Boys Beware (1962) User Reviews

Amazingly bad advice to boys

[Jordan_Haelend · 2/10 · 5 February 2009]

It's hard to understand the thinking of the creatures who made this thing. As everyone who's seen it is aware, the film's attitude toward Gays is utterly vile, but it is in keeping with opinions of the time-- it wasn't that long ago that the American Psychological Association decided that homosexuality isn't a mental illness (it is truly hilarious that the narrator labels it "contagious.")

One of the worst things about this film is that the filmmakers were so ignorant of the subject matter, and yet promoted this as an educational film. In doing so, they put the boys who were their intended audience MORE at risk, not less. Had they bothered to do the research, they might have found that many molesters are actually heterosexual-- some having families of their own; that the average Gay male does NOT engage in this behavior, and finally that, far from the *ahem* Gay men in cars shown in the film being the significant threat, that spot is reserved for people the boy already knows, and can include clergymen, Boy Scout leaders, neighbors and even friends and family members. Advice to be careful if the adult seems too friendly is useless in such a case.

I read a book several years ago about sexual abuse in the Scouting movement. One of the men the author profiled was one Thomas Hacker, who began to molest boys in the Scouts in 1961. A film like this must have been a godsend to men like him. What boy in 1961 would suspect the Scoutmaster of having designs on him after watching this?

Hilarious and sad

[fwmurnau · 4/10 · 26 October 2006]

Western societies have come a long way in their tolerance and understanding of gay people. This film, which one poster disturbingly tells us is STILL shown in schools in some backward parts of the country, is the REEFER MADNESS of homosexuality.

What might have been a harmless, even helpful warning to kids about pedophiles becomes ridiculous and ugly by its pretense of revealing what all *homosexuals* are like. The despicable smear that gay men tend towards pedophilia (about as factual as the ancient anti-Semitic lie that Jews kill Christian infants and drink their blood) is what this "educational" cheapie is all about.

That one poster actually commends this absurd gay-bashing propaganda as a worthy film that should be remastered and shown to kids today suggests how much ignorance and unexamined bigotry is still out there.

Reactions to the recent Tom Foley scandal showed how easily some on the political left as well as the right can fall back into the old know-nothing equation of homosexuality with pedophilia. Every educated person knows homosexuals are no more likely to be drawn to children than heterosexuals are.

This 10-minute short is worth viewing to remember how recently this kind of ignorant calumny was considered "conventional wisdom".

Beware, indeed

[gizmomogwai · 3/10 · 21 September 2014]

A short "educational" film, Boys Beware may have set out with good intentions- to warn children about sexual predators. That's a subject we're actually more sensitive about today than when the film was made, so modern audiences can relate to that. Where Boys Beware emerges as a relic of an old-fashioned prejudice is in its insistence on treating child molesters and homosexuals interchangeably. Homosexual is the word used to describe the predators in the film. It's called "sick" and not "normal." And "homosexual" is defined as someone who seeks a sexual relationship with one's own sex. So it's all homosexuals painted with one brush- never mind that most have adult relationships, all homosexuals are potential molesters.

To me, going out of your way to describe molesters who attack boys as gay is like referring to molesters who attack girls as straight. Child molestation just isn't a healthy orientation either way, and to associate it with one is dangerous. Conveniently, this film overlooks that some predators prey on girls. Maybe its intentions weren't so noble after all. At the end of the day, this is something people today can look back at with wonder, similar to Birth of a Nation's treatment of blacks. Thank God we've (mostly) moved passed this.

Full of hysterical assumptions and fears that are so absurd one finds it impossible to believe any audiences even took the film seriously

[mars_investigations · 1/10 · 2 October 2007]

(this is part of an essay I wrote for my FHSS Sexuality Class on the film)

"Boys Beware", a film produced in 1959 and later shown around many American schools in 1961 has a catastrophically strong anti-Homosexual message attached to it. In a nutshell, it follows three 'sick' men who prey on young boys, sexually abusing and in one case, killing them. Had "boys beware" used the right logic, it could have been helpful to children and teenagers in preventing pedophilia and rape. Instead it hides behind bigotry and hatred, perfectly depicting the social attitudes of it's times.

