Dating: Do's and Don'ts (1949) User Reviews

"No, it won't be easy asking for that one big date!"

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 19 July 2016]

In some ways, this one is even better than some of the exploitation flicks of the Thirties and Forties. Well, maybe that's pushing it, but there's some seriously funny stuff going on here. The thing is, it seems to pretty accurately portray all the teenage angst of asking a girl out on one's very first date. At least it seems that way to me, when I was Woody's age I had all I could do to pick up a phone in the first place. Had to plan for nobody else to be around so I could make it through a call without a hitch.

So this little tutorial answers three big questions - 1. How do you choose a date?, 2. How do you ask for a date?, and 3. How do you say good night? Alternate scenarios play out for Woody's edification in order to help him select the most reasonable course of action. It helps that big brother is around to offer helpful, little tips, like act naturally. That seems to be the best advice from a half century ago that still works today. The one idea I never bothered with was asking my Mom if I could go on a date, that was probably the kid's dumbest question of all.

OK, look - I wasn't going to mention it but it's a low hanging curve ball that's too good not to take a swing at. The kid's name was Woody - what kind of subliminal message were the film makers trying to send here? That sets the tone for the whole story, right up to 'How do you say good night?'. That first option was a little bit awkward, wouldn't you say? Good night.

What To Do on a Date

[Michael_Elliott · 1 December 2017]

Dating: Do's and Don'ts (1949)

** (out of 4)

Are you about to go on your first date? Do you like a girl but are too scared to ask her out? Do you not know how to say goodnight to a young lady? Well if so then don't worry because you've got this twelve-minute short to teach you all you need to know when it comes to asking a girl out, showing her a good time at the dance and of course saying goodnight. Obviously this here is one of those old educational shorts that were meant to help teens learn new things but of course they don't stand up too well today. Most people view these hoping for some campy laughs but that really doesn't happen here as this one is pretty straight without too many over-the-top moments. Fans of these shorts will find it to be mildly entertaining.

Things We Never Considered

[boblipton · 3/10 · 8 September 2019]

This Coronet short considers the question of who to ask on a date and what to do when on one. Since it's about a teen-aged boy, we all know what criteria he would consider important: what are his chances of getting to Third Base, or maybe even further. Is that covered or even hinted at? Of course not!

Like all Coronet shorts, which were intended for class rooms, it showed people you never knew, operating from bizarre motives, and succeeding by means that made no sense. Take the windows in this movie. All of the windows have curtains, which is something that people did back then. However, they are all drawn, even the ones in the kitchen. What were they doing in the kitchen that they didn't want neighbors to see?

We used to see these Coronet movies towards the end of the school year. They were boring back then and ludicrous now.

Antiquated and a bit silly.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 8 July 2021]

"Dating: Do's and Don'ts" is a sex education film which clearly has NOT stood the test of time. Seen today, it comes off as phony and silly...and I can only wonder if kids back in the late 40s and 50s though the same thing about the short film.

A boy learns about the Hi-Teen Carnival, a school event where he might want to take a date. Among the dating advice offered by the narrator is what type of girl to ask out, how to ask a girl out, how to behave during the date as well as what to do when the date is complete.

I think the film would have worked much better had it presented scenarios but didn't provide answers. That way, the film could be stopped periodically and the kids could be asked their own advice as to what to do next. This is especially true since the way the folks behave in the film seemed pretty silly and overdone at times....though I did like the hotdog-like balloons at the fair...that was a nice touch.

By the way, "SCTV" used clips from this film in a skit involving a sexologist and her insane dating advice.

Definitely didn't stand up to the test of time.

[icehole4 · 1/10 · 18 February 2002]

I'm sure when this came out in 1949 it was very informative to young people about what they should do on their date. However, these days, it's pretty much seen as a silly short about people acting conservatively. The acting is pretty bad as well.

This film is bound to be very useful for . . .

[tadpole-596-918256 · 7/10 · 11 July 2021]

. . . inter-galactic aliens who've just fallen to Earth. For instance, the trio of planetary island hoppers landing in California during EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY may have decided to spend more time visiting the Raisin State if they had seen DATING: DO'S AND DON'TS upon their arrival. It's a thought.

Bad, but worth watching...

[yawgmoth_742 · 3/10 · 5 November 2005]

...you know, the way "Jude Suss", "The Birth of a Nation" and "Hero" ( ;) ) are worth watching just to fully understand the evil motives that drove these people. Awfully conservative (none of Woody's dating options are black, Asian or in any other way different from the WASP norms of the time), but its corniness makes it good for a laugh. It's the kind of movie you should watch, but not pay for. Since it's a US "instructional" film, it's in the public domain, and quite easy to find on the Internet.

(It's also fun to watch it with friends and find lots of hidden messages and things that were probably deliberately planted in there to brainwash innocent students...)

Funny

[beckydi · 26 October 2004]

Again, much like 'Are you popular?' this is funny stuff. Obviously it wasn't intended to be amusing when it was made back then - but then I find it hard to believe that even kids and teenagers who saw this when it came out took it completely seriously. Things haven't changed that much - this is very polite but 'the man,' 'the nanny state' or whatever you want to call it, is still trying to control and 'advise' teenagers. It's all just about sex - and making sure that purity and abstinence are values that teens aspire to.

I have to say I love the scene when they say goodbye - three possible scenarios are given. It isn't until the last one that it's 'just right.' It completely reminds me of a 1950s teen version of the fairytale/fable 'Goldilocks and the three bears.'

Funny, not particularly effective and very, very kitsch.