The Navy's 'weirdly modest' syphilitic vampire

The video: In 1973, the United States Navy saw fit to produce a 20-minute animated public service announcement highlighting the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. In the whimsical "cautionary tale," Venereal Disease, represented by the syphilitic Count Spirochete, pulls off a huge upset at "the annual Communicable Disease of the Year Awards" and "wins the coveted Fourth Horseman award over diphtheria and smallpox." The unexpected victory prompts a deeper exploration of the disease, with Count Spirochete (a vampire, naturally) taking viewers on an international journey that documents the affliction's origins and dangers. The odd clip was uncovered by the Defense Department's Armed With Science blog, and is now on sale for a cool $55 on VHS tape.

The reaction: This is "the VD version of Schoolhouse Rock," says Spencer Ackerman at Wired, though it's "weirdly modest about broaching the actual means through which the disease is transferred." Still, it would make "a great holiday gift for your sexually reckless and technologically backward friend." Just "watch this," says Cyriaque Lamar at IO9. "Your head will explode Scanners-style from the sheer weirdness of it all." Watch the Navy's PSA:

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up