Social Acceptability (1958)

e [Music] you have to watch one you have to memorize the line they're between 14 and 16 years old social life is a dominant interest every school class has several groups or clicks this boy's name is Rod Hunter an unusually popular adolescent he's a three-letter athlete he's intelligent and comes from a family with good income and high social Prestige Rod is the leader of the click which dominates the social life of the school here's Ben a boy whose background could be described as lower class but his exceptional Talent his intelligence his determination and his social knowhow have all brought him almost total acceptance among the CLE psychologists call him a climber then there's the middle case Susie Summers she belongs to the click and has lots of friend friends she doesn't enjoy quite the same popularity as Rod perhaps because she has close Rivals with her elder sister and lacks a sense of security and the exception to the general rule the voluntary isolate Peter mcgiven the boy who doesn't really want to get into the CLE and is happy following his own Pursuits our Fringe case Marian Ellsworth she seems to qualify for acceptance by the cleek though somehow she hasn't quite made it but let's watch these teenagers in action Jack I don't know hello sit oh Susie I can hardly wait till Saturday night I got the cutest new dress to wear to your party oh I just love it what's it like oh it's blue and it's got a really boy the wheels are sure buzzing today you think nothing ever happened around the school except what they do we'll be hearing about that party for week oh you have to admit her anything does happen except the things they run mhm I'll be glad to get out of this school where one Bunch runs everything what party are you talking about don't tell me you haven't heard Susie Summers is giving a party Saturday night for the social set of our class I thought you'd be asked Marin we used to know Susie real well and you lived in the same street and everything we used to get together when we were in junior high but I haven't seen her much lately well she'll probably ask you I heard her asking Ben maybe she won't ask Marion I heard she was giving all the invitation out today she must have asked just about everybody already once for sure that you and I won't be asked hey Clara listen let's get some kids together Saturday night you know and go to a movie gee I wonder if Susie will ask me you haven't heard it you mean to tell me that you haven't heard it no I haven't heard it here play it it's really terrific Susie when do you hear it excuse me ladies I have a special request kids in the gang sure have a lot of fun if Susie asked me to her party maybe I could get into more of their doings I bet she will ask me after all we used to be good friends I wonder who she's asked if she's asked Ben she's sure to ask me her parents don't even know his parents and he lives in that slummy part of town Rod will go for sure he's terrific I wish I know how to be friendly like suszie I wish I wasn't so shy I never know what to talk about hey look at the time I got to get home Yik are you coming Marion I think I'll stay and finish my Coke bye Maran bye [Music] hey give me another dime hey quick oh here I've got one Maran I didn't know you cared here are you sure you can afford a whole [Music] dime what kind of Dopey music's that I'm sorry I nobody listens to that crummy B anymore Ben you're coming yeah I'm with you man oh would you care to [Music] minuette hi Marion hi Susie I guess I goofed oh don't mind then say Maran I want to ask you something some of the kids are coming over Saturday night if you want to ride home you better hurry up dad's waiting for us outside oh gee wait for me I'll be right there oh Marion I'll call you to T [Music] night hi Mother you're late today I was having a coke with some of the gang the vegetables are done dear would you mash them for me Eric I think it's time Danny went home his mother will be wondering where he is what time is it Mrs El it's time to go home Danny mother I was wondering whether I could have some of the gang over some night for a little while Marion bunch of teenagers with one of those noisy record players they'll want something to eat really Maran it's all I can do to keep the house clean and the family fed without parties for teenagers a lot of the kids have parties and their parents don't mind Susie Summers is having a party this Saturday night and she said she'd ask me but if I don't have them over here once in a while well they'll think it funny and they won't ask me to their parties maryan it takes a big house and a lot of money to hold a party for a lot of teenagers it wouldn't have to be very many no I'm afraid not Maran it's too much work and worry and money hi Dad hi son hello dear hi Maran what's too much work and worry and money oh Maran has some idea about having a bunch of teenagers over some night and I told her after a long day I haven't the strength to cope with all the food and everything it wouldn't be any trouble for you mother I could make sandwiches besides it cost money to feed all those young people you don't seem to mind when Eric brings home all his friends you feed them and you don't mind the work them boys are a lot easier to cope with than girls some of those girls in your class come from real fancy homes and you can bet they'd notice everything here and go right home and tell their families well I'm not having those girls in here unless I can do things properly certainly won't entertain with just a few sandwiches I'd have to bake and go to a lot of trouble Mother you don't understand understand the kids don't expect their mothers to go to a lot of trouble they just want Cokes and stuff like that Evelyn maybe Marian's got something there those kids don't want you to fuss they like informality M you're a man you have no idea the work that goes into the simplest party you'd better wash up now I'm ready to serve dinner more pie Marion no thank you mother I have to watch my weight but nonsense the way you girl carry on about your weight it's so one do you have any energy at all here I don't want you getting sickly and thin how are you getting along at school these days Maran I don't mean your schoolwork I mean the social life sus Summers is having a party this Saturday