John W. Barnes and Gordon Weisenborn.Surprise For Jean (1954)

Jean's mother plans a surprise party for Jean on her sixth birthday. While Jean and Frank are on an errand, Jean's friends come, hide and surprise her when she gets back.

Associate Producers: John W. Barnes and Gordon Weisenborn. In collaboration with Willard Abraham, Ph.D., Roosevelt College. From the Primary Reading series.

This item is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: John W. Barnes and Gordon Weisenborn.
Production Company: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Keywords: need keyword

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: GE_Pretzel - - April 2, 2006
Subject: An extremely contrived birthday party

After watching A Surprise for Jean, most viewers will be left scratching their heads wondering how the birthday party that is the focus of the film is perfectly conducted without a single hitch. The story begins with Jean and her brother being sent by their mother to the post office to acquire a package. With a level of precision rivalling that of a collection of Swiss timepieces, Jean's friends emerge the very moment Jean has left the immediate vicinity and are escorted to the backyard where the festivities are to be held. Jean's mother calls on each of the girls to conceal themselves amongst the foliage and await their friend's arrival. Although the secret of the party is almost prematurely uncovered by Jean due to her incessant wandering, a mishap is averted, and the party proceeds swimmingly once the guests pop out of their respective hiding places. An elaborately decorated birthday cake and an assortment of presents welcome Jean at the picnic table. Jean's cat Fluff even gets involved and is served some ice cream from a bowl with a placard created by someone who should never consider pursuing a career as a penmanship teacher. The film is quite entertaining for the unintentional humour that it provides.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - June 29, 2005
Subject: Oh Jean!

A Surprise For Jean is all about a special A Surprise For Jean is all about a special A Surprise For Jean is all about a special party for a special girl. Mom shooshes off Jean and her brother to the post office, then Mom gathers all JeanÂs friends together.. ItÂs a surprise birthday party for her! Jean is all surprised, the kids are very excited. Mind you, this is all acted out, and as you can imagine with a production like this, the acting is nothing short of horrendous. Some of the kids enunciate ridiculously (since all we hear is the female narrator) and act ridiculously. Look how hungry they are! TheyÂre licking their chops! Whatever lol.

Reviewer: Steve Nordby - - October 4, 2003
Subject: A nap for the rest of us

Like "Jay Can Do It," this is a narrated slice of life from a nice kid's life and it is hard to imagine what the intention of the film might have been, other than to show up home movie makers with better shots and editing than the average Joe can do with an 8mm Kodak. Nice Jean gets a nice surprise 6th birthday party. And? So what? Plays like a bad first grade school reader.