Going Steady? (1951)

A film devoted to a problem that no longer exists. “Marie Miller” and “Jeff” are faced with social trauma because they’ve let their relationship “drift into” what others perceive as “going steady.” But is that really what THEY want? “This question is not answered for them, and it is not answered for you” warns the title card at this film’s opening. The film substitutes opening and closing title cards for a narrator.

While Going Steady has no narration, the angst-ridden self-examination by Jeff and Marie more than fill up the dead air, and leaves the impression that going steady is about as much fun as an abscessed tooth. Jeff: “Am I going steady? What does that mean? How did I get into this anyway?” Jeff’s mom: “You’ll likely go steady with several different girls before you begin to think seriously about marriage.” Marie: “What about petting? I’ve heard you can get too deeply involved if you’re going steady.” Marie’s mom: “I hope Jeff doesn’t feel he has the right to — take liberties.” Marie: “Oh, mother!” Apparently, parents wanted to prevent their aimless postwar teens from “drifting into” going steady so that they wouldn’t be “drifting into” marriage (or sex). Thankfully, Jeff and Marie become aware of their dangerous lassitude and end the film smiling, carefree, and significantly further away from uncontrollable urges.

Going Steady ends with a title card: “This story hasn’t answered all your questions, has it?” Truer words were never to appear in a Coronet social guidance film.

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