"That looks innocent enough doesn't it? A lot of young people hitch hike. But sometimes there are dangers are involved that do not meet the eye. Jimmy didn't like walking home so he decided to thumb a ride. He'd done it one hundred times before and he didn't think anything was unusual when the driver struck up conversation. The stranger was a good listener too and it only seemed minutes before they pulled up in front of jimmy's house. When jimmy pulled out the stranger gave him a friendly pat." The opening moments of the film seem coherent and meaningful. Shots of a shady man offering a young boy a ride home are accompanied by omniscient voice over which is full of hints that the man is a pedophile or rapist and that the character Jimmy is of course in potential danger of harm both physically and emotionally. Any half educated person watching this film in todays times would be asserting that "Boys beware" was exploring a pedophilia sexuality and it's dangers. Had the film followed from its original connotations it would have made sense, but then of course it would not be folly for analysis on its promotion of heteronormativity. As the next scene begins, "Boys Beware" begins to erode in its coherence. Homophobia, and lack of understanding of other sexualities (which both exist inside of the heteronormative paradigm) will rear it's ugly head. "The following Saturday they went fishing together. By then they were using first names. Ralph said it was more friendly. Then during lunch, Ralph showed him some pornographic pictures. What Jimmy didn't know is that Ralph was sick. A sickness that was not visible like smallpox but no less dangerous and contagious. A sickness of the mind. You see, Ralph was a homosexual. A person who demands an intimate relationship with members of their own sex." Homosexuality is denounced here for the first time in the film, full of hysterical assumptions and fears that are so absurd one finds it impossible to believe any audiences even took the film seriously. Having defined the term "homosexuality," the film successfully promotes male/female relationships without even showing any. It does this simply by comparing homosexuality to a disease, labeling it dangerous and contagious going far enough to separate any form of sexuality that does not fit in with the heterosexual paradigm as sick. While media in popular culture in today's world tend to shy away from upfront and direct criticism of homosexuality, "boys beware" sheds light on the fact that the media can be a factor in how the unthinking masses come to conclusions. In the 1950s, most people were disgusted with Gay people outright- as shown and maybe in part because of this film. Today, most people are okay with Gay people but so long as they are not a close friend or family member. Popular culture reflects this, as evidenced by huge amounts of Gay characters used for comedic (but not dramatic) effect in television shows. What this hints is that heteronormativity will always be around any society until a sweeping majority of it's people accept other sexual orientations unconditionally. The heteronormativity in "boys beware" is just a testament to the hatred felt at the time, as is the passive heteronormativity shown through todays use of stereotypical Gay characters that are hardly ever made to connect to audiences on a meaningful level.

One should feel deeply sorry for the amount of Gay or confused teenagers who were shown this film after its release (as it was distributed for over twenty years). In promoting heteronormativity as the only accepted norm, the film magnifies how much Homosexuals are the "other." This would have been damaging to impressionable Gays: "But all homosexuals are not passive," the narrator begins, "The stranger agreed to give Mike a ride home. The companionship, the praise, the friendly attitude dispelled any misgivings about going with a stranger. He probably never realized until it was too late that he was riding in the shadow of death. But sometime that evening Mike Merric traded his life for a newspaper headline." "In the shadow of death"? Whoever made this film obviously learned scriptwriting lessons in hyperbole. 'I am going to become a killer'-- is what many young boys can not be faulted for thinking upon viewing this film fifty years ago. If one ever wondered why so many Homosexual men married into straight relationships and lived lives of lies, one has to look no further to this film, and films such as this that force Heterosexuality as the only human relationship by a hardline default. Anything else are labeled illnesses that can lead a homosexual to become a murderer. Comparing such a ludicrous film to most media today, we are quite tame. It is true that Gender opposites continue to be the overwhelming norm, and that heteronormativity (at least subconsciously) is hard to escape. However, being homosexual is no longer so separated from the heteronormative paradigm that it once was. Viewing historic, albeit, stupid films such as "Boys beware" is important in understanding that as a society we have made progress in our acceptance of things outside the heterosexual norm, but also sends a chilling reminder of the times we missed only by a few decades.

Gotta keep those young ones moral after school

[bkoganbing · 1/10 · 7 May 2015]

Recently a teacher got brought up on charges for showing this film in his class. Ironically enough it was not as part of some public health concern, but it was to show how attitudes have changed since 1961. In some places though they haven't.

Someone called this the Reefer Madness of gay films and I couldn't put it better myself. Anyone watching this film would think that gays were all predatory beasts just looking for young boys as sexual prey. Ironically enough no one seemed concerned about teen girls.

They got part of it right. Public bathrooms, called 'tea rooms' by those who frequented them, were part of the scene. But it was usually where adults hooked up as they really could not do it more openly. Those pesky sodomy laws you know. It was the love that dare not speak its name.

Looking at Boys Beware one wonders how could we have been so dumb?

Not only homophobic, but racist too

[awerling · 1/10 · 16 December 2006]

After watching this, I have two conclusions: the time period in which this was made, immediately after the 50s, was not as idyllic a society as many seem to grieve. This was a sick, deluded world in which such a despicable film would be force fed to so many kids. Secondly, we've come a long way, except that black people are still often cast as the violent criminal in popular entertainment...just like in this one.

