Have you ever been shown a movie in high school that later you thought was odd? You’re not alone. Recently, someone polled the boomers in a popular internet forum, asking what films they remember being forced to sit through in school. Here are some of their film confessions.
1. Citizen Kane (1941)
“I took a high school film class my senior year, taught by a Jesuit priest. He thought Citizen Kane was the greatest cinematic achievement ever committed to film and actually got mad at me for guessing what the ending meant based on the first few scenes of the film,” confesses one.
2. The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
Another user admits, “They showed us The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. in 4th or 5th grade. Gave me nightmares for weeks. I haven’t thought about it since the 70s.
I just now watched a YouTube clip to see if I remembered correctly or if it was some kind of bizarre fever dream. Anyway, the clip I just now watched was called ‘Dungeon Song,’ and it was as creepy as I remember. Probably gonna have nightmares about it again tonight.”
3. The Savage Innocents (1960)
“High school started with The Savage Innocents (1960). Horrible movie, no business showing that as an educational film in the 90s,” one person shares. It follows an Inuk hunter killing a Christian missionary who rejected his traditional food offer and his wife’s company. He is then pursued by white policemen, and after saving one’s life, things get complicated.
4. Romeo and Juliet (1968)
Every high schooler knows the Shakespearean romantic tragedy about two young lovers from opposing families. One former student remembers having to take home a permission slip for the onscreen nudity, while others did not need parental permission.
5. Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land (1959)
Numerous people admit to loving this film and being delighted to see it in school. Donald embarks on an adventure where he discovers the importance and usefulness of numbers in our everyday life. On this journey through numbers, Donald learns that numbers and shapes are ingrained in our day-to-day activities.
6. The Red Balloon (1956)
The Red Balloon is a 34-minute short film that follows a boy and a newly discovered sentient balloon. This movie details the events as this mute balloon trails this little kid all around Paris and the escapades they get into. One boomer notes, “My biggest memory was seeing the French no-dialogue short film “The Red Balloon” at least ten times during my K-6 years in elementary school.”
7. Psycho (1960)
Someone says, “Psycho in junior high 8th grade, around 1972, for the entire school. That’s the only actual movie I remember.” Another confesses, “8th-grade special viewing before graduation. I didn’t want to shower for a week!”
After a secretary embezzles over $40,000 from her employer’s client, she goes on the run and winds up at a remote hotel. Here she meets the peculiar young man who runs the hotel. From here, things take a horrible twist for the worst.
8. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
This epic anti-war film depicts the mental, physical, and emotional tolls war has on a person. This picture follows a group of German schoolboys who are convinced by their extremely patriotic teacher to join the fight that was World War I. Through the eyes of these young men, we see the nuances and tragedies of war and how they affect everyone.
A former student explains, “There was a version made in the early 30s and another made in the 70s, both of which follow the book commendably well. It’s interesting to see the advancements in filmmaking style between the two.”
9. Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
Where the Red Fern Grows shows the story of an ambitious young man and his journey to coming of age. The young boy is in pursuit of the ownership of his own red hound. He saves up his money and gets himself two puppies in Oklahoma. “We used to call that Where the Dead Fern Grows.”
10. Little Big Man (1970)
After word spreads about a 121-year-old man, an oral historian learns of the only white man to survive the Battle of the Littlehorn. This centenarian tells stories of being rescued by the Cheyenne, working for General Custer, being a gunslinger, and a snake oil salesman. One boomer expresses, “Little Big Man is a masterpiece. And the book is fantastic too.”
11. The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)
“We would get movies like The Apple Dumpling Gang just before a holiday break. They were generally terrible movies and actually came on film projectors.” The plot tells the story of a group of bandits known as the Apple Dumpling Gang and their hijinks. A smooth gambler by the name of Russell Donovan is manipulated into watching over a group of orphans. But to his benefit, the three kids that Russell is watching strike gold.
12. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
“We had a history teacher who had us watch Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail. He said it was to show us what medieval life was really like. It was awesome and led to a lifelong love of Monty Python and British humor,” explains one. King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are sent on a mission by God to search for the Holy Grail. On their perilous journey, they encounter the Black Knight, the Black Death, and a three-headed giant.
13. Fail Safe (1964)
During the Cold War, U.S. bomber jets were equipped with a fail-safe box that alerted the crew whether to drop a bomb or not. A major technical malfunction sends the signal to drop a load on Moscow. Can the President of the United States avert all-out nuclear war before it’s too late?
Several people admit to seeing this one is school before one says, ” Man, we talked about that movie for days. We were deep in the Cold War and lived next to the biggest Air Force base in the USA.”
14. Shane (1953)
A mysterious and exhausted gunslinger rides into a Wyoming town in hopes of leaving the cowboy life behind. Aside from falling in love with a farm owner’s wife, this gunslinger has to battle with the idea of getting back into the life or leaving it behind for good.
15. Cat Ballou (1965)
When a hired gun kills her father, Cat Ballou goes from schoolteacher to outlaw on the hunt for revenge. Cat strikes out at the land development company responsible for her father’s death, only to get tangled up in a corporate scheme.
Source: Reddit.
Featured Image Credit: Columbia Pictures.
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