The Godless Girl (1929)

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Beulah Marie Dix (titles)
Jeanie Macpherson (story)

Release Date:

31 March 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

High school students led by the Girl and Boy turn from Christianity toward secret atheistic meetings...

Plot Keywords:

High School | Reform School | Manslaughter | Atheist | Shower Scene

Cast

Lina Basquette	...	Judy Craig - The Girl
Marie Prevost	...	Mame - The Other Girl
Tom Keene	...	Bob Hathaway - The Boy (as George Duryea)
Noah Beery	...	The Brute
Eddie Quillan	...	Samuel 'Bozo' Johnson - The Goat
Mary Jane Irving	...	The Victim
Clarence Burton	...	Prison Guard
Richard Alexander	...	Prison Guard (as Dick Alexander)
Kate Price	...	Prison Matron
Hedwiga Reicher	...	Prison Matron (as Hedwig Reicher)
Julia Faye	...	Inmate
Viola Louie	...	Inmate
Emily Barrye	...	Inmate

Runtime:

113 min | USA:128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent (RCA Photophone System) (talking sequences)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1930)

Company:

C.B. DeMille Productions

Trivia:

Film debut of