Over two hours of classic social guidance, social skills and interpersonal communication films are packed onto this unique DVD compilation!
Included Films:
Friendship Begins At Home
Friendship Begins At Home
Produced: 1949
Length: 15 Minutes
Friendship Begins at Home shows how strong family relationships are like friendships, and offer the same benefits. Barry, a teen sulking amid his angelic family, decides not to go with his them on their annual 2-week vacation. This disappoints his parents, and his mother warns Barry, I do wish youd show as much consideration for the members of your own family as you do for your outside friends! Maybe I would, he replies, if my familyd show me as much consideration as my friends do! Unfortunately, Barrys friends dont come through. Barry is left alone and desolate at home, haunted by the voice of his conscience in his head, and the double-exposure images of his family as they go about their normal activities. The importance of family to postwar American society is brightly illuminated in this wonderful vintage film.
The Fun of Being Thoughtful
The Fun of Being Thoughtful
Produced: 1950
Length: 11 Minutes
Chock full of 1950s culture, The Fun of Being Thoughtful is one of those vintage how to videos that never fails to put a smile on ones face. Jane Proctor, a thoughtful teen, shows why its both fun and rewarding to be empathetic, and to pay attention to the thoughts, needs, and desires of other people. While being a good example of social etiquette, Jane does lots of nice things for her family like making them dinner, cleaning up, and fixing her brother Eddie up with a date. Jane and Eddie exude the results of empathy training towards each other as they go about their day completing their household chores list, including helping each other in the kitchen, complimenting each other, and much more. In the end, Jane is rewarded for her thoughtfulness with a new dress by her grateful family. The Fun of Being Thoughtful demonstrates the importance of teaching teens good manners and is one of the more enjoyable educational movies available.
Gossip
Gossip
Produced: 1953
Length: 11 Minutes
This Sid Davis film discusses how malicious gossip can affect a girls life. Teenager Jean Gage, whom the narrator describes as a wonderful girl, is asked out on a date by Jack, the school Casanova. Jack tries to get fresh with Jean in his convertible after they go see a movie, Jungle Girl. When Jean isnt interested, he presses his suit harder, because as the narrator says, his popularity had gone to his head. Jean slaps him, and his pride is so hurt that hed have to get even. He tells some people at school the next day about how far he got with Jean, making up a juicy story. The story spreads and she is later shut out of the Girls Club, because she isnt their kind of girl. Tearfully, she tells the principal all about what really happened. The principal tells Jack to recant his story, and he does, restoring Jean to her previous social status. Though all ends well, Jeans story shows how evil and destructive gossip can be.
Helping Johnny Remember
Helping Johnny Remember
Produced: 1956
Length: 11 Minutes
Shot in the surreal setting of a darkened sound stage, a group of young children join together in a chorus of complaints against one of the group, a sulky young boy named Johnny. Johnnys rude! …and selfish, He doesnt think of others, and Gee Whiz, what a creep! the children say, as the narrator talks from behind the camera. He beckons from beyond the light and Johnny walks over to a chalk board where the narrator draws a smiley face and a sulky face. He asks Johnny which one he would want to play with. When Johnny realizes the errors of his ways, the children devise a way for him to remember to stop being rude when he starts to slip up: theyll tap their foreheads. This is a typical social guidance film from the fifties that prizes social acceptance and conformity above all else, and the solution for Johnnys problem is to just be nice all the time and not make anybody else angry.
Jay Can Do It
Jay Can Do It
Produced: 1965
Length: 13 Minutes
This film shows a child, Jay, who lives in a supportive and happy family environment. His experience in baking cookies and coloring Easter eggs with his mother, and building a tree house with his brother all show how teamwork, creativity, and hard work can build character and contribute to children growing up to be goal-oriented and successful adults.
Play in the Snow
Play in the Snow
Produced: 1945
Length: 11 Minutes
This charming and nostalgic film shows three children, led by Bill, going out in the snow to play. They caper around doing everything children do in the snow, including making snowmen, sledding, skiing, and playing fox and geese. This film perfectly captures the joyful abandon of children playing.
Social Courtesy
Social Courtesy
Produced: 1951
Length: 11 Minutes
Bill is a rude young man who gets invited to a Hard Times party with his girlfriend Carol. When he exclaims that going to a party and displaying good manners is old-fashioned, an invisible narrator steps in to change Bills ways. The narrator tags along to the party in order to help Bill out of any sticky situations. Every time Bill screws up, the narrator stops time, and shows Bill what he did wrong and how to correct things. You discourage others when they want to be friendly, the narrator scolds. Youre supposed to rise when an adult speaks to you; everybody knows that. Come on, Bill. Sit up! Thats a chair, not a bed. Soon, Bill is a model of courtesy and everyone at the party is amazed at the change in him, and the hostess of the party remarks, Isnt that the boy who used to be so rude? In the end, Bill is even invited to another party.
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Let’s Play Fair
Produced: 1949
Length: 9 Minutes
This Coronet social guidance film discusses how fair play makes games and interaction between children much more fun for everyone. Two brothers constantly argue and fight over toys and games. At one point the elder gets a chemistry set and the younger brother gets angry because he cant play with it. They then argue about who will wash and who will dry the dishes. As each situation is resolved, the boys learn about taking turns, sharing, and obeying rules. As far as Coronet films go, this one had slightly more interesting production values, including silent close-ups of the boys faces, and above average camera angles and title cards.
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Let’s Share With Others
Produced: 1950
Length: 11 Minutes
This somewhat odd little film shows how community efforts yield bigger profits in a little boys lemonade stand business. Jimmy gets a big crate from his grandfather, and like a true American entrepreneur, he decides to make a business out of selling lemonade. When the other kids in the neighborhood want in on the business, Jimmy doesnt want to share. But soon, he finds that he might need them after all, since hes run out of glasses, and his chore of weeding the garden needs to be done. Jimmy enlists his friends to help with supplies, making more lemonade, and even weeding the garden. Soon, business is booming again and everyone is having fun.
Ways to Settle Disputes
Ways to Settle Disputes
Produced: 1950
Length: 10 Minutes
This film teaches pre-teens how to deal with conflicts within a social group. Alice, Jerry, and Eddie get into some arguments when at play and in the classroom and they use different methods to get through the situations. They learn how to compromise, obey rules, and look for facts or opinions that can lead to a solution, according to the different needs of each situation.
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The Other Fellow’s Feelings
Produced: 1951
Length: 9 Minutes
Watch as Judy’s emotions get pummeled by the class bully, Jack in The Other Fellow’s Feelings. When Jack bumps into Judy in school, sending her new perfume crashing to the floor, he begins to kid her about being stinky. When Jack’s teasing gets out of line, Judy finds herself truly distraught over his actions. Other classmates try and get Jack to stop, but he keeps at it, chipping away at Judy’s self-confidence. The film asks a tough question at its close, about what to do in a situation like this one. It doesn’t give any answer, but lets the viewers decide what to do. This classic tale teaches a lesson about morality.
