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Childhood Years Stop the World, I Want To Get Off

Only $19.95

The title of Anthony Newley's musical Stop The World, I Want To Get Off became a catch phrase with people of all ages, including pre-adolescent children. This set of DVDs carries the same title but with a slightly different intent - to highlight the problems of pre-adolescent children. What could better showcase the sad state of affairs the children found themselves in, than a film produced by the renowned Czech filmmaker Alexander Hammid? In this 1950 production "Angry Boy" Hammid is at his best, capturing the emotions of a troubled 10 year old as only he can. The film also tells us why Hammid won so many awards. His deep insight is on display in this film, in which he gets to the root of the boy's problems - a mother with an unhappy past and an equally dismal present. It's amazing to note, that folks in the 50s were not far behind in employing marketing gimmicks that modern day experts take credit for - such as sponsoring a movie with a social theme. You will see this in the delightfully narrated film "Special delivery", which is the story of a boy who is eager to ride the school bus but is too young to do so. "Trust us, we know how to take care of your Kids!" is the message the bus company wishes to convey. I guess they did get this message across quite well.

The Nathan Hofheimer Foundation sponsored film "Activity Group Therapy" is illustrative of the methods used in helping socially maladjusted youngsters cope with their problems. Concealed cameras and microphones give the film a real-life flavor. The 1953 Encyclopedia Britannica production "Don't Be Afraid" is highly recommended. It does a good job of analyzing children's fears and dispelling them as well. All in all, this is a good set of DVDs to have in your collection, even if it is only for the creativity and originality the films possess.