Jim is a middle-level oil engineer who is being relocated to [[Lake Maracaibo]], [[Venezuela]], with his family: wife Ann and two sons. He initially tries to use a Spanish [[Phrase book|pocket phrase book]] unsuccessfully, but is quickly greeted at [[La Chinita International Airport|Grano de Oro Airport]] by a company rep.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weirdovideo.com/2019/03/13/assignment-venezuela-1956/|title=Assignment: Venezuela – 1956|website=Weirdo Video|accessdateaccess-date=16 June 2019}}</ref> Jim is taken on a tour of [[Maracaibo]], [[Caracas]], and [[Lagunillas Municipality, Zulia|Lagunillas]] to familiarize him with the new country; Venezuela is depicted in a positive fashion. In Maracaibo, Jim drives across the waterfront in an imported American car, and in Caracas he explores the newly built [[University City of Caracas]], and studies Spanish intensively.<ref name=blackmore/><sup>:97–98</sup> He writes letters to Ann telling her how great Venezuela is before his family joins him a few weeks later, all having learnt Spanish beforehand.<ref name=morgan>{{cite book|last=Morgan|first=Chris|title=The Comic Galaxy of Mystery Science Theater 3000: Twelve Classic Episodes and the Movies They Lampoon|publisher=McFarland|year=2015|isbn=9781476618838}}</ref><sup>:158</sup>
==Production==
''Assignment: Venezuela'' was produced by Sound Masters, Inc. for the [[Creole Petroleum Corporation]] (part of the [[Standard Oil Company of New Jersey]]) and directed by John H. "Jack" Tobin.<ref name=businessscreen>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/stream/business1957screenmav18rich/business1957screenmav18rich_djvu.txt|title=Business Screen Magazine 1957|year=1957|___location=Chicago|publisher=Business Screen Magazine|accessdateaccess-date=20 June 2019|volume=18|archive-date=24 November 2008|oclc=1037378813}}</ref> It was filmed on [[Kodachrome]] [[16mm film]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ebay.ca/itm/16mm-Assignment-Venezuela-Kodachrome-1950s-800/202641896486?hash=item2f2e65f426:g:-G8AAOSwivlcjvnA|title=16mm Assignment Venezuela Kodachrome 1950's 800'|website=eBay|accessdateaccess-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> with an [[Arriflex]] camera.<ref>{{cite journal|title=American Cinematographer (1959)|url=https://archive.org/stream/americancinemato40unse/americancinemato40unse_djvu.txt|year=1959|___location=Los Angeles|publisher=The A.S.C. Agency, Inc.|archive-date=5 February 2018|accessdateaccess-date=20 June 2019|volume=40}}</ref> The film is in color and 24 minutes in length, and is part of the [[Prelinger Archives]]. It is available in the [[public ___domain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Assignme1956|website=Prelinger Archives|title=Assignment: Venezuela (1956)|accessdateaccess-date=16 June 2019|date=16 July 2002}}</ref>
