278 Can you imagine what your father might say if he wandered into your basement labratory to give you social advice? How about "Son, just find out what all the popular kids are doing, and do that. You'll be popular in no time." If my dad had told me that, I would have taken up drugs, engaged in casual sex and taught myself how to smoke at age 15. However, in this Dick York classic, his father's advice yields a number of desirable social lessons, including the art of listening, and how to be helpful. Cheese abounds in this short, but the lessons are sound. Did you notice the narrator's voice yet? I'll give you a hint...you get exactly one hour to figure it out. Enjoy! ExDreamer99 Shy Guy is an Absolute Classic ExDreamer99 2002-10-23 00:00:00 2002-10-23 00:00:00 4 591 Another 50's "social guidance" film starring Dick York. This time he's a shy, geeky teenager who would rather tinker with inventions in the basement than make friends at the new school he's just started at. His dad (he doesn't seem to have a mom) urges him to conform: "If the other kids wear sweaters, then you wear sweaters!" Who was responsible for this anyway––did they really realize what they were telling kids? It's utterly amazing to watch a parent actually urging his kid to give in to peer pressure. Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ****. Weirdness: *****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: *****. Also available on The Educational Archives, Vol. 2: Social Engineering 101, Mental Hygiene, and Our Secret Century, Vol. 3: The Behavior Offensive. Shy Guy Christine Hennig 2002-12-11 00:00:00 2002-12-11 00:00:00 5 6400 Serial-killer-to-be Dick York (Sam!) can't figure out how to make friends with the popular kids. Of course, the idea that he's a nerd who hangs out in the basement making radio sets never occurs to himself, or his extremely helpful father. On his dad's advice, Dick begins stalking the most popular kids in school, hoping to copy them. Actually, that <i>is</i>the surest route to popularity I can think of. Funny stuff, with some good advice about reaching out to others. Now Dick won't have to write manifestos and learn how to wire <u>other</u> things in the basement he calls home! He was a shy boy, worked in the basement dynayellow 2003-09-25 16:08:29 2003-09-25 16:08:29 5 18533 Where's Mom? The Shy Guy akrongrrl 2004-08-10 12:22:51 2004-08-10 12:22:51 4 31260 This film follows the standard socialization message of the 50's: If you want to be liked, don't be like you, be like them, or as Frank Burns once said "Individuality's fine... as long as we all do it together." In terms of the performances, Dick York does everything he can to bring life to the pedantic script; father is an authorative wind-bag, and the high school buddies -- well, let's just say that our boy might just want to spend more time in the basement soldering the amplifier to the oscillator (ick!). Welcome to Stepford DrKnapp 2005-02-07 15:23:47 2005-02-07 15:23:47 3 31284 Another strange Dick York Film.. Man, I am not too sure how, but he made the best! Dick York is Shy Guy! He's having trouble meeting kids at school, he'd rather play around with his electronics. His dad comes downstairs, having apparently left his mob meeting or singing at the copa, because he's impossibly overdressed here, to try to get Shyguy out of his shell! Wear more sweaters! Seek out the popular folk! Eavesdrop on people's conversations! Soon Dick is doing that, and well, he's the hit of the School Mixer! Heck that would be easy if all there was were apples and people singing 'Oh Susannah". Amelie Moment: Check out where the lockers are. What the hell? Anyways, a MUST SEE on this site! Gee Dad! Spuzz 2005-02-07 18:43:01 2005-02-07 18:43:01 5 Dick York can do no wrong... acting wise that is. Even at this tender age, young Dick knows how to act with his eyes. Of course this was way before he landed a job at McMahon & Tate and married Samantha. Oddly, I find it impossible to watch this without thinking of Dick York looking strangely like Jim Carrey or vice versa! Before he worked for McMahon & Tate... 4 J. DeKay 2005-10-27 13:40:20 2005-10-27 13:40:20 Of course, it's a lot easier to overcome shyness without Samantha's mother messing things up for Darrin. Would Dan Rather steer us wrong? Shyness Made Easy in less than 60 minutes... 3 cybermice 2005-12-26 22:37:19 2005-12-26 22:37:19 A film with Dick York in it just can't be bad. But some of the other reviewers seem to have missed the point of this nice little film. Dad doesn't tell his son to conform. He says that everyone is different and that makes things interesting. Watching the "popular" kids teaches Dick to listen to what others have to say and to help out when you can. In other words, he should be thoughtful and kind. If that is outdated advice than times really have gotten worse. Oh yeah, Dick York's ass looks huge in those pants. Dick York Rules 4 Kittenfish 2006-03-16 22:33:13 2006-03-16 22:33:13 A well made guidance film for teenagers of 1947. Many of the suggestions still hold true today. Dick York was excellent, as was the entire supporting cast. Good direction, script, and photography. "Shy Guy" is well done 5 ERD 2006-04-22 13:48:46 2006-04-22 13:48:46 I don't understand the reviewers who seem determined to see something sinister in this film. The father isn't over-dressed. He's coming home from work and going downstairs to talk to his son who is home from school. Nothing sinister about there not being a mother - the father could be s single dad. The film doesn't say that the key to popularity is conformity to others. It says 'you have something to contribute to their conversation,' 'do and talk about what comes naturally to you' 'everyone is different' (rough quotes). The boy feels awkward because he doesn't dress like the other kids - it's HIS idea that he doesn't 'conform' to 'how kids are in this town.' And that's completely natural for kids and teenagers: young people are a herd of sheep, and anyone who says they are not conformists (even if they conform to the stereotype of being nonconformists) doesn't know anyone under thirty. The father's advice is the same a psychologist friend of mine gives to shy people of all ages, kids and adults alike, and which I've given to my own (college-age) students who have wanted to make friends: Listen to others; take an interest in other people; offer to help. There's nothing negative about the 'popular kids' here (unlike so many TV shows about toxic teens nowadays). These kids are popular because they like other people and reach out to them, listen to them and respect them - a good formula for anyone. There's only one piece of advice missing: seek out a kid that also seems shy or friendless and make an effort to befriend him or her. Reaching out to someone else - especially another shy person who may also not know how to make friends - is one of the best ways to get over yourself and your shyness. As a naturally cripplingly shy person who has learned how to get along in any social situation, everything here makes sense. I only wish someone had told it to me before I was thirty. This is actually a valuable video for parents to watch so they have some tips to help their shy children build the skills they need to function in a healthy, satisfying way in the company of others. Practical, timely advice LatinGal 2008-03-22 18:50:00 2008-03-22 18:50:00 5 11 4.27