"Duck and Cover"

The (very) overt message of this film was to duck and cover in the event of a nuclear explosion.
The covert message of the film was that America maintains preparedness for foreign attacks while also emphasizing the citizen's role in promoting defense.
The video was propaganda because its overt message advocated a fruitless mechanism to avoid radiation and explosions, exaggerated comically to feature kids diving off bikes and schoolchildren simultaneously collapsing at the sight of a light flash. The covert message, however, was far from foolish: the makers of the film managed to reassure a nervous populace while still maintaining a level of preparedness (or paranoia) in case of foreign aggression. The effect was impressive: a subtle message that pushed audiences to a position not of extremity, but of moderation-- preparedness not preoccupation.  Whereas a lesser film may have pushed audiences to a pole of sentiment, this piece instead maneuvered the audience to a middle ground advantageous to its producers.