( this be part of an essay i write for my fhss sexuality class on the film ) boys beware and a film produce in 1959 and later show around many american school in 1961 have a catastrophically strong anti homosexual message attach to it . in a nutshell and it follow three ick men who prey on young boy and sexually abuse and in one case and kill them . have boy beware use the right logic and it could have be helpful to child and teenager in prevent pedophilia and rape . instead it hide behind bigotry and hatred and perfectly depict the social attitude of it time . that look innocent enough doesn not it . a lot of young people hitch hike . but sometimes there be danger be involve that do not meet the eye . jimmy do not like walk home so he decide to thumb a ride . he would do it one hundred time before and he do not think anything be unusual when the driver strike up conversation . the stranger be a good listener too and it only seem minute before they pull up in front of jimmy house . when jimmy pull out the stranger give him a friendly pat . the opening moment of the film seem coherent and meaningful . shot of a shady man offer a young boy a ride home be accompany by omniscient voice over which be full of hint that the man be a pedophile or rapist and that the character jimmy be of course in potential danger of harm both physically and emotionally . any half educate person watch this film in today time would be assert that boy beware be explore a pedophilia sexuality and it dangers . have the film follow from it original connotation it would have make sense and but then of course it would not be folly for analysis on it promotion of heteronormativity . a the next scene begin and boy beware begin to erode in it coherence . homophobia and and lack of understanding of other sexuality ( which both exist inside of the heteronormative paradigm ) will rear it ugly head . the follow saturday they go fish together . by then they be use first name . ralph say it be more friendly . then during lunch and ralph show him some pornographic picture . what jimmy do not know be that ralph be sick . a sickness that be not visible like smallpox but no less dangerous and contagious . a sickness of the mind . you see and ralph be a homosexual . a person who demand an intimate relationship with member of their own sex . homosexuality be denounce here for the first time in the film and full of hysterical assumption and fear that be so absurd one find it impossible to believe any audience even take the film seriously . have define the term homosexuality and the film successfully promote male or female relationship without even show any . it do this simply by compare homosexuality to a disease and label it dangerous and contagious go far enough to separate any form of sexuality that do not fit in with the heterosexual paradigm a sick . while medium in popular culture in today world tend to shy away from upfront and direct criticism of homosexuality and boy beware shed light on the fact that the medium can be a factor in how the unthinking mass come to conclusion . in the 1950s and most people be disgust with gay people outright a show and maybe in part because of this film . today and most people be okay with gay people but so long a they be not a close friend or family member . popular culture reflect this and a evidence by huge amount of gay character use for comedic ( but not dramatic ) effect in television show . what this hint be that heteronormativity will always be around any society until a sweeping majority of it people accept other sexual orientation unconditionally . the heteronormativity in boy beware be just a testament to the hatred felt at the time and as be the passive heteronormativity show through today use of stereotypical gay character that be hardly ever make to connect to audience on a meaningful level . one should feel deeply sorry for the amount of gay or confused teenager who be show this film after it release ( a it be distribute for over twenty year ) . in promote heteronormativity a the only accepted norm and the film magnify how much homosexual be the other . this would have be damage to impressionable gay represent but all homosexual be not passive and the narrator begin and the stranger agree to give mike a ride home . the companionship and the praise and the friendly attitude dispel any misgiving about go with a stranger . he probably never realize until it be too late that he be rid in the shadow of death . but sometime that even mike merric trade his life for a newspaper headline . in the shadow of death . whoever make this film obviously learn scriptwriting lesson in hyperbole . i be go to become a killer be what many young boy can not be fault for think upon view this film fifty year ago . if one ever wonder why so many homosexual men marry into straight relationship and live life of lie and one have to look no far to this film and and film such a this that force heterosexuality a the only human relationship by a hardline default . anything else be label illness that can lead a homosexual to become a murderer . compare such a ludicrous film to most medium today and we be quite tame . it be true that gender opposite continue to be the overwhelming norm and and that heteronormativity ( at least subconsciously ) be hard to escape . however and be homosexual be no longer so separate from the heteronormative paradigm that it once be . view historic and albeit and stupid film such a boy beware be important in understand that a a society we have make progress in our acceptance of thing outside the heterosexual norm and but also send a chill reminder of the time we miss only by a few decade .