, in reference to the start of The Great Depression, and when Horace appears trying to get Joe to fall asleep on the job, he morphs into Hitler when Joe mentions "winning the war", suggesting anyone trying to stop the war effort would only help the Axis win.[[note]]And this isn't a violation of GodwinsLaw either; it was happening right in the middle of the war against the actual Nazi party.[[/note]] Furthermore, in Joe's nightmare, Roosevelt is at least able to stop when he can't get onto Track 44; when he pulls the switch in Roosevelt's favor in the real world, Dewey can't stop and smashes into a smoldering wreck.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f492031e_5f0f_49d3_8097_549ae6162469.jpeg]] [[caption-width-right:276:”Here’s a way to win the war, you gotta get out and vote!”]]

[[quoteright:276:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f83c7f04_0beb_46da_87ee_24e65a441672.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:276:”Here’s a way to win the war, you gotta get out and vote!”]]

The plot revolves around two trains headed to Washington, both are nearing Track 44[[note]]a metaphor for the year 1944[[/note]], and only one train can cross it. A stationmaster named Sam[[note]]Uncle Sam[[/note]] tells Joe that he needs to sidetrack the Defeatist Limited. The ''Defeatist Limited''[[note]]an oil-burning steam train with the caricature of Dewey Thomas[[/note]] pulls train wagons representing the current problems with America. The ''Win-The-War Special''[[note]]a caricature of FDR[[/note]] pulls war supplies such as battleships, tanks, and crates. A wrecker named Horace tries to get Joe to fail his job by whacking his head and making him smoke until he passes out. Joe then has a dream about Dewey passing the ''Win-The-War Special''. He eventually snaps out of his dream, switches the tracks, and the ''Defeatist Limited'' (violently) crashes, letting Roosevelt head to Washington.

* RailroadTracksOfDoom: Inverted. Dewey Thomas’ track is switched to Roosevelt’s line and causes the ''Defeatist Limited'' to derail.

* TakeThat: A very early political example, particularly towards Republican candidate Dewey Thomas (better known for claiming a premature victory against UsefulNotes/HarrySTruman in the 1948 election that earned him national mockery). While FDR's ''Win the War Special'' is depicted as a modern streamliner, Thomas' ''Defeatist Limited'' is depicted as a ramshackled old freight full of cars exasperating America's problems (i.e. high inflation, HeadInTheSandManagement from the government). The locomotive's number is 1929, in reference to the start of The Great Depression, and when Horace appears trying to get Joe to fall asleep on the job, he morphs into Hitler when Joe mentions "winning the war", suggesting anyone trying to stop the war effort would only help the Axis win.[[note]]And this isn't a violation of GodwinsLaw either; it was happening right in the middle of the war against the actual Nazi party.[[/note]] Furthermore, in Joe's nightmare, Roosevelt is at least able to stop when he can't get onto Track 44; when he pulls the switch in Roosevelt's favor in the real world, Thomas can't stop and smashes into a smoldering wreck.

* RailroadTracksOfDoom: Dewey Thomas’ track when it was switched to Roosevelt’s line.

''Hell Bent for Election'' is a 1944 FDR-approved campaign film commissioned by United Auto Workers, inspiring viewers to register and vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the democratic candidate at the time of the 1944 presidential elections. The film was Creator/{{UPA}}’s (which at the time was Industrial Film and Poster Service) first ever animated movie. The director was none other than Creator/ChuckJones, moonlighting from his regular job at Warner Bros.

The plot revolves around two trains headed to Washington, both are nearing Track 44[[note]]a metaphor for the year 1944[[/note]], and only one train can cross it. A stationmaster named Sam[[note]]Uncle Sam[[/note]] tells Joe that he needs to sidetrack the Defeatist Limited. The Defeatist Limited[[note]]an oil-burning steam train with the caricature of Dewey Thomas[[/note]] pulls train wagons representing the current problems with America. The Win-The-War Special[[note]]a caricature of FDR[[/note]] pulls war supplies such as battleships, tanks, and crates. A wrecker named Horace tries to get Joe to fail his job by whacking his head and making him smoke until he passes out. Joe then has a dream about Dewey passing the Win-The-War Special. He eventually snaps out of his dream, switches the tracks, and the Defeatist Limited (violently) crashes, letting Roosevelt head to Washington.

