YMMV / The Last Prom

• Values Dissonance:
  • Ever notice that Bill and Sandy, and Jim and Judy were allowed to leave the dance and presumably would have been allowed back in had they returned? There was no reference to any rule that prohibited students from leaving the school dance; today, virtually every school has in place rules stating that students who leave without permission — short of a legitimate emergency — would not be allowed back in.
  • While the 1962 version makes reference to some schools making prom an all-night party — such as to keep the kids occupied and out of trouble — there is no such reference in the 1980 version. Both versions, however, do mention that while schools and the student planners do go all-out to make prom a memorable occasion they hope the guests will enjoy, too often some prom-goers feel that all the planning in the world doesn't satisfy them and (at least in the 1980 version) the only way to truly celebrate the rite of passage into adulthood is with alcohol. Today, most schools have special "post-prom" celebrations, where students are invited to participate in games and other fun in the early-morning hours following prom; while many schools have always had these, such "post-prom" parties became far more common in the 1980s, especially after the release of The Last Prom.