Alphabetical Movie Listings: "Se-Sl"


Figure 1.--Here we see the main characters in the 1993 versiin of Francis Hogdsen Burnett's "The Secret Garden". Mary and the estate boy are dressed quite accuately. We believe, however, that Collin would have been dressed differently. There was considerable vaiation in dress at the time from family to family, so we can not say that Collin's costume is inaccurate.

You can also slect the movies available on HBC by using this alphabetical movie listing. At this time only a few movies have been analized by HBC for clothing information, but more pages are being added all the time. We encourage readers to submit information about their favorite films.

Sea Urchins -


(The) Search (U.S., 1948)

While his mother is searching for him, a starving Czech war orphan accepts help from a GI. The Search depicts post Second World War clothes (although sometimes they're in tattered condition). It's filmed in various locations in Germany and shows abundantly the devastation of the war. The GI dresses him up a bit, but still short pants. It's one of Montgomery Clift's earliest films. The story line is a mother's search for her son among the displaced persons camps. They'd been separated while they were in a concentration camp, and the film is really two parallel stories, mother's and son's, which finally intersect at the very end of the film. Despite a script, which is at times stilted and awkward, the performances and the story are quite effective and memorable.

Searching for Bobby Fisher - (US, 1993)

Josh (Max Pomeranc) is a 7-year old chess prodigy. This brilliantly acted film is based on an actual boy and deals with obsessive competition. The boy has only his innocent genius and a few concerned adults to protect him. He learns his chess by watching the chess hustlers in New York's Washington Square Park. The boy has a cute little lisp. He emerges from his toy room to mastermind chess. Max beautifully portrays an angelic little boy with a terrible gift and imbues the movie with irresistible naivete. The film is a wonderfully modulated story of a little boy with a gift and four adults, his parents and teachers, who struggle with the paradoxes and dangers of balancing a normal happy life against a gift so terrible. This is a good example of how costuming is used to develop characters.

Seasons of the Heart - (US, 1994)

Made for TV movie about a settled publisher whose life is turned upside down when she is forced to raise her grandchild (Eric Lloyd) who she did not know and her daughter abandoned. The grandson is about 6 or so.

Sebastian - (Norway)

Describes the relationship between two teenage boys, one of whom is gay.

Second Serve - (US,1987?)

True story of Renee Richardson who had an adult sex-change operation. As a boy he was forced to dress up as a girl for halloween and plays by his mother and sister, often in front of his hapless father.

Secondhand Lions - US, 2003

"Secondhand Lions" is a charming coming of age story. It is about Walter, a neglected 13-year old boy, whose never-do-well mother Mae leaves him on the doorstep of his eccentric great-uncles--Hub and Garth. She tells him she is going back to school. In fact she is husband hunting and has terrible taste in men. Walter wants to go back to mother and is scared of them, but doesn't want to go back to the orphanage. They finally accept him as they feel sorry for him and their relatoves don't like hm. Their exotic experiences enchant the boy and in turn the boy's sensitivity seem to bring back an interest in life on the part of the uncles whose favorite activity is taking pot shots at salesmen who have heard of their money. Walter takes charge of Veronica--the secodhand lion they buy to shoot. Mother eventially returns with a con man who Veronica takes care of. Walter eventually has to decide between his mother and the uncles. The uncles are played by Michael Caine and Robert Duvall. Walter is played by Haley Joel Osment. I think it is best role.

(The) Secret - (US, 1992)

Beautifully made for TV movie dealing with the problem of dyslexia. A 11-year old boy, Danny (Jesse Tendler), is having trouble at school. His grandfather understands, but his father insists there is nothing wrong. Jesse and Kirk Douglass, the grandfather, got along quite nicely and reportedly now call each other occasionally. The boy says, "Mr. Douglas, I miss you." Douglas described him as a very unspoiled, natural kid. He wears jeans for the movie.

The Secret Garden

The Secret Grden is a children's literary classic, more popular with girls than boys. There are several film depictions of Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved book, The Secret Garden. They generally follow the plot of the book with various adaptations. British-born Burnett of course is also the authoress of Little Lord Fauntleroy. Thevbook is the story of a little English girl leading an idealic life in India, but after her parents tragically die, returns to England as orphan, taken in by her widowed uncle who has a boy wjo is believed to be in ill health.