Important to watch if you are interested in how the media can be a factor in how the unthinking masses come to conclusions. I'm not sure I understand how this is averaging even 3 stars...I agree it's important to watch, but that doesn't make the film "good." Not even "okay." It's absolute rubbish. Even as propaganda, it's blown out of proportion, and the music is cheerful and inappropriate.

Bad enough to cause some irreparable harm

[Rodrigo_Amaro · 2/10 · 22 June 2016]

"Boys Beware" would be comic if it wasn't painfully tragic. I'd like to think this was one of those community projects directed to schools that were watched by a bunch of students that later grow up bigoted, full of prejudice and whatever they learned from the film was spread to many others, and by that standard I'd like to think only 500 people have seen it and forgot it. And the problem in saying "that was then, this is now" and we have evolved a hell of a lot doesn't change because we still have cultures and people who spread the pedophilia and homosexuality are a common link. And that's why "Boys Beware" hits a nerve and is a tragic piece because lots of people saw it and reinforced the notions of homophobia, prejudice and violence. The movie calls the attention of viewers by whenever a similar situation happening (of a man offering a ride home to a teenager or a kid) to call the cops; but the movie makes a full generalization saying all homosexuals are alike, always going for boys and what the paranoia develops on "frightened" folks: let us be violent and kill them. Too bad I'm not allowed to say what I think about this movie in pure and simple words.

This ridiculous waste of celluloid is one of those projects destined to warn children of the dangers of meeting strangers who want to have sex with boys. But the film keeps saying ad nauseam that those kinds are homosexuals, big emphasis throughout the film, and that they're ill. Comes a colorful and happy presentation of the life back in the 1960's, jolly music and it was all hilarious until the narrator goes by saying that homosexuality was an illness of the mind and you already have an idea on how far behind humanity were (still is, I'm afraid). The clueless creators don't know how to make the distinction between pedophiles and men who feel sexual attraction for other men. The failure of providing a distinction when already there was one available is what kills this dreadful and horrid film. And if there's the goal of saving lives, the movie only hits 10% right: if you're young don't go out with friendly strangers. If someday some guy say they watched this thing in high school and the recommendation was helpful because they escaped from a certain fella named Jeffrey Dahmer, or someone similar then I'll say a word of praise to this - but doing the math correctly, this kid would be too old to have met Dahmer but you get the point.

And it's so strange that a film like this came out at the same time when "The Children's Hour" was released, a movie that portrayed a gay character in a great humanistic light (despite the low outcome of the story, blame it on that era), and many other great films of the decade that were allowing more and more decent presentation of gay characters on the screen - far from the heaven of flicks and series we have these days but a good ladder up to go. But comes this wreck to ruin everything. It's not a total disaster because the so-called production values and presentation are strangely well-made. The voice-over works, the acting is relevant and it's nicely put together. What makes this unbearable and lame is the ideas conceived, the lack of discernment and the total disregard of truth, an incoherent and damaging short film. Careless and harmful project at its worst. 2/10

Sick and disturbing

[preppy-3 · 1/10 · 10 July 2019]

An anti-gay short. It makes it clear that gay men are mentally ill and prey on young guys. It "dramatizes" two stories. It's all narrated by some guy. Full of homophobia and misinformation. If it weren't so sick it could be funny. I realize back in 1961 that homosexuality was still considered a mental illness but that doesn't excuse this. Supposedly this is still being shown in certain countries in the deep south and that's just sad. I find it hard to believe that in this day and age people would actually take this seriously. I really feel bad for closeted kids who see this and believe it as being the truth.

Wow...talk about misinformation!

[planktonrules · 2/10 · 22 January 2020]

"Boys Beware" is an educational film created by the Inglewood California Police Department. When seen today, it's pretty obvious that the film is crap...but back in the day this sort of misinformation was the norm. What misinformation am I talking about in the film? Well, the short talks about the dangers of homosexual men murdering and doing God knows what to boys. Today, these folks aren't seen as gay men but more correctly pedophiles. Because of this, I am sure the short film did a lot to confuse people and scare them into thinking gay men were all predatory and dangerous. I could go on and on about this, but the film simply presents misinformation again and again.

Wow Is All You've Gotta Say

[Michael_Elliott · 30 June 2015]

Boys Beware (1961)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

In 1961 producer Sid Davis made this film as well as a companion film called GIRLS BEWARE, which was about perverted men who wanted to take advantage of young girls. If you're thinking this film is about older cougars seeking out the attention of young boys then you're wrong. No, this educational short has become notorious over the years because it takes a look at the mental illness known as homosexuality. Yes, that's right. This film takes a look at homosexuality as a sickness and we see several examples of how these men try to hurt other boys. Needless to say, you really have to watch this thing with an open mind. I'm sure many are going to be offended but I think most are going to get a kick out of how stupid it is. This thing would be a perfect opening act for REEFER MADNESS since both films are so stupid about their subjects. This film has some pretty dumb narration and the warnings today are just so crazy that you obviously can't take it serious. The strangest story is how one boy gets taken advantage of by a homosexual yet the judge still gives the boy probation even though he's the victim!

