Preface to a Life (U.S. Public Health Service, 1950)

This film stars a young boy named Michael Thompson, who begins as a healthy baby. As he ages, the narrator explains the many people and places in his life that will be influential. He introduces the parents, and explains that they have two very different dreams for Michael - his mother wants him to stay young and needy forever, and his father wants him to grow up and become a better, more accomplished man than himself. When Michael is a toddler, he wakes up in the night afraid, and the narrator wonders if Michael's mother will baby him or if his father will scold him for being afraid. Fortunately, they are very supportive of him. When Michael's little brother is born, he is very upset, and believes his brother is his enemy. His parents frequently fight about how the boys should be raised. The film then shows what Michael's life would be like if he had fulfilled his mother's dream, in which he is constantly very immature and needy and clingy. He does not adapt well socially and he never has healthy relationships with women. Then, the narrator examines what Michael's life would be like if he fulfilled his father's dream only, in which he always feels like he is not good enough and is constantly seeking approval. He becomes a poorly adjusted adult. In a final scenario, Michael's parents both adjust their dreams for his well-being. He is more confident and has a good relationship with his brother after having been raised in an "atmosphere of mutual love and respect."
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