(The) Secret of John - (Denmark, 1985)

John who is 9-years old experiences Jesus in a unique way the day before his birthday. The movie is a morality play, a girl tries to teach him the difference between good and evil through experiences; a Allied bomb raid on Germany during World War II, a visit to Hell, and a girl whose parents plan to divorce. Then he wakes from his dream. 60 minutes.

(The) Secret of Madame Blanche - (US, 1933)

A music hall entertainer must return to work to support her child after her husband commits suicide.

(The) Secret of Roan Inish (Ireland, 1995)

Lovely little film set in Ireland. A brave little Irish girl, about 10 or so, communes with nature and animal spirits to find her lost baby brother. I have only seen clips. It seems like an excellent film. but it primarily focuses on the girl. Her brother is pictured as a baby and a young man, but I know of no interesting costuming.


Figure 2.--A Russian reader tells us about a Soviet movie, "The Secret of the Iron Door". We do not yet have any detailed information about the plot. We notice aone scene in whih children dress up for a music recital. Learning a musical instrumen was considered very important in Russia, both before and after the Revolution.

(The) Secret of the Iron Door (Soviet Union, 19??)

A Russian reader tells us about a Soviet movie, "The Secret of the Iron Door". We do not yet have any detailed information about the plot. We notice aone scene in whih children dress up for a music recital. Learning a musical instrumen was considered very important in Russia, both before and after the Revolution.

The Secret of the Pond - (US, 1975)

A visit to his uncle's home in Virginia teaches a boy to respect the swampland. The main character is a boy, about 13 or so, one of the Disney regulars, but I don't know his name. I only saw the ending and am not sure about the costumes. Moses Gunn and Anthony Zerbe. Disney.

Secret of the Pond -

Ike Eisenmann.

Secret Places (1985)

A beautiful refugee from Germany is introduced into a private girl's school where she learns the hard lessons of love and growing up.

Secret Witness - (US, 1988)

Two 12-year olds who spy on unsuspecting summer vacationers find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. Typical unrealistic American plot for this made-for-TV movie. The boy is played by Leaf Pheonix. Despite the fact that it is the summer and the film is set in the 1980s, Leaf wears long pants.

(El) Secreto de Tommy -

Joselito


Figure 3.--This Spanish film "Secretos del corazón" (Secrets of the Heart) was made in 1997. It's about a boy who livs in a secret haunted house and discovers a murder. Here the boys attend their father's funeral.

Secretos del corazón - (Spain, 1997)

This Spanish film "Secretos del corazón" (Secrets of the Heart) was made in 1997. It's about a boy who lives in a secret haunted house and discovers a murder. The main character, Javi, and a friend named Carlos visit a scary old house located on the edge of the village edge. Javi's brother believes that the house is haunted and the voices of the dead can be heard. Javi is attracted to a locked room in which his father was found dead. He begins his own personal investigation. There is black humour involved. The boys are José Manuel Acosta (Gutiérrez), Andoni Erburu (Javi), Iñigo Garcés (Carlos), and Alvaro Nagore (Juan). A reder writes, "I subscribe to Netflix and saw this movie - "Secrets of the Heart" (1997). It is about a 9 year old boy growing up in a provincial town in Spain around the 1960's. The movie is in Spanish with English sub titles. Several times there iare school scene's with all boys wearing shorts and some wearing smocks from age 9 to 13. Every boy throughout the entire picture wore shorts. It is interesting movie of a boy finding out what life is all about."

Secrets of Pirate Inn -


Secrets of the Heart

A HBC reader tells us that the title "Secrets of the Heart" has been used for several diferent films. "There are three other films with the title 'Secrets of the Heart' one made in 1989, which was a documentary made in Australia and lasting 28 mins. The other a drama made in 1997 unfortunately no plot details given. [HBC note: This was the Spanish film, "Secretos de lka Corazón" above.] The third was released in 2000 again no details given."

Seduction: Three Tales from the Inner Sanctum - (US, 1992)

This made for TV movie is based on the old radio series The Inner Sanctum. I didn't see the whole show, but one scene has a little chap about 10 or so in a knicker suit. He is all excited about seeing mama, but bursts in on her to find her in bed with a strange man.

