Classic instructional film for teen daters, presented here in the rare (but incomplete) Kodachrome version.

Shows the progress of the date, from choosing the right girl and asking her through the last "good night."

Ken Smith remarks: This social guidance "how-to" film has received more camp accolades than any other, and deserves it. Alan Woodruff ("Woody") receives a ticket to admit one couple to the upcoming Hi-Teen Carnival. "One couple," Woody reflects. "That means a date! Not like just going around with the crowd!" Woody decides to ask Ann Davis, who, the narrator points out, "knows how to have a good time." With her perpetual squint and chipmunk cheeks, Ann (pronounced "Ay-yun" by the actors in this film) is the perfect companion for super-nerd Woody. At crucial moments in the date, the narrator stops the action and presents Woody with several possible options for his actions. Happily, Woody makes all the correct decisions and ends up walking home from Ann's doorstep whistling with satisfaction at a job well done. "Thanks so much," says Ann with a toothy grin. "I had LOADS of fun."



DATING DATES GIRLS BOYS TEENAGERS TELEPHONES TELEPHONE CALLS HOT DOG EATING CARNIVAL PARTY KISSING MOMS DADS PARENTS OLDER BROTHERS LITTLE SISTERS

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Reviewer: Alonso Robles - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 19, 2020

Subject: Conversacion Conversacion entre los dos chavos - February 19, 2020Conversacion

Reviewer: dahszil - favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 25, 2018

Subject: This changed my whole life ! Gee , i thought this would be a real swell instructional film . After I watched it and tried to put the do's and dont's into practice I never got another date . It's ok now . i got a keen job so i just pay for se... i mean dates . - July 25, 2018This changed my whole life !

Reviewer: JoeCorrao - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 18, 2016

Subject: Go with Anne she looked like a keeper. - January 18, 2016Go with Anne

Reviewer: uh60timan - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 25, 2015

Subject: Hooked on phonics Apparently the standards for reading competency were a lot lower in 1949. This kid is destined for great things such as taking someone's eye out with a dart. Note the direction the thing goes during the scene with the snobby girl. Clearly Ann is the right choice with her chipmunk smile and frighteningly exuberant attack on the inedible cotton candy. She goes at it like a wolf on a three legged lamb. RRRRRRR, get some Ann! - August 25, 2015Hooked on phonics

Reviewer: superdudemiles - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 30, 2011

Subject: Nice film Woody's Brother is too cool... - December 30, 2011Nice film

Reviewer: pkkms - favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 21, 2011

Subject: Now Now is sexting via cell phone do's and dont's - December 21, 2011Now

Reviewer: JustDoshia - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 31, 2010

Subject: Nostalgic This is great! I love these old educational films. To all that didn't like it, I'll say this. When we walked into class and saw the projector we all rejoiced!! We knew we'd get to spend the class watching a film rather than listening to the teacher. Love it :) Thanks for your upload! For it's genre it's a great little snippet of American History! :) - May 31, 2010Nostalgic

Reviewer: dogwaffle - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 16, 2010

Subject: creepy Why are they eating fiberglass insulation on a stick? Aliens! Holy Crap! - May 16, 2010creepy

Reviewer: doowopbob - favorite - May 9, 2010

Subject: ....Are You Kiddin'.. At The Drive-In We Were Un-Hooking That Bra As Soon As The Sun Went Down...And Then.... - May 9, 2010....Are You Kiddin'..

Reviewer: internezzo - - November 28, 2009

Subject: Woody limiting himself If I were Woody I'd be asking Eddie out instead of those insipid slags. Eddie's hawt! - November 28, 2009Woody limiting himself

Reviewer: bestpbx - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 17, 2009

Subject: Jack Webb?????? No!!!!!! I swear, the guy who is running the Balloon/Dart Booth looks like Jack Webb in disguise!



I cannot believe this sily little film caused all the controversy in the reviews below. It is a fluffy little bit of nothing.



I can tell you right now... films like this did NOTHING to make anyone feel better about their fears of looking stupid in social situations. You still felt like you were the only one in the world who just did not fit in... but, the truthful thing is, 99% of people all felt this way. - June 17, 2009Jack Webb?????? No!!!!!!

Reviewer: kingwaylon - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 10, 2009

Subject: Re A Sweet Nightmare Please remove from this page,thank you - March 10, 2009Re A Sweet Nightmare

Reviewer: Smackdaddy9 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 23, 2009

Subject: Ann is the one. Did you see how she went after that cotton candy?

That's the girl I want! - January 23, 2009Ann is the one.

