Dance, Little Children (Kansas State Board of Health, 1965)

Chronicles an outbreak of syphilis among teens in the fictional town of Oakdale. A girl, Lynn, has a few dates with a wealthy boy, Hal, then goes to see her family doctor when she develops a rash. Though the doctor considers syphilis, he doesn't test Lynn initially, thinking it can't be true. The role of the state and local public health departments in tracking down contacts of infected people and testing them is shown. The primary state health investigator is shown confidentially interviewing the teens. Through these efforts and the efforts of local doctors, the outbreak is controlled. Teens are depicted as influenced by an overly sexualized culture, while most parents react angrily, distancing themselves from their children's behavior or showing little sympathy. The exception is Lynn's parents, who support rather than blame her. The consequences of missing just one infected person are emphasized as the film ends.

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