Seed - (US, 1931)

Dickie Moore

Seminole - (US, 1953)

The Seminole Wars was the most difficult Indian War fought by the United States. The Sminole could hide in the vast Everglades unlike the Plains Indians who were much more exposed. The Seminole were a tribe composed of the remanats of Southeastern tribes as well as runaway vslaves. The studio captioned the film as "The glory and the fury of the great Everglades Indian Wars." The film plot is largely fictional, but was the beginning of Hollywood's efforts to depict Native Americans in a mnore historically accurate way. 'Seminole' had some big stars including Rock Hudson and Anthony Quinn. The female lead was Barbara Hale. The fictional plot was built around the very real Selinole Wars (1810s-50s). Army officer Lance Caldwell is assigned to Fort King in the Everglades. There he comes intgo conflict wsith commanding officer Major Dade who is intent on destrouong the Seminoles. Caldwell was the boyhood friend of Seminole chief Osceola. Fighting breaks out. Osceola rescues Caldwell who is then ourt-martialed. Osceola comes to Fort King to talk peace and is killed. There are many Seminole extras in the film and a kind of village was set up for the children.

Sentimental Journey - (US, 1984)

The adoption of a precocious 8 year old girl has a profound effect on the lives of a Broadway show couple. Nicely told tearjerker.


Figure 3.--Two boys at a private school face the transition to manhood. A HBC reader reports that this was another school film that he liked for the music, the setting, and time period details. The film show cases preppy fashions.

(A) Separate Peace - (US, 1972/73?)

Two boys at a private school face the transition to manhood. A HBC reader reports that this was another school film that he liked for the music, the setting, and time period details. The film show cases preppy fashions. This film was Parker Stevenson's film debut. He was about 19 at the time, playing a 16/17 years old. "Separate Peace" took a drubbing from the critics(an understatement). Poor acting and ineffective plot were the charges. I didn't think the lead actors were that bad, though the minor characters were clearly newcomers. The novel, written by John Knowles, was called a "modern classic' when I was in high school, though the storyline and resolution are blurred and a letdown. John Heyl and Parker Stevenson

Seppan - (Sweden, 1987)

Film about the children who live in a tough mill town on a polluted Swedish River.

Sergeant York - (US, 1941)

An aging Dickie Moore makes short appearances as famed World War I hero Alvin York's younger brother.

(A) Series of Unfortunate Events - (US, 2004)

A reader reports, "Saw a strange film last night. Billy Connelly was in it. He plyed an explorer. The plot is a simple uncle out to get the family fortunune killing relations. Three children escape. He looks after them but tries to have them meet with an accident. Costuming is weird. The girls look like its a 19th century setting. Adults look Victorian too but boy is contempory. Also 1950s cars in the story and 1940s steam locomotives! Filmimg is weird too. There is a spyglass clue which has something to do with the plot! It started out as a artoon about a little Elf!"

Seven Alone - (US, 1975)

There are quite a few films about the Oregon Trail. My favorite is a story about a family that set out from Missouri, but the parents die from an. illness and it shows the fortitude of the children has they carry on their journey to the Western lands. The producers also made 'Where the Red Ferns Grow'. A 13-year old boy leads his siblings, one other boy and five girls. The film is set in the 1880s. Dewey Martin, Aldo Ray, and Stewart Peterso(e?)n.

Seven Brides -

River Phoenix

Seven Faces of Dr. Low - (US)

A boy name Mike has an important part. He wears knicker-length pants.

(The) Seven Little Foys - (US, 1955)

Bob Hope movie about the famous Vaudevillian family. Eddie Foy's lifelong ambition to play the top vaudeville house is thwarted. Most of the children in the family are boys. The older boy, I'd say he is about 13, is the boy that played Bud in the popular TV sdhow Father Knows Best. I didn't recognize any of the others, but one bit player was Jerry Mathers of Leave It to Beaver fame. The boys mostly wear knickers. Some of the younger boys have long pants for play. In another scene the older boy is brought in by the stage manager for peeking at the chorus girls, complaining, "and him still in short pants." The boy's "aunt" had objected to the children performing on stage with the family.

