This 1977 film from Central Educational Films instructs on “Halloween Safety” for young trick-or-treaters. Likely filmed in a New Jersey suburban neighborhood, the film advises children and parents on safe costume construction and raises concerns about contamination of treats. (Poison candy and treat tampering is often considered an urban legend as few, if any, harmful incidents have been recorded. The 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders only added to the fear surrounding this issue.) Some of the children’s costumes are offensive and/or outdated but are not narratively significant.
00:18 “CEF” Logo. Presented by Central Educational Films. 00:28Jack-o-lantern under title: “Halloween Safety” Adviser: Richard C. Clement, Chief of Police, Tom’s River, New Jersey.” 00:43 Trick-or-treaters run from door. 00:55 Child in witch mask. 01:04 Pan over witch costume. 01:23 POV: Obscured vision of suburban street. 01:41 Witch falls. 01:41 Treats bag scattered on ground with witch’s broom. 01:47 Headlights approach witch laying in street in dark. 01:53 POV from car: Dark street. 02:11 Witch trips on curb and kicks broom. 02:26 Witch strips off her costume. 02:32 Witch takes off mask. 02:35 Mother helps dress child in witch costume. 02:54 Mother shortens skirt. Cat crosses frame. 03:01 Witch walks across street. 03:12 Saw broom handle. 03:14 Saw pointed tip off wooden sword. 03:22 Young girl paints cardboard broom. 03:31 Child poses in witch costume in mirror. 03:40 Dark street makes seeing child in dark costume difficult. 03:49 Child poses in white witch’s costume and points wand. 03:58 Woman ties reflective tape around witch costume. 04:09 Girl spins and admires costume in mirror. 04:14 Dark street, witch in white costume with reflective tape now visible. 04:23 Young girl attaches reflective tape to candy bag. 04:38 Writing name and address on candy sack. 04:45 Girl holds witch mask. 04:50 POV: Vision obscured by mask. 05:00 Cutting larger holes around eyes on mask. 05:12 Girl puts on altered witch mask. 05:15 POV: Looking at mother, vision no longer obscured by mask. Mother takes mask off. 05:22 Mask put in garbage bin. 05:23 Child frowns. 05:30 Father applies white face paint to young boy. 05:37 Child applies make up and face paint in mirror. 05:42 Child puts on orange wig. 05:48 Ghoulish child puts on fake teeth. 05:53 Skeleton child applies face clay. 05:57 Child twists fake mustache. 05:59 Girl shapes eyebrows. 06:02 Boy applies fake eyebrows. 06:05 Girl puts on hat. 06:08 Child in clown costume. 06:11 Child in cat costume. 06:14 Gathering of costumed children in suburban home grab snacks from table. 06:22 Costumed child party and converse. 06:34 Girl excitedly examines her improved white witch costume before going to mother. 06:45 Child eats dinner. Bookshelf in background. 06:54 Family, mother, father, child, eat pizza at table. 06:58 Clock close up. 07:00 Girl checks clock. She looks out window. 07:19 Girl grabs flashlight from table. 07:28 She grabs trick-or-treat sack. Mother kisses her. She walks out front door. 07:40 Group of children walk in dark towards house. They knock on door and receive treats. 08:07 Children walk off roadway as cars pass. 08:23 Group of trick-or-treaters cross street at intersection. 08:36 Group knocks on door. Couple answers. 08:47 Couple hands out candy. 08:50 Children take treats (candy, apples). 09:11 Couple waves goodbye. 09:17 Children spread Halloween haul on kitchen island. Mother examines. 09:27 Close up: Halloween treats. 09:33 Child wash pear at kitchen sink. 09:38 Slicing apple. 09:49 Child throws potentially unsafe treats into trash. 09:56 Moon. 10:00 Dark street of trick-or-treaters. 10:08 Montage: Trick-or-treat. Child go door-to-door. Grab candy. 10:18 Child tells joke. 10:22 Take candy from bowl. 10:25 Children tell joke. 10:34 Woman in doorway smiles. 10:36 Children walk away from house. 10:43 Man laughs. 10:47 Children take treats and walk away. 10:57 Child walk, skip down sideway in neighborhood. They cross intersection. 11:14 Jack-o-lantern image. “A Centron Production”.
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