Moving Image:Boys Beware

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Boys Beware is a short film from 1973.

Sid Davis classic - A 1961 American anti-homosexual film targeted at teenage boys, urging them to avoid encounters with potential molesters. From the Prelinger Archives

Boys Beware
Release date	1973
Language	English

Thumbnail

https://archive.org/download/BoysBewarecolorizedVersion

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Shot List

For black and white version?

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:06,400 Sid Davis Productions Presents

2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:13,400 Boys Beware

3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,400 Produced with the cooperation of the Inglewood Police Department

4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,400 and the Inglewood Unified School District.

5 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,400 "Police station" [Building] "Police zone" [Street sign]

6 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,400 "Police" [Sign] "Shelter →" [Sign]

7 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,400 I'm Lieutenant Williams,

8 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,400 a police officer attached to the Juvenile Division.

9 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,600 I’m on my way to Monroe Junior High School

10 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,400 to talk to a group of young people.

11 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,400 That looks innocent enough, doesn't it?

12 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:11,400 Lots of young people hitchhike.

13 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,400 Seems like a good way to get from one place to another.

14 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,400 But sometimes, there are dangers involved that never meet the eye.

15 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,400 Let's take the case of Jimmy Barnes.

16 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,400 Jimmy played baseball all afternoon, and he didn't feel like

17 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,400 walking home, so he decided to thumb a ride.

18 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,400 He’d done it a hundred times before,

19 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,400 And he didn't think anything was unusual

20 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,400 when the driver struck up a friendly conversation.

21 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,400 In fact, he seemed like a real nice guy.

22 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,400 He asked Jimmy if he played baseball in the park often.

22 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,100 Jimmy told him they practiced three times a week

23 00:01:54,300 --> 00:01:56,400 and played a rival group on Friday afternoon.

24 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,400 The stranger was a good listener, too.

25 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,400 and it only seemed minutes before

26 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,400 they pulled up in front of Jimmy's house.

27 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,100 When Jimmy got out,

28 00:02:09,300 --> 00:02:11,400 the stranger gave him a friendly pat.

29 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:16,400 Then he told him he'd see him again,

30 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,400 as he always drove by the park on his way home.

31 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,400 Sure enough,

32 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,400 the following day, when Jimmy finished playing ball,

33 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,400 well, the man was there waiting.

34 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,400 They stopped at a drive-in,

35 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,400 and the stranger treated him to a Coke.

36 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,400 During their conversation,

37 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,400 he told several off-color jokes.

38 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:03,400 But Jimmy had heard others before;

39 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,400 and, well, it made him feel big to so easily

40 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,400 win the confidence of an older person.

41 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,400 The following Saturday, they went fishing together.

42 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,400 By now, they were using first names.

43 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,400 Ralph said it was more friendly.

44 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,400 Jimmy hadn't enjoyed himself so much in a long time.

45 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:46,400 Then, during lunch,

46 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,400 Ralph showed him some pornographic pictures.

47 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,400 Jimmy knew he shouldn't be interested,

48 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:52,400 but, well, he was curious.

49 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,400 What Jimmy didn't know was that Ralph was sick.

50 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,400 A sickness that was not visible like smallpox

51 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,400 but no less dangerous and contagious:

52 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,400 a sickness of the mind.

53 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,400 You see, Ralph was a homosexual...

54 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,400 a person who demands an intimate relationship

55 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:10,400 with members of their own sex.

56 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,400 But by now, Jimmy felt a fondness for Ralph;

56 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,400 and they continued to go places together.

57 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,400 Ralph was generous and took Jimmy many interesting places

58 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,400 and did many nice things for him.

59 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,400 He bought presents and even gave him money,

60 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,400 but payments were expected in return.

61 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,400 You see, Jimmy hadn't recognized Ralph’s approach soon enough.

62 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,400 When Ralph first asked Jimmy to go fishing alone,

63 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,400 he should have discussed it with his parents or teacher.

64 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:46,800 "Police station" [Sign]

65 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,200 Finally, Jimmy told his parents;

66 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,400 and they reported it to the Juvenile authorities.

65 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,400 Ralph was arrested,

67 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,400 and Jimmy was released on probation

68 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,400 in the custody of his parents.

69 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,400 But all homosexuals are not passive. Scene of boys playing basketball.

70 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,400 Some resort to violence, as in the case of Mike Merritt.

71 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,400 In the heat of competition,

72 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,400 no one noticed the man who sat and watched.

73 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,400 And when the game broke up and the others left,

74 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,400 Mike decided to stay and practice a little longer.

75 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,400 The stranger joined him. He was friendly;

76 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,400 and, well, it was better than playing alone.

77 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,400 Then after a few shots, Mike realized he had already

78 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,400 overstayed his time, and suggested he had better leave.

79 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,400 The stranger told him if he’d like to stay longer,

80 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,400 he'd be glad to drive him home when they finished.

81 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:55,400 Sounded great to Mike!

82 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,400 A chance to play longer and get a ride home, too!

83 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,400 When they finished, the stranger told him he'd make

84 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,400 a fine player someday if he got lots of practice.

85 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:25,400 The companionship, the praise, the friendly attitude dispelled

86 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,400 any misgivings Mike might have had about going with a stranger.

87 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,400 He probably never realized until too late

88 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,400 that he was riding in the shadow of death.

89 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,400 But sometime that evening,

90 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,400 Mike Merritt traded his life for a newspaper headline.

91 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,400 As Denny and Jerry got the papers ready

92 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:50,400 for Jerry’s afternoon delivery,

93 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,400 they only casually noticed the two boys that

94 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,400 raced by in the afternoon traffic.

95 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:56,400 And they didn't pay much attention to the car

96 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,200 that drew up shortly afterwards,

97 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,400 until the man called them over.

98 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,400 Had two boys been by on bicycles?

99 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:08,700 The boys nodded they had.

100 00:07:08,900 --> 00:07:10,400 Could they recognize them if they saw them again?

101 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,400 Well, Denny guessed he could.

102 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,400 "Then, hop in!" the man said. "Those are stolen bikes!"

103 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,400 Without giving it another thought, Denny got in; and the car sped away.

104 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,400 Jerry watched. He’d been told many times

105 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,400 if a friend got in a car with a stranger to write down the license number.

106 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,800 It didn't seem to apply, but...

107 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,400 well, fortunately, he marked it down.

108 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,400 When he delivered a paper to Denny's house,

109 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,400 he asked his mother if they caught the boys

110 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,400 that had stolen the bicycles.

111 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,400 Denny hadn't returned, so he told her the story.

112 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,400 and gave her the paper with the license number

113 00:07:58,00 --> 00:08:00,400 Being a careful parent, she decided to call the police.

114 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,400 Jerry supplied the necessary information

115 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,400 and the stranger's car was quickly spotted.

116 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,400 It was a good example of how important it is to always

117 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,400 get the license number and description of any stranger

118 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,400 who takes a young person off alone, no matter what they tell you.

119 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,400 Public restrooms can often be a hangout for the homosexual.

120 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,400 Bobby and his friends hadn't noticed the man

121 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,400 who had been in the restroom when they changed.

122 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,600 And as it was late, he suggested they take the shortcut under the pier.

123 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,400 But the others preferred to take the more traveled way home.

124 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,400 When Bobby recognized the stranger as the man in the restroom,

125 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,400 the shortcut under the pier didn't seem like a good idea at all.

126 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,400 After all, it’s more fun to stay with your friends anyway.

127 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,400 Bobby had made a wise decision. It may have saved his life.

128 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,400 The decision is always yours...

129 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,400 ...and your whole future may depend on making the right one.

130 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,400 So, no matter where you meet a stranger,

131 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,400 be careful if they are too friendly

132 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,400 if try to win your confidence too quickly

133 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,400 and if they become overly personal.

134 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,400 One never knows when the homosexual is about.

135 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,400 He may appear normal, and it may be too late

136 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,400 when you discover he is mentally ill.

137 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,400 So keep with your group, and don't go off alone with strangers

138 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:58,400 unless you have the permission of your parent or teacher.

139 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,400 The End A Sid Davis Production

More Details

original black and white is 1961

People

Person:Sid Davis

See Also

• https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ABoys_beware.ogv
• https://archive.org/details/turner_video_17739
• https://archive.org/details/BoysBewarecolorizedVersion