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Coronet Instructional FilmsSnap Out of It! (Emotional Balance) (1951)

Discusses why an achievement-conscious boy becomes emotionally upset when he fails to get an expected 'A' in a history course.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Coronet Instructional Films
Sponsor: N/A
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Social guidance; Psychology

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: pyroreindeer - - February 21, 2009
Subject: Mr Edmunds' "Emotional balance"
"Sometimes we expect great things," Mr. Edmunds reflects, leaning back in his chair as Howard looks on. "And when we're severely disappointed, we become emotionally upset."
What I really would like to have seen would have been the response of Mr Edmunds to his own "severe disapointment" if Howard had failed to bring back his signed report card as "expected" after the last warning. I think we would have got a good dose of "emotional balance" on that one. But I guess I'll have to deal with my own disappointment there. With this movie as a guide I think I can cope.
p.s. loved the shop rage scene.

Reviewer: ERD - - April 6, 2006
Subject: Emotions in balance
A good 1951 film to help the high school student
deal with emotional disappointments. Well acted, directed, and written.

Reviewer: Love thy neighbour - - April 2, 2006
Subject: Best Dad Award
I was shocked at how calmly everyone took his grades, especially his dad! Mine would be furious!
That dad should get a medal! Anyway, it was a great little movie. Not better than boys beware, but still good! x

Reviewer: Spuzz - - June 6, 2005
Subject: Beware of Principals in sparsely decorated offices.
Howard, C student that he is, is expecting an A this time out, but still gets all c's and one B (gee, sounds too personal to me). He hides the report card and the teacher gets tired of asking for the report card back until finally she asks him to go to the office to talk to the principal. (Great scene! Notice how she crumples the paper). The principal, in an office too laughably cheap (The windows! the walls! the bookcase!) also lays into Howard, which Howard reveals why he won't give it up. He's an underachiever! The Principal understands, and relays a story about a first time shop student who "rages and storms" about the outcome of his 'perfect lamp' (he throws the lamp down! Oh! calm down!) . Pretty soon, Howard is seeing other examples around him (A would be actress, a boy who doesnt get a date because "he did'nt phone a MONTH in advance, why? because the girl is "popular" (snicker). Soon, the boy faces up to his fears and presents the report card to his father, who is somewhat dissapointed. Harold says he will try for an A next time. Then a fit of bad dialogue city, Harold says, "We won't be too dissapointed if I don't quite make it will we?" I honestly thought the two were married. Yikes!

Reviewer: Karma Hawk - - March 30, 2005
Subject: Emotions in Motion
I could tell that this was a Cornet Production without seeing the end card just from the way it played out. In general Cornet films rely more on storyline rather than a deadpan narration like in a lot of these films. This one's centers around Howard Patterson a mostly "C" student who's been trying hard to get an "A" in history, when he finds out he only got a "B" on his report card he gets upset and hides it from his parents, eventually however the teacher sends Howard to the Principal where he asks Howard about it. After explaining his situation to the principal, the principal then teaches Howard a valuable lesson about the danger of high expectations. Not really a campy film but still good none the less.

Shotlist

Discusses why an achievement-conscious boy becomes emotionally upset when he fails to get an expected 'A' in a history course. Shows how a principal helps him learn to cope with disappointments.
Ken Smith sez: Weird "Mr. Edmunds" recoups his principal-as-psychologist role he performed so adroitly in Act Your Age (school principals in Coronet films never seem to have secretaries or any work).
This film follows the frustrations of confused teen Howard Patterson, who won't show his report card to his parents because he "should've gotten" an A in social studies. "Sometimes we expect great things," Mr. Edmunds reflects, leaning back in his chair as Howard looks on. "And when we're severely disappointed, we become emotionally upset." Mr. Edmunds counsels Howard against "expecting too much" and tells him to keep his emotions "in balance." "If your emotions are in balance, you channel your emotional energy into a direct attack on your problem!" Howard promises to lower his expectations and be more balanced, and another member of the Silent Generation leaves a Coronet film to paint the world gray.
Look for the scene where a double-exposure dream image is superimposed next to a girl who hasn't yet learned to lower her expectations.

Howard Patterson does not bring his report card back to school because he is disappointed that he did not receive an "A" in his history class. He is sent to Mr. Edmonds' office, who gives him advice on keeping his emotions in balance, so that he can continue striving for goals without expecting to always achieve them.
Close-up of a handwritten report card
Teen-age guy constructing a lamp in a wood shop and becoming upset
Teen-age girl singing in front of a grand piano, with a double exposure of same girl in costume, singing
Teen-age boys playing basketball

conformity HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TEENAGERS GUIDANCE PSYCHOLOGY COUNSELING EMOTIONAL MATURITY EMOTIONS DISAPPOINTMENT
Danger Lurks Safety