For research into the usefulness of attention-gaining devices in informational films, five film versions on machine shop measuring instruments were produced. These versions were termed: basic, visual relevant, visual irrelevant, sound relevant, and sound irrelevant. Attention-gaining devices were placed at the same points in all but the basic version. The experiment was conducted with two populations--Army recruits and Navy recruits--randomly divided into six comparable groups. Each of five groups were shown one of the experimental film versions and, afterwards, were tested for learning of factual information and for recall of the attention devices. The sixth (control) group took the information test without seeing the film. No evidence was found that relevant devices add to the effectiveness of an informational film. There was evidence that irrelevant sound devices detract. No significant difference was found between the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of visual and sound devices. Ability to recognize and remember which devices were used in a film version was practically independent of learning from that version. On the basis of these findings, the recommendation is made that producers of training films present the subject matter in a simple, straightforward way. (MF)