Dad she all but invited me this afternoon but she said she'd telephone me tonight that's wonderful sounds like a lot of fun she's going to call tonight that's what she said with no trouble for the Summers Stander 10 they've got a big big house can I go now Mom yes Eric run along you haven't seen much of Susie lately have you I used to think you two were great Pals I know I seem to have gotten out of touch with the gang somehow actually I was kind of surprised when Susie mentioned her party to me but I guess she still feels we're friends of course she does mother may I be excused I have some homework to do yes but take your dishes to the sink and save me some work uh I'll call you when the phone rings thanks Dad more coffee M thanks I hope to goodness Susie Summers remembers to call you know lelyn it does seem that maran's left out of the gang more and more lately maybe it'll do her some good to have a little party nothing elaborate say he's about 6 or so I know we haven't much space but a few kids around for an evening couldn't be much trouble M why are you getting so excited all of a sudden about Maran social life she's just a child she's nearly 16 she's almost a young woman she ought to know how to talk to boys be at ease when she's with people I thinking it'd help her out give her some background if she could have her friends here we seem to get along all right without entertaining everybody in town why do we suddenly have to start having all of Marian's friends in and that's another thing why don't we have some of our friends over once in a while seems to me that the only time we ever entertain is the family party at Christmas or when one of the relatives comes to town what's got into you Mal well I'll tell you Evelyn I saw little Susie Summers on the street the other day you know I haven't seen her for quite some time believe me she's turned into to a very lovely young lady well frankly I'd like to see our little girl looking more like that don't get me wrong maran's a wonderful kid but she seems awfully quiet lately I think she studies too much I can remember kids like that back in school and it seems to me they were always the ones who didn't seem quite to fit in with the others I just want Maran to grow up so that she can make friends that's all I suppose what you mean is you don't want to up like me no no Evelyn that isn't what I mean at all I know you and I understand you and I like you just the way you are but well you know you are shy and some people don't appreciate you until I get to know you life would be easier for Maran if she could make friends faster I I suppose you're right Malcolm to tell you the truth I'm scared to have Marian's friends over here those girls are so poised and well-dressed I can remember girls like that when I went to school they always seem to be sneering and giggling at me I never knew how to act or what to say or how to dress Evelyn I didn't mean to upset you like this have some more coffee no no thanks m i I've had enough it's different with boys you give them a glass of milk and a piece of pie and it's all the same to them Evelyn I know how you feel but Marian the most successful people weren't always the most popular kids remember Tom Davis back in the days at school he was always On The Fringe of things the way you say Maran is but he's the most popular and successful man in our class now yes I remember but somewhere along the line Tom learned to get along with other people or he wouldn't be the community leader he is today I think all of us want to get along with other people that's why I think Maran wouldd be better off if she were in the gang all right M maybe I could arrange a little party for but I'll need your help I think I will have some more coffee well now all we have to worry about is whether Susie Summers is going to call or not now where'd that extra man come from oh gee I almost forgot Marian Ellsworth I didn't even think of her until I saw her this afternoon Susie you're not going to invite her why she doesn't even belong to your gang those queer clothes she wears I felt kind of sorry for her today if she doesn't smarten up she's going to grow up to be just like her parents you know that Marion's mother and father never seem to get asked any of the parties given by the grown-ups around here well Jay I think it's mean that we should take it all out on Maran well she can't help it if her parents are kind of unfriendly she even said her parents won't let her have kids in the house I still say she'll spoil the party well it's my party and I'll ask whoever I want Mar and and I used to be good friends in junior high I feel as if I ought to ask her after all she just lives down the street you better make sure you haven't got too many on the list already mother said we only have room for 14 well I haven't nearly that many 2 four wow 17 already I have to take our four that's all and you won't be able to invite Mary and Ellsworth that's for sure well I'm going down and ask Mother for we can't have a few more than 14 mother what is it Maran was that the phone no dear I'll call you for if we play on Sunday why don't we go over to the park there's lots more room over there hey Dopey I'm expecting a phone call it's time you were in bed anyway I'll keep your shirt on that was just my sister [Applause] it's for you Malcolm Maran Marion yes mother it's time to go to bed yes Mother the party that Marian wants to go to so desperately is not important in itself but it is important as a symbol Marian was rejected today and the experience could influence her personality and development if she felt accepted and therefore assured like Rod Hunter the whole pattern of her life would be different if she didn't care about social life like Peter mcgibbon she wouldn't judge her own worth by an invitation to a party if she had an attractive personality like Ben and her family's help she could be a successful social climber maybe even get into the click the degree of social acceptance that each teenager experiences leaves its mark on his personality pattern lack of social acceptance can leave emotional scars and that's why for Maran today's rejection is important time and experience will be on her side she can do much herself but is it not a job for parents too what can they do [Music] [Applause] [Music] a [Music]