* RunawayTrain: The Defeatist Limited tries to stop but he’s a barreling runaway once the track is switched.
* RunningGag: The Defeatist Limited tries everything in his power to overtake Roosevelt in cutaway scenes.
* SentientVehicle: The 1944 presidential candidates are depicted as trains: Roosevelt is the sleek, modern Win the War Special; while Dewey is a ramshackle steam engine, the Defeatist Limited.

The plot revolves around two trains headed to Washington, both are nearing “Track 44”[[note]]a metaphor for the year 1944[[/note]], and only one train can cross it. A stationmaster named “Sam”[[note]]Uncle Sam[[note]] tells “Joe” that he needs to sidetrack the “Defeatist Limited”. The Defeatist Limited[[note]]an oil-burning steam train with the caricature of Dewey Thomas[[note]] pulls train wagons representing the current problems with America. The “Win-The-War Special”[[note]]a caricature of FDR[[note]] pulls war supplies such as battleships, tanks, and crates. A wrecker named “Horace Moneybags”, tries to get Joe to fail his job by whacking his head and making him smoke until he passes out. Joe then has a dream about Dewey passing the Win-The-War Special. He eventually snaps out of his dream, switches the tracks, and the Defeatist Limited (violently) crashes, letting Roosevelt head to Washington.

The plot revolves around two trains headed to Washington, both are nearing “Track 44” (metaphor for 1944), and only one train can cross it. A stationmaster named “Sam” tells “Joe” that he needs to sidetrack the “Defeatist Limited”. The Defeatist Limited represents Roosevelt’s opponent, Dewey Thomas. The train’s lackey, “Horace Moneybags”, who resembles Dewey Thomas but as a gnome and large-toothed tries to get Joe to not switch the track by whacking his head and making him smoke until he passes out. Joe then has a dream about Dewey passing the “Win-The-War Special”, he eventually snaps out of his dream, switches the tracks, and the Defeatist Limited crashes, letting Roosevelt head to Washington.

* BerserkButton: When Horace hears the mention of “winning the war”, he goes insane and morphs into Hitler’s face for a split-second.

[[caption-width-right:276:”We’re gonna win the war!”]]

[[/index]]

The plot revolves around two trains headed to Washington, both are nearing “Track 44” (metaphor for 1944), and only one train can cross it. A stationmaster named “Sam” tells “Joe” that he needs to sidetrack the “Defeatist Limited”. The Defeatist Limited represents Roosevelt’s opponent, Dewey Thomas. The train’s lackey, who resembles Dewey Thomas but as a gnome and large-toothed tries to get Joe to not switch the track by whacking his head and making him smoke until he passes out. Joe then has a dream about Dewey passing the “Win-The-War Special”, he eventually snaps out of his dream, switches the tracks, and the Defeatist Limited crashes, letting Roosevelt head to Washington.

* BerserkButton: When the Dewey supporter hears the mention of “winning the war”, he goes insane and morphs into Hitler’s face for a split-second.

* MetaphoricMetamorphosis: The Dewey supporter briefly turns into Hitler while ranting against "Roosevelt's war."

* SentientVehicle: The 1944 presidential candidates are depicted as locomotives: Roosevelt is the sleek, modern Win the War Special; while Dewey is a ramshackle steam engine, the Defeatist Limited.

''Hell Bent for Election'' is a 1944 FDR-approved campaign film, inspiring viewers to register and vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the democratic candidate at the time of the 1944 presidential elections. The film was UPA’s (which at the time was United Auto Workers) first ever animated movie.

The plot revolves around two trains headed to Washington, both are nearing “Track 44” (methaphor for 1944), and only one train can cross it. A stationmaster named “Sam” tells “Joe” that he needs to sidetrack the “Defeatist Limited”. The Defeatist Limited represents Roosevelt’s opponent, Dewey Thomas. The train’s lackey, who resembles Dewey Thomas but as a gnome and large-toothed tries to get Joe to not switch the track by whacking his head and making him smoke until he passes out. Joe then has a dream about Dewey passing the “Win-The-War Special”, he eventually snaps out of his dream, switches the crash, and the Defeatist Limited crashes, letting Roosevelt head to Washington.

* Foreshadowing: Sam mentions the switch that Joe has to pull, and later in the film he succeeds in pulling it.

* Foreshadowing: Sam mentions the switch that Joe has to pull, and later in the film he succeeds in pulling it.

* AccidentalNightmareFuel: Joe’s dream near the end might have been this for some viewers.

* BeserkButton: When the Dewey supporter hears the mention of “winning the war”, he goes insane and morphs into Hitler’s face for a split-second.