Arlene Francis in "ONLY A PART OF LIFE" - Short Film on Epilepsy

Arlene Francis devoted a good deal of energy over the years to various causes, one of those dearest to her being epilepsy. Here's but one example This is a short 5 minute film done for the National Epilepsy Foundation in the early 1960s (there's no listing for this at the IMDb).
Many thanks to Jason Beard for acquiring this film in the first place and sharing it with me for this channel, and as always, to Stan Taffel for once again doing an expert job transferring the 16mm film to digital video!
Stan has a couple of websites which I hope folks will take some time to check out:
- To learn more about his screenings in the Los Angeles area, and more generally, the film preservation projects he's working on: hollywoodparty.org/
- And his personal website: stantaffel.com/
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[@tomservo56954]

It makes a real difference to have Arlene Francis on your side.

I would have taken her on any side. She was gorgeous!

[@caw7007]

Arlene Francis was a classy lady! Miss her

[@larrygrebler5054]

I saw this film in jr high school in health class sometime around 1975. Strange Finding it on the internet all these years later.

[@savethetpc6406]

Arlene looks surprisingly young in this film, and I'd bet it actually did some good toward providing greater understanding of epilepsy to the people who watched it when it aired on TV. It helped me understand it better too!

[@kbobdonahue1966]

I once dated a girl in high school who suffered from epilepsy. We were really close. I loved her so much. She passed away years ago from a massive seizure. I miss her dearly. I really appreciate this short film and I love Arlene Francis' narration. She was compassionate and understanding in her description of epilepsy. If Arlene was still living, I would give her a big hug. Thank you for this wonderful and inspiring video. God bless

[@fairlyvague82]

I never expected to cry at a comment here. I’m so sorry your girlfriend passed away like that, it’s obviously stayed with you 😔
I’d also give Arlene a big hug! I was born in 1976 in the UK and knew absolutely nothing of her til I found this channel in lockdown 2020. She seemed such a beautiful soul!

[@kbobdonahue1966]

@@fairlyvague82 Thank you so much for your comment. It really meant a lot to me. I appreciate what you said and I'm so grateful. I miss her dearly but I enjoy my life and I hope your life is great. God bless you 🙏 ❤
P.S. Her name was Kathy Stephenson. I ♥️ her alot.

[@magnificentfailure2390]

I'm constantly amazed at the members of our little (ha!) group. Thanks to all for this upload.

[@fromthesidelines]

This was distributed to local TV stations as a "public interest" filler {longer than the standard one minute PSA message} in 1962.

[@Swampzoid]

She was pure class

[@erichanson426]

Thank you for posting this. I suffer from petite eplisey (one where you stare), myself, worst during the middle school years, my teachers were understanding, I've been put on meds and haven't had any in years. This story really hits home. Its amazing how much they knew so long ago. You think this story came out just a few years ago, the way she told it.

[@CESkootchy]

Public understanding of epilepsy is still lacking, but it seems better now than then. People who know about my epilepsy will often be concerned when I'm around flashing lights, not knowing that most epilepsy isn't photosensitive, but at least their hearts are in the right place.

[@Yesterday5656]

This is fantastic! My late mother had epilepsy and so does a close friend of mine.

[@lukaszha8826]

Pure class and sophistication.

[@CaptainOvious123]

Amazing how far things have come

[@countrytom1956]

I’ll be sure to share this with my friends and family. I was diagnosed at 18 and am still on medication.

[@numberonefilmfan]

Thanks Gary, this is wonderful! And many thanks to Jason and Stan!

[@larrystouch581]

Very moving film, and thanks to all involved. A pleasure to be in this group.

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

"Her Father almost cried too"

[@lauribricker9439]

Thanks for the upload! Gotta love this video! Gimme more E.F. videos!!

[@fairlyvague82]

Every time I see Arlene Francis I believe that little bit more that she was actually an Angel on earth lol

[@vickiegroome3220]

A good public service announcement. Well done narrative.

[@asteverino8569]

Thanks Arlene. A good info film of the time l😊

[@balletvaria]

I'm sorry but I'm going to have to FLIP. All the cards!!

[@lisablack124]

Never knew this about epilepsy wow.

[@pekersmith6328]

Arlene Francis - Do you raise chikens? (Answer is - no) next penalist-
David Niven - Do you............!???
Arlene Francis - careful David :)))))

[@seanseanseanseansean]

I learned a few things here. Like, how people used to have gardens in their back yards. And caring Playground Directors.

[@Macieks300]

who the hell would tell a child to get off a playground

An idiot.

[@johnmacn]

She was not kicked from the playground, if you notice he kicked her off what he thouhgt was a dangerous situation if she fell off the see saw. There is more to a playground than seesaws and swings, but it still separated her from other kids. And no I would not want my child in a situation that exposed her or him to a dangerous situation. I do want to acknowledge that there were plenty of unfair playground attendants despite my defense of the above.

[@SuperOMG123456]

At first I thought that Arlene was going to talk about periods.

[@zoevalentiae2391]

USD50 to charity of choice for whoever finds and makes available *that* film!