Seven Minutes in Heaven - (US, 1986)

Two 15 year old girls give youth's built in guardian angel a workout when one of them invites a guy pal to camp out at her home while dad is away.

Seven Women - (US,1966)

Women from varying backgrounds interrelate in a Chinese mission school.

(The) Seventh Cross - (US, 1944)

Movie about Nazi World War II atrocities. Bobby Blake has a small part, but I do not remember it. There is a scene early in the film, after Spencer Tracy has escaped from a concentration camp, that he steals a boy's jacket in order to disguise himself. The boys return from playing their football match and make the discovery. All are wearing shorts and knee socks, I believe, and one boy, the owner of the jacket gives a police officer a very detailed description of the stolen jacket. Not long after this scene, as Spencer makes his way toward into a town, he sees the police in pursuit of a suspect. This arouses the attention of quite of the townsmen, including several Hitler Youth who are in full uniform.

(The) Seventh Veil - (UK, 1946)

Psychiatric tests reveal the truth about a talented pianist's insecurities. I'm not sure a boy is involved, but it seems likely that there will be flashbacks. There were, but the main character was a girl. The adult played the flashbacks.

Sez O'Reilly to McNab - (1930s)

A boy wears a kilt.

Shady Hill Kidnapping -


Shadow of a Doubt - (US, 1942)

Hitchcock movie in which a niece believes her uncle is a murderer. A boy named Roger is about 8 years old and wears shorts with ankle socks.

- (US, 1991)

Rather unnecessary remake of the Hitchcock classic. The boy in this version is only briefly seen and at wears longs. I think a boy does wear shorts in a brief scene at church.

Shadow of Fear - (UK, 1955)


Shadow of the Thin Man - (US, 1941)

A little boy is pictured as Nick Charles' son. I'd say he is about 6 or so. I didn't see him in shorts, but he might have been as his father once jokes about growing up and wearing long trousers and going out with women. The boys outfits are quite varied, a military school uniform, a suit, and an impeccable white long pants sailor suit. There was a scene on a carousel. Boy after boy was pictured in longs. One rather obnoxious boy appeared in a dark suit. He was about 11 and much more formally dressed with a suit and tie. He was wearing shorts with ankle socks. This is typical in many American films--the boy dressed in shorts is a spoiled bratty kid.

Shadow Over the Earth - (UK)

Set in Scotland and focuses on three boys about 6-11, all in shorts. Addresses the subject of bigotry.

Shadrach (U.S., 2000?)

A 1999 or 2000 film released on cable was filmed in Wilmington, NC, and is set about 1935. Contemporary clothing styles are well-represented.

(The) Shaggy D.A. - (US, 1976)

While running for D.A., a lawyer finds himself the possessor of an ancient ring that transforms him into a shaggy canine. His son played by Kevin Cocoran wears longs. I might be confusing this with The Shaggy Dog, or visa versa.

(The) Shaggy Dog - (US, 1959)

Man, prompted by curiosity and a suggestion by a mysterious museum professor, utters magic words from an inscription and becomes a shaggy sheep dog. One of his boys is Disney standard Kevin Corcorran. Both boys wear longs.

Shamus - (US, 1973)

A detective story. I haven't seen the movie, but a TV serial Big Shamus, Little Shamus featured the detective's son.

Shane - (US, 1953)

Surely one of classic all-time favorite Westerns. The film is about a boy's attachment to a drifting gun slinger who saves his father. The father is a sod buster helping to organize fellow farmers against a wealthy rancher. The boy's father, however, has no chance ahainst the gun man hired by the rancher. Shane steps in to take on the hired gun. Brandon De Wilde is a marvelous little actor. His expressions are perfectly done, one of the classic movie performances by a child star. His lines at the end, "Shane, come back Shane," are some of the most famous lines of all time. He wears a bowl-cut hair style which must have been very common for boys on the frontier. He also wears kneepants, but with, if I remember correctly, ankle socks.

She's Been Away - (UK, 1989)

A elderly woman moves in with her nephew's family after the mental institute where she has been institutionalized is closed. The family has a boy about 10. The boy plays the part superbly. The family is very well to do and he goes to a boarding school, but none of that is pictured. He wears long pants.