Reviewer: captainkibble - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 20, 2009

Subject: Re A Sweet Nightmare I think kingwaylon and Robin_1990 owe SaintCahier an apology. There is not a single spelling mistake in SaintCahier's post. Perhaps you think SaintCahier spelt 'educated' incorrectly as 'edulcorated'. I suggest you look up the word if you do. SaintCahier was clearly educated in the 70/80s and is therefore not a product of the 'modern educational system'. Something kingwaylon realised and decided that is when education started to go down hill. But then he cannot correctly type don't and can't so shouldn't commenting on the quality of other peoples education. - January 20, 2009Re A Sweet Nightmare

Reviewer: Robin_1990 - - March 31, 2008

Subject: Re: A Sweet Nightmare Before you mock the 50's, Please learn how to spell. Is today's education system really that bad? - March 31, 2008Re: A Sweet Nightmare

Reviewer: Zen Wizard - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 9, 2007

Subject: My Review--A classic! Right up there with, "A Date With Your Parents"! - April 9, 2007My Review--A classic!

Reviewer: SaintCahier - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 31, 2006

Subject: A Sweet Nightmare The film is a fantastic document of the morals of the post-war society.



I am just glad that I was born in the late 70's, and didn't have to live through the sweet nightmare of the 50's. It is amazing how the moral code determined that everything should be standardized, shallow and edulcorated. - March 31, 2006A Sweet Nightmare

Reviewer: ERD - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 7, 2006

Subject: Cute little instruction film for its time A nice little 1949 film showing teens of that era how to begin dating. Well acted, written, and directed. - January 7, 2006Cute little instruction film for its time

Reviewer: marzneedzwomen - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 28, 2005

Subject: Has anyone mentioned this before on this site I've seen "Dating Do's and Don'ts numerous times (but never in beautiful kodachrome!)and its even been ridiculed on Mystery Science Theatre3000 or whatever th' he-'double hockey sticks' its called. Here's the amazing thing...(in case you might not know) it was reportedly written by cult icon Edward D. Wood Jr. I was unaware of this until several years after seeing. Hmm...makes me like the film even more! see Rudolp Grey's excellent book "Nightmare of Ecstasy', I believe he has it in Ed's filmography. - July 28, 2005Has anyone mentioned this before on this site

Reviewer: Gman - favorite favorite favorite - July 12, 2005

Subject: Sweet and innocent. Y'know? It was kind of sweet.

Maybe life was never really that innocent but it's not an outlandish ideal. - July 12, 2005Sweet and innocent.

Reviewer: Dave Zwerdling - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 12, 2005

Subject: Select a Date to Load Don't forget to save your dating experience before making important, game-effecting decisions such as making rude invitations to date or coming onto your date while walking her up to her door!



The second 'goodbye' ending was the best. - July 12, 2005Select a Date to Load

Reviewer: coryanderson89(aim) - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 11, 2005

Subject: Wow Haha, this movie was so funny. It's the cheeseiest film I've ever seen, that's why it's so funny. - July 11, 2005Wow

Reviewer: Marysz - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 7, 2004

Subject: Dating Advice for Boys Awkward Woody wants to ask schoolmate Anne out on a date to the Hi-Teen Carnival. We learn the ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂdos and donÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂtsÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ of dating for boys. Another Coronet film, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂAre You Popular?ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ does the same for girls. In other words, a boy doesnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt have to be popular to ask a girl out, but a girl has to be popular to be asked out. Since the other reviewers wrote about the dating part of the film, itÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs good to look at what else this film tells us about life in America in 1949. For instance, we first see WoodyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs older brother Eddie when he comes home from work carrying a metal lunchbox. Eddie probably got a factory job just out of high school, an option not open to high school grads today. Their dad is probably also a factory worker. But theyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre also middle class. It was possible to support a family and live a decent life on a workerÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs salary then. WoodyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs parents are a comfortably dumpy looking pair. Middle-aged people were not obsessed with trying to look young in those days. Amazingly, WoodyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs dad helps his mom dry the dishes! After watching film after film in the Archives of women doing housework alone, itÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs a refreshing sight. The Hi-Teen Carnival that Woody and Ann go to is wholesome and innocent, as are all the teen activities in Coronet films. No wonder WoodyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs parents are so untroubled as he goes out the door. - May 7, 2004Dating Advice for Boys

Reviewer: surlychick - favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 13, 2003

Subject: The other girls So the first possible date was a snob (boo! hiss! according to other movies of the same era) but what exactly was wrong with the second girl? Just because she likes to sit quietly and talk doesn't mean she's "no fun to be with" and not good enough for Woody. Actually, I guess she should count her blessings in not being stuck with that dork...



And I LOVED the second possible ending where Woody hightails it out of there, leaving Ayyyun to wonder what the hell happened! Here's a question: why is she eating cotton candy with such gusto but is so dainty with the hot dog?



Note: phallic symbols abound in this film. - August 13, 2003The other girls

Reviewer: Spuzz - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 14, 2003

Subject: One of the greats! This film, which I've seen DOZENS of times (literally..) is SO great. I find so many new things every time I watch it. Example.. ever notice how the Coronet 'house' is the same for all the films? When Woody takes Ayyy-unn to the fair, when Woody is chewing away on his hot dogs, yet Ayyyyy-unn takes just a gingerly nibble? And what DOES Woody say to his mom to see if dinner is ready yet? All of these insubtleties! - April 14, 2003One of the greats!