Boys Beware
Encyclopedia
Boys Beware is a drama
short film released through Sid Davis
Productions. It deals with a perceived danger to young boys: that of predatory homosexuals
. The film was released in 1961 and, through negligence of the copyright
laws in the United States at the time of its release, lapsed into the public domain
and is available from the Rick Prelinger
archives.
Boys Beware is narrated by a self-described police detective who is on his way to a school meeting
where he is to discuss this issue.
Aside from the film's late '50s/early '60s culturally influenced conclusion that homosexual men are inherently dangerous to young boys, the film has been noted for its unusual perception of police
procedure: one boy is taken to a hotel, presumably to be molested, and later reports the crime. The perpetrator is arrested; the victim is put on probation
. This could be seen as an instance of victim blaming
.
Another incautious, unsuspecting boy is killed one night, "having traded his life for a newspaper headline
".
A third has a narrow escape, having realized he was being tailed by a man (played by Davis himself) who was in the beachside changing room where he and his young friends had been earlier.
The film equates homosexual men with child molesters
, repeatedly describing homosexuality as a disease. True to '50s/early '60s stereotypes, the gay men in the film typically have moustaches, sunglasses and/or bow ties.
The film has other odd moments, presumably the result of its shoestring budget of $1,000 - a minuscule sum for a short film, even in 1961. Most notably, a homosexual drives to what looks like a lover's lane
in the same car the detective uses.
Davis was friendly with the police in Southern California
and would accept their suggestions of topics to make films about, allowing them to guide the films' message and development.
Playwright Max Sparber's play The Older Gentleman, set in rural Nebraska
in the early '60s, includes a scene in which college students are shown Boys Beware in class.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
short film released through Sid Davis
Sid Davis
Sidney Davis was an American director and producer who specialized in social guidance films.-Early life:Davis was born to a housepainter father and a dressmaker mother. The family moved to Hollywood, California when Davis was four years old. He began working in the film industry as a child,...
Productions. It deals with a perceived danger to young boys: that of predatory homosexuals
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. The film was released in 1961 and, through negligence of the copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
laws in the United States at the time of its release, lapsed into the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
and is available from the Rick Prelinger
Rick Prelinger
Rick Prelinger is an archivist, writer and filmmaker, and founder of the Prelinger Archives, a collection of 60,000 advertising, educational, industrial, and amateur films acquired by the Library of Congress in 2002 after 20 years' operation.Rick has partnered with the Internet Archive to make...
archives.
Boys Beware is narrated by a self-described police detective who is on his way to a school meeting
Meeting
In a meeting, two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal setting.- Definitions :An act or process of coming together as an assembly for a common purpose....
where he is to discuss this issue.
Aside from the film's late '50s/early '60s culturally influenced conclusion that homosexual men are inherently dangerous to young boys, the film has been noted for its unusual perception of police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
procedure: one boy is taken to a hotel, presumably to be molested, and later reports the crime. The perpetrator is arrested; the victim is put on probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
. This could be seen as an instance of victim blaming
Victim blaming
Victim blaming occurs when the victim of a crime, an accident, or any type of abusive maltreatment are held entirely or partially responsible for the transgressions committed against them. Blaming the victim has traditionally emerged especially in racist and sexist forms...
.
Another incautious, unsuspecting boy is killed one night, "having traded his life for a newspaper headline
Headline
The headline is the text at the top of a newspaper article, indicating the nature of the article below it.It is sometimes termed a news hed, a deliberate misspelling that dates from production flow during hot type days, to notify the composing room that a written note from an editor concerned a...
".
A third has a narrow escape, having realized he was being tailed by a man (played by Davis himself) who was in the beachside changing room where he and his young friends had been earlier.
The film equates homosexual men with child molesters
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
, repeatedly describing homosexuality as a disease. True to '50s/early '60s stereotypes, the gay men in the film typically have moustaches, sunglasses and/or bow ties.
The film has other odd moments, presumably the result of its shoestring budget of $1,000 - a minuscule sum for a short film, even in 1961. Most notably, a homosexual drives to what looks like a lover's lane
Lover's lane
Lovers' lane is a generic term for secluded areas where people kiss or make out. These areas range from parking lots in secluded rural areas to places with extraordinary views of a cityscape or other feature....
in the same car the detective uses.
Davis was friendly with the police in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and would accept their suggestions of topics to make films about, allowing them to guide the films' message and development.
Playwright Max Sparber's play The Older Gentleman, set in rural Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
in the early '60s, includes a scene in which college students are shown Boys Beware in class.
External links
- Boys Beware at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...