Sheriff of Las Vegas - (US, 1944)

Bobby Blake had a small part.

Sheriff of Redwood Valley - (US, 1946)

Bobby Blake had a small part.

Shine - (US, 1996)

An Australian piano prodigy is pushed by his demanding father and as a young adult eventually has a nervous breakdown. As a boy in Australia he wears shorts.

(The) Shining - (US, 1980)

A winter caretaker for a remote, and apparently haunted Colorado hotel drifts into insanity while snowbounded there with his wife and clairvoyant son.

(A) Shining Season - (US, 1979)

True story of a New Mexico track star who learns that he has terminal cancer and devotes the last year of his life to a sports program for youngsters.

Shipwreck! - (US)

The children involved are two girls and a black boy.

Shipwreck Islands - (Spain, 1962)

Boys shipwrecked on a deserted island try to survive.

Shipwrecked - (US)

Reasonably dome Disney adventure with sea captains, pirates and buried treasure. The film is set in the 1850s. The costuming is reasonably done with some interesting costuming details of what a Norwegian boy might have worn. The early seens have a few boys in Norway wearing winter clothing. The movie is set around the experiences of the 12-year old ship's boy. His performance helps, but the film is not very convincing. The film was reasonably well done at first. It provided a sound depiction of the experience of a ship's boy. He is teased by the sailors, who pretend to pull him up into the rigging. The American influence his seen when he is stranded on a Pacific island. The older sailor looking after him appears in a shorts-type garment, but the main character never appears in shorts. The confrontation with the pirates was rather hokey.

Shipwrecked (US, 1991) -

A 12-year old cabin boy and his stowaway friend face treasure-hunting pirates after being marooned on an island.

Shirley Temple films

See actor list

Shoe Shine - (Italy)

Classic film about the life of Rome street children.

(The) Shop on Main Street - (Czechoslovakia, 1965)

Well done film about the NAZI occupation of Czechoslovakia and war against the Jews. The film is about the relationship between a carpenter and an elderly Jewish woman. A boy in shorts and white knee socks can be seen in a street scene. There may be more such scenes.

Shoot Out - (US, 1971)

An ex-gunman is torn between his thirst for revenge and his responsibility for a woman and child.

(The) Shooting - (US)

A possible murder sends two boys into the backwoods as fugitives where they learn self-reliance and personal integrity.

Side by Side - (US, 1982)

Parents struggle to overcome handicaps and care for their eight children who become famous entertainers.

Sign of the Wolf - (US, 1941)

Darryl Hickman

Silence - (US, 1963)

A 10-year old boy staying in a hotel with his mother gets involved with a troop of gypsy midgets. They dress him in a flouncy party dress.

(The) Silent One - (US, 1985)

An evil medicineman on a remote Pacific island blame a long drought on a deaf mute orphan boy and his pet, a huge white turtle. Telo Malase

Silent Witness: What a Child Saw - (US, 1994)

A prosecutor must tackle a racially volatile murder case in which the primary witness is a gang member's younger brother.

Silver Bullet - (US, 1985)

Steven King's novella about a handicapped 13-year old who tries to convince his uncle that a werewolf has committed grisly murders. Corey Haim.

(The) Silver Chalice - (US, 1954)

I haven't seen this, but I saw a show with clips from Natalie Wood movies and she appeared as a slave with a boy about 13 wearing a short toga. I think it was this movie.

Sin's Pay Day - (US, 1932)

Mickey Rooney

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger - (1977)

Sinbad battles dangerous creatures to remove a curse that keeps a young prince from his rightful place on the throne.

Sing Your Sinners - (US, 1938)

A 13-year old Donald O'Conner has a part.

Singin' in the Rain - (US, 1952)

The classic musical begins with a very brief sequence of Gene Kelly as a boy in knickers.

Sinner Take All - (US, 1936)

Threatening letters suggest that the sons and a daughter of a wealthy murder victim have also been targeted by the killer.

Sis Hopkins - (US, 1941)

A spunky country girl is placed in a snobbish boarding school.

Sista Paret Ut -

See "Last Couple Out".

Sister Kenny - (US, 1946)

Interesting movie set primarily in Australia about the famous nurse who developed a treatment for infantile paralysis. A lot of Australian boys appear in short pants and knee socks.

