Now, unlike with some people, I don't watch these films out of nostalgia, or 'campiness', or to plain poke fun at them. I really do enjoy these shorts. Partly because I simply adore the late 40's and 50's aesthetics, sensibilites and culture, and partly because I end up taking some really nice pointers from them about safety, hygine, manners, and what have you, or just plain learn something new by the way of general knowledge.
This being said, Coronet films are very hit and miss for me, and, as a matter of fact most of them do miss. And boy was this one a miss! Now, a film called 'The Fun of Being Thoughtful' could have been an interesting, yet entertaining study of the social and personal benefits of those little acts of consideration, and the long way they go in benefiting both parties involved.
But no! This is a total mess! Sure, it opens like it's about to explain the personal and social benefits of altruistic behaviour, and tell us WHY should we be considerate, but trust me, it doesn't! What we get instead is a mineshaft explosion of a dumb film whose perfectly clueless writers probably couldn't even name five examples of thoughtful behaviour if their lives depended on it.
Well, at least they were thoughtful enough to hire some well-groomed, easy-on-the-eye actors!
It is difficult to focus on the content of the film, largely because it has none. So I'll just review the scenes. After the aforementioned 'foreword', the film proper introduces us to the very beautiful young miss Jane Proctor. Pure, angelic, modestly dressed, and clearly too good for this film. We also meet her brother, a young Patrick Bateman.
Notice how as soon as our beautiful angel walks into the frame, the whole scene appears to light up with life. The drab, grey scene suddenly turns into a slice of heaven itself, filled with gayety and merriment. We're informed that their parents are not home, which is a good thing, because that means more screen time for our angel, Jane.
The telephone rings. It's Patrick's date, Amy, calling to inform him she can't make it for their date due to some illness in the family. Of course, this would have been a good opportunity to show us how can we console, or cheer up someone who's grandmother is lying on her deathbed. But not in this mother!
After a cute shot of Jane cutely humming a cute tune, we go back to the living room to find that Patrick is crestfallen. Not because he's worried about the poor girl, or her grandmother (that would have been thoughtful), but because he no longer has a date.
Jane becomes concerned, because they know they should keep Patrick supplied with young dames to date, lest he go on another prostitute-murdering spree. So her first immediate concern is to find him another victi-- date, to harness this mindless force of nature even if for a short while.
They sit down on a coach, him musing about how he HAS to find yet another girl now, and she about what dress to wear to the party. Honey, you look good in everything! We get several more inane lines of dialogue here, but at this point, I'm too captivated by young miss Proctor's personal beauty to even hear them. Patrick, rather crossly, asks her to take her stuff upto her room. "Use a coaster!", I almost hear him scream.
Cue the kids making dinner. Patrick's peeling potatoes, showing that even from a young age he was good with knives. Jane mentions how she remembers the gastronomic prefrences of the members of the family, the same way he remembers the tastes of every girl he romances. You see, Patrick here goes through girls like paper towels. She suggests he should date the new girl on the block. To hell with Amy and her grandmother! Even if their mutual friends are a problem, he's given that some thought, and amy could have them.
Also, in this scene look out for Jane in a cute apron, and how cute she looks when she looks over her shoulder.
Well, her parents come home, and they have a surprise for Jane. Not much to speak of here, except how cute Jane looks when onion juice gets into her pretty, round eyes and the cute little noises she makes as she tries to wipe her beautiful eyes.
Mr Bateman and Patrick are sitting on the sofa, discussing Patrick's problem. He assures his son that "she wouldn't feel like she's second choice". Well, I would. Also a closeup of Patrick reveals that despite his frankly good looks, his haircut is two sizes too big for his head. More cute noises from our angel as she realises her parents are home.
We skip to the dishes. Shame I didn't get to see my sweet Jane eating. Bet she'd look cute! And from this point on, she becomes even more charming (if such a thing is even possible). She laughs from cheek to cheek, revealing her pearly whites. She looks astonishing as she turns around to deliver another poorly written remark about thoughtfullness just before rushing to her room. She makes more cute noises as she finds the dress on her bed.
Sure, it's a frumpy little dress. But it takes a real angel to act so happy about it. She knows that mom and dad worked hard for that dress, and she appreciates it. God, she's ravishing as she smiles from cheek to cheek and dances around with that dress. Patrick creepily remarks how lucky yer boyfriend Jim is. But I have to agree with him.
At 9:28 we get what's probably the most beautiful shot of Jane, as she wipes her tears and then smiles a most beautiful smile. Sure, the whole thing only lasts a second at most. But that one second will forever be burned in my memory.
And with thatm and a noticably Jane-free final scene, the whole thing sizzles to a halt.
Three stars, but only because it had Jane in it. Otherwise this poorly-written mess would not have even been worth watching.

