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It all started on November 14, 1949, with the murder of Linda Joyce Glucoft.
Linda and her family resided on South Crescent Heights Boulevard, just north of Culver City, in the Los Angeles area of California. Across the street from them lived the Hausman family, Ruben, his wife Sylvia, and their daughter, Rochelle, who was Linda Joyce's best friend. Unfortunately, Sylvia's father, Fred Stroble, a 67-year-old unemployed baker, and sexual predator, resided with them. Six month before Linda's death, he had been arrested for exposing himself to a ten-year-old girl, and molesting her. So the Haumans knew the monster that resided with them. What they did not expect was he would strike so close to home.
In fact, he struck at home. For, on that fateful November 14, Linda Joyce went over, as usual, to play with Rochelle. She never came back. Grandpa Fred got her alone, and began to molest her; when she began screaming he decided to kill her, stabbing her to death.
The case made headlines. Stroble was convicted, given the death penalty and executed in 1952.
This incident traumatized everyone. One of these was Jill Davis, the six-year-old daughter of Sid Davis, a Hollywood hanger-on who often stood in for John Wayne in his films, and wanted to make some himself. To quell his daughter's fears, and with money raised from Wayne, (about $10K) Davis made the 9 minute short, "The Dangerous Stranger," which warns children not to go near those you do not know, who approach you. (How did that help Linda Joyce? She must have met Stroble many times, over at Rochelle's house!) The film was shown even into my childhood, where I questioned its clarity--you got the sense, without it being said, that the kids who did not return had been killed, but why they were killed, or why these adults would want to do such a thing was never explained.
With the success of this film, Sid Davis became the American Arbiter Of Fifties Morality. One of his later efforts, "Boys Beware," charters the same territory, but is somewhat more explicit. It deals with the danger of Homosexuality in America!!!!!! Set in 1961, a period not that removed from the 1950's, it is still tainted with that era's morality.
Only now, it is such a hoot! And, after this Deconstruction, you will see why!
Let's start with the fact that the perpetrator looks like John Waters. I am sure that when Waters began to emerge on the scene, he adopted this look, having seen this film, and intending to spoof it. I don't blame him. Because what the film reveals, that the photo does not, is that this guy is just a big loser!
The film opens in 1961 small town America, which is enough to make some of us scream! A monotoned voice over enacts the role of a detective en route to a school to speak to a class of young boys about predatory homosexuals. He calls homosexuality a "sickness." What this is is merely a euphemism for "sophisticated." Because, in these bergs, anything that smacks of sophistication is sick!!!!!!!!
We start with the tale of Jimmy Barnes. He is so repressed, you can just see he is starved for something. He is Dorothy, looking for his Oz! So, when the John Waters stranger pulls up, he thinks nothing of taking up with his companionship. However, he makes several mistakes along the way!
Why the hell didn't he tell his parents? Hey, if, as an early teen, I walked into the house, and said to my parents, "Hey, a man in his forties just asked me to go fishing with him," even though my parents never understood certain parts of "Valley Of The Dolls," there would have been hysterics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The guy takes Jimmy for burgers and shakes! Excuse me! Jimmy, hon, if you are going to be had, insist on a high end meal at a four star restaurant! Nothing else will do! Remember what Bette Davis said, in "All About Eve"--"I'm not to be had for the price of a cheap cocktail--like a salted peanut!!!!!!!!!!!"
Same with the cheap, rickety stairs motel the guy pulls into. Insist on a glamour place with a pool, sauna, and manicurist! Otherwise, don't go anywhere with these guys! This is why these guys are losers! They aren't gay, because they don't understand what young gay men want! These are straight closet cases, middle aged dudes who can't get along with their families, so they think doing this will make them feel like a Daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, if someone with the urbanity of Truman Capote or Cole Porter comes along to pick you up, go for it!
The film makes none of these vital points! It also fails to point out that, in spite of what Sid Davis wants viewers to think, Jimmy LIKED it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, when he and his parents walk out of that police station, I do not see him trembling in fear! Not one bit, darlings!!!!!!!!!
Now, the story of Mike Merrick ends in murder. We never see the predator, but he is probably some hood in a leather jacket with sexual issues, who needs to get his jollies but exorcise his demons by murder afterward. You know, a serial killer in training. I wouldn't be seen with guys in leather, even at a leather bar! The film fails to point this out too.
The last segment, dealing with the hazards of public rest rooms is especially campy. The predator is played by Sid Davis himself, as one of these big business Daddy types. When he starts following the boy, Bobby, onto the beach, it evokes the suspense and tension of "Suddenly Last Summer." Too bad Bobby did not have Liz in her white bathing suit as a role model. I don't care what you say, public men's rooms are skanky. The film never bothers to address this. You are better off hanging out at a night club than here.
Sid Davis is making a film on what to avoid, Only he does not know what to focus on. And he has no clue to what homosexuality is, or how homosexuals interact socially!
Maybe this film should have been made by a HOMOSEXUAL:!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In FLAMING TECHNICOLOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How's that for Film Deconstruction, dolls?????????
But why should I do all the talking? Here! See for yourselves!!!!!!!!!
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