Sister, Sister - (US, 1982)

heated confrontations when a divorcee returns with her young son to the North Carolina home of her two sisters.
(The) Sitter -


Sitting Pretty - (US, 1948)

The intrepid Mr. Belvedere takes on three bratty children, in fact all three are boys. The boys, except the baby, wear long pants. Mr. Belvedere brooks no nonsense from the boys. When the baby misbehaves at breakfast, Mr. Belvedere pours his oatmeal over his head.

Six Pack - (US, 1982)

Kids between 11 and 14 adopt race car driver Kenny Rodgers. Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Fleming, Robby Still, Benji Wilhoite, and Tom Abernathy

(La) Sixieme Classique - (France, 1995)

La sixieme classique was produced in 1995. It takes place in 1952 in the Dordogne. For Aurelien (Clement van den Bergh), who enters le lycee of Bergerac in the 6th form ("La 6ieme classique") a new life begins. At the same time his father leaves. The new live is terrible exciting. He soon discovers, that he can alter his identitiy in every way he likes, just by imagination. He invents for his classmates a thrilling live that is made better through small pranks, just as he likes and depending on the circumstances. The main character wears different shirts and a long dark coat. He wears a beret and short trousers.

Sixteen Candles -

Anthony Michael Hall

(The) Sixth Sense - (US, 1999)

Tommy Tammisimo in the film which opened 8/6/'99.

Skateboard -

Leif Garrett

(The) Skating Rink -

Stewart Peterson

Skeezer - (US, 1982)

The constant attention and loyalty of a therapist's dog help emotionally disturbed children to over come their problems.

Skinner's Baby - (US, 1917)

Jackie Coogan's first movie.

Skippy - (US, 1931)

Jackie Cooper, Jackie Searl, and Robert Coogan. It is a good picture of clothes worn at the time, both by the wealthy and the downtrodden.
(The) Sky's the Limit - (US,1975)

A man uses an old biplane in a bid for his grandson's affection. Ike Eisenmann plays the boy. He goes to a ritzy private school and shows up on his grandfather's farm in his uniform, a blazer worn with long pants. He has trouble adjusting to the rustic conditions on the farm.

Slaughterhouse 5 - (US)

Anti war movie, but a brief scene where on of the prisoners remembers how his father taught him to swim. He threw him into the pool. I believe the boy was Ron Liebman.

Slave Ship - (US, 1937)

Life and mutiny aboard a slave ship on the high seas and along the African coast. Mickey Rooney

Slavers - (US, 1977)

In 19th Century Africa, slavers use their captives as targets.

Sleepaway Camp - (US, 1986)

In one scene an orphaned boy is taken in by his aunt. She shows him a pretty new dress and explains that he will be brought up as a girl because she already has a son and now wants a girl.

Sleepless in Seattle - (US, 1993)

A recently engaged woman becomes obsessed with meeting the grieving widower she heard on a late-night radio show. Appealing little movie about an 8-year old boy, Jonah (Ross Malinger), who tries to find a wife for his widowed father through the radio talk show. Ross is a real scene stealer in this film.

(The) Slingshot - (Sweden, 199?)

This film is another European coming of age stories. Little Roland (Jesper Salen) comes of age in Stockholm with humor and pathos. Jesper is quite effective as Roland. Based on the memoirs of Roland Schutt, a Swedish inventor. As a boy in the 1920s, he endured prejudice, injustice, and abuse. His mother was a Russian Jew and his father a radical socialist. His father lambastes him for lack of revolutionary fervor. His brother uses him as a punching bag. He gets beaten by other boys who call him a dirty Jew. A teacher bates him with anti-semitic remarks and beats him with a wooden bat. He faces a term in reform school when he unwittingly gets caught up with a bicycle theft ring. The title of the film comes from a slingshot he makes out of condoms, illegal at the time in Sweden.

Slip Slide Adventures - (1978)

A 12-year old chimney sweep (Billie Whitelaw?) literally plunges into an undersea world of playful ocean characters in this bend of live action and animation.

Slightly Dangerous - (US, 1943)

Bobby Blake.








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Created: January 30, 2000
Last updated: 3:10 AM 9/28/2015