Never Take Sweets from a Stranger
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger, released in the United States as Never Take Candy from a Stranger, is a 1960 British thriller drama film, directed by Cyril Frankel and released by Hammer Film Productions. The screenplay was developed by John Hunter from the play The Pony Trap by Roger Garis. It stars Patrick Allen, Gwen Watford, Janina Faye as their victimised daughter and Felix Aylmer, the latter being cast notably against type. The twin themes are paedophilia and the child sexual abuse, and the way in which those with sufficient pull can corrupt and manipulate the legal system to evade responsibility for their actions. The film is regarded as bold and uncompromising for its time. Plot The film is set in a small Canadian town to which the British Carter family (Peter, Sally and 9-year-old daughter Jean) have just moved, following Peter's appointment as school principal. One night, Jean appears restless and disturbed, and confides to her parents that earlier that day while playing in a local wood, she and her friend, Lucille, went into the house of an elderly man who asked them to remove their clothes and dance naked before him in return for some sweets, which