The Dangerous Stranger (1950)

Director:

Sid Davis

Writer:

Orville H. Hampton (writer)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Short

Plot:

In this film, a police officer tells children about the dangers of accepting rides or presents from strangers, and relates the unfortunate stories of several children who did and were never seen again. |

Plot Keywords:

Stranger | Social Guidance | Molestation | Child Abuse | Ephemeral Film

Runtime:

10 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Sid Davis Productions

Trivia:

Inspired by the November 1949 abduction, molestation, murder, and mutilation of Linda Joyce Glucoft, a six-year-old girl in Los Angeles, California, by a local man named Fred Stroble. Sid Davis, the director of the film, was bothered by the case and tried to warn his daughter, Jill Davis, who was also six years old, about strangers. She didn't pay enough attention to her father's warnings to suit him. At the time Davis was a stand-in for John Wayne; Wayne loaned him $1,000 to make the film and Davis began directing educational films for children, each of them for $1,000.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Campy Classroom Classics Vol. 2 (2000) (V)

famous classroom film, still vital today

A classic film shown in classrooms throughout America from 1950s on; I recall seeing a color remake of it in health class around 1980 (the remake was apparently made in the early 1970s, I think). Quite old by now and somewhat lacking in production values, Dangerous Stranger is still worth watching today as it teaches children to avoid contact with potentially dangerous adults in a variety of situations; e.g. never take candy from strangers or get in their cars. No explanation is given as to why certain adults prey on children, but since the film is aimed at kids anyway no complicated explanations are really needed.

I doubt any actual film copies of this movie still exist, it is so old, though I found it on a compilation tape with a number of other educational films of the same era. Should be required viewing for all children under 10!