"I know why she is a thief." So says sweet Mary (Ann Stephens), shop clerk and one-time ward of a drunken floozie foster mother (Freda Jackson as Mrs. Moray) who took her in when her mother died, seduced her father and basically treated her charges with contempt. In a seedy British slum like the area where Fagin trained pickpockets, there's little hope for these young foundlings, but Mary manages to get out and live a respectable life even after an auspicious start. A concerned schoolteacher (Joy Shelton) treats her with kindness, instilling her with hope even though the other kids are rather cruel to those they are jealous of or feel they can bully. Surprisingly, the bullies are the female wards (particularly the character of Norma Bates whom an older Mary witnesses later being arrested for shoplifting), while Mary becomes concerned about the younger boy (a variation of Oliver Twist) who has been taken in and unable to defend himself. After a time, Mary's as bad as the other girls.
This is a Dickens like modern tale of desperation and how one person going out of her way to fix the situation and abuse by a pathetic and uncaring adult. The dingy atmosphere is presented in a way of making a strong point with the most disturbing performances actually top notch in the shocking cruelty. There are obvious elements of Miss Hannigan in Jackson's performance (a role she had played on stage), a great film villain that times makes her seem like a less campy cruella DeVille. Her performance should be added to the list of legendary film villians, leading to the nail biting conclusion that may have you gasping in excitement and had me clapping in glee. Some of the scenes of abuse are truly horrifying to watch, particularly when Mrs. Voray drunkenly locks the young boy in a rat infested cellar. The scene where Jackson sweetly defends herself against Shelton subtly reveals some aspects about society (here set during World War II and dealing with war orphans) makes some rather eye raising insinuations about how Voray got her way, making her character all the more disgusting and Jackson's performance all the more unforgettable.
This is a Dickens like modern tale of desperation and how one person going out of her way to fix the situation and abuse by a pathetic and uncaring adult. The dingy atmosphere is presented in a way of making a strong point with the most disturbing performances actually top notch in the shocking cruelty. There are obvious elements of Miss Hannigan in Jackson's performance (a role she had played on stage), a great film villain that times makes her seem like a less campy cruella DeVille. Her performance should be added to the list of legendary film villians, leading to the nail biting conclusion that may have you gasping in excitement and had me clapping in glee. Some of the scenes of abuse are truly horrifying to watch, particularly when Mrs. Voray drunkenly locks the young boy in a rat infested cellar. The scene where Jackson sweetly defends herself against Shelton subtly reveals some aspects about society (here set during World War II and dealing with war orphans) makes some rather eye raising insinuations about how Voray got her way, making her character all the more disgusting and Jackson's performance all the more unforgettable.