They did a parody of this film on the Carol Burnett Show? I could just see Carol playing that overly ebulient daughter and Tim Conway as the son; stick himself in the forehead with that paring knife. Of course the daughter would just have to come down the stairs with that dress on with the drapery rod on it. It'd be, let's say, "formula."

Yes a silly film, even for 1950. No kids ever acted like that. Not on this planet.

On average these parents would be in their mid 40's but they do (as one other commenter noted) look pretty long in the tooth for that age. Perhaps they postponed having kids til their financial situation was secure and were now already in their 50's. We'll never know.

A white family has apparently adopted an Italian kid from Jersey and a Lutheran girl from Minnesota and raised them as brother and sister. Eddie, the boy, can't miss a party (or go to one without a date), and even though his girl Amy's grandmother is sick and it would probably break Amy's heart if he went with someone else, he shamelessly searches for a replacement. His sister, Jane, indulges this thoughtlessness, because for them, the party means everything. Jane, who has abominable taste in fashion, has fallen in love with a astonishingly blah dress that she dreams of wearing to the same party where Eddie will presumably flaunt his infidelity. The whole family lies to Jane about their whereabouts that afternoon in order to give her the dress as a surprise gift. Somehow we are supposed to learn about "thoughtfulness" (and the "fun" we may derive therefrom) after viewing this confused and ethically ambiguous little narrative.

Each generation views former generations' standards differently. When ERD said "...us" I think that was referring to our present generation- not the 1950's.
The former reviewer seemed to be taking some simple pointers of the movie out of context. In any case, different viewers will have different opinions.
I found the film fine for 56 years ago. I certainly didn't come away with the feeling that the people were boaring and uninteresting (banal).

Based on this film, they will think we are a very banal people. Courtesy doesn't *have* to be boring.

Besides, being thoughtful with the promise of a reward isn't exactly the most charitable way to live your life. (After all, dogs will modify their behavior for the promise of a treat.) I suppose you could say that being thoughtful to get a new dress is no different than being thoughtful to be sure you get into heaven, but that casts human nature in a pretty bleak light.

Through a cute family sitcom, this 1950 film showed how being thoughtful and cooperative in a family could be beneficial. Well acted and directed. I find that the cynical and negative remarks of some reviewers indicates a lack of knowledge and sensitivity of former times. Do they ever wonder what future generations will think of us?

I've noticed in the short films of this era how frumpy the older people look. I wonder if it's a reflection of the shorter lifespans of that era.

This atypical Coronet film (of course in the same Coronet House) features the broher and sister team of Jane and Eddie. An IMPOSSIBLY gee-whiz-isnt-life-swell-lets-cook-dinner-for-the-family duo who just can't stop complimenting each other, trying to outdo each other in courtesy, which of course, becomes TOTALLY IRRITATING as we want to wring either or or both of their necks after a while. They keep saying "Gee, that's very thoughtful" all the time. Who lived like this? Noone! The boy looks like Norman Bates. This is an excellent pre-Psycho film.... See what drove Norman to madness!