It's easy to rant and rave along the front lines of moral relativism, but . . .

[pixrox1 · 5/10 · 5 May 2018]

. . . exactly who can claim to hold the Universe's final score card on anything? Papal bulls come and go, and what's merely venal one year becomes mortal the next. It's the same thing with DSM's or anything else. When you're on the wrong side of the political fence while suited up for a National Football League game during the playing of the "Star-Spangled Stripes," "Stars and Bars," "Striped Stars Forever," or whatever that ditty is called (infamous centuries ago as a tavern song that only the REALLY drunk would even attempt to sing!), the worm may turn a decade or two later, but can you really throw the "Hail Mary" again? "Tom Wolfe" thinks not. BOYS BEWARE is NOT receiving a lot of love Today. However, all of these pompous pontificators who make claims about the "Eternal Nature" of "Settled Law" apparently are unaware that astrologists have figured out the exact second at which the sun will expand, burning Earth to a crisp just before absorbing it like a tiny cinder in your shoe. Persuasions come and go, as LITTLE BIG MAN viewers well know. Which "D. Hoffman" will posterity revere, and which will go down in BOYS BEWARE infamy? Whether or not you think Kevin Spaced Out would be a better space filler in the previous sentence, who's to say whether "Oscar Wilde" or Whatever Turling got off light?

pure laugh riot

[bosscain · 9/10 · 16 February 2006]

"Ralph is sick, not a sickness that you can see like small pox but a sickness of the mind. Ralph is a homosexual." WOW! No wonder the world is as screwed up as it is today. This "educational" film was shown in classrooms across the country during the 1960's and possibly for the next 20 or 30 years. It would explain some of the hate and fear of the gay community and a fear for the gay individual during that time period. Watching this film today, one just can sit back and laugh at it how it portrays a gay man as "sick". and how you must avoid them at all costs.Although some of the points in the film still ring true today, such as to not go in a strangers car or to not take an unfamiliar "short cut" home. One tends to wonder what the world might have been like had we treated the gay community back then as we do now. But with all the conflict of gay marriage today. It might not have been any different.

Is the advice really bad?

[stevenfallonnyc77 · 7/10 · 11 June 2023]

No matter how one feels about the attitude towards gays in "Boys Beware," can anyone deny that it gives some sound advice?

For example, whether the "gay" aspect is present or not, a young boy should definitely not take rides from strangers, and especially not befriend them and take gifts from them. This is a popular method for gay men who are bad to earn the trust of young boys, so pointing this out really isn't wrong at all.

If your friend is stupid enough to get into a car with a complete stranger, yes, taking down the plate number is also a good idea. And if you are walking towards an area where you will be particularly vulnerable, like under a pier as in the film and you see a strange man following you, yes, it's a good idea not to go in there.

Yes, the narration may be a little off, as well as the overall attitude. The film doesn't stress that not all gay men are bad, and that is wrong, sure. But it's just as wrong to deny that many of them, enough to be concerned about, are predators, just like many heterosexual men, and women. The obvious bias against gays in the film doesn't negate that the methods shown in the film for getting the young boy's confidence are indeed used, always were and always will be.

And of course that doesn't stop at gays towards young boys - it could be any kind of adult looking to groom and mold an innocent kid.

So the film is a relic in its execution, but like mommy and daddy always would say, "Don't take candy from strangers."

A charming look back on a simpler, less easily offended time

[vietna451 · 10/10 · 29 July 2014]

Boys Beware is a look back at a past when jobs were plentiful, neighbors were caring and trusting, and crime was low. As a result it helps bring out the knowledge of dangers to our young men in our community: The constant threat of pedophiles or other strangers who could potentially end their life. The short, produced on a frugal budget of $1000 dollars has excellent acting and provided a very important message to the community. This video was so well made it is still used to this day to help inform young ones about the dangers lurking in their community. I highly recommend showing your children this video so they know the consequences of trusting strangers without asking their parents if it is a wise choice to trust them.

Some Homosexuals Like Boys, Deal with it!

[whammo-2 · 20 November 2011]

The truly sad tale of this movie is perfectly exemplified by the other commenters who apparently didn't heed the warning of this film. Because of this phobia of being labeled homophobic men actually have much easier access to boys now more than ever before, if they are so inclined.

The film makes it clear that homosexuals are men who like to have sex with other men. Boys are not specifically mentioned, but are obviously being warned to stay clear of them as well. One only need look to the Penn State scandal to see that some homosexual men are attracted to boys. To say this is not so borders on the delusional.