Discipline During Adolescence (1958)

★★★★★ · Spuzz · 2003-09-09

A classic among the social guidance films, we follow the rebellious Steve as he stays out late at night, much to the chagrin of his parents. Pop wants to punish him, Mom says he'll apologize just like the nice boy he is. When he doesn't, and Steve does it again, Dad lays down the law, and grounds him and takes away his allowance. This prevents Steve from attending the school dance of course, and Steve makes a lame excuse to his friends to save face. Then Steve is even more distant from his parents because he's grounded. Who is to blame here? Well, of course that's up to you to decide, but…

★★★★ · Either Total Strictness or Total Lenience: You Decide · Christine Hennig · 2005-05-26

This is sort of a Centron discussion film for parents (though it was not made by Centron). Steves parents are worried about him because hes been staying out late every night, neglecting his schoolwork, and generally having a bad attitude about things. Steves mom, amazingly enough, wants to deal with this by ignoring it, because this tactic worked with the teenaged son of one of her friends. Steves dad is all for punishment, but he decides to try it Moms way after she talks him into it. Unfortunately, Steves behavior just gets worse, so Dad steps in and lays down the law, grounding Steve for a…

★★★★ · He's Not College Material · JayKay49 · 2021-10-23

So I'd skip sending him to college. Waste of money. He's too old to get the strap. Probably didn't get the strap enough when he was younger. That's called a "beatin'-deficient childhood," And it's too late now. Let him get drafted or something. His type usually get their act together in the service. Right at the time this film was made my folks were going through the same thing with my oldest brother. They left him alone and he got kicked out of college the freshman year - with a 1.6 gpa. A smartee, but too much of a party boy. He was raised by my grandmother and my aunt for the first 7 or 8…

★★★★ · What do you think? · ERD. · 2008-08-16

Thought provoking film for the parents of the 1950's on how to discipline teenagers. It obviously seems that the parents must find a better way to communicate to their son and get him to understand why they are so concerned about his behavior. Well acted and directed.

★★★ · You're grounded - but here's the car keys in case you want to go out · Steve Nordby · 2004-01-30

Ironically silly music plays as the film opens and a explanation of it's rather more serious subject matter scrolls by. Teenage Steve stays out late, skips church, and his grades are falling. Dad is annoyed and wants to get tough and punish him. Mom wants to ignore it. Dad goes along with Mom, but things get worse. Steve brags to his friends that he'd just leave home if his parents didn't let him do what he wants. Finally Dad gets tough, grounds him, cuts his allowance, and as the film ends, Steve is browsing the want-ads. Is he thinking about getting a job so he can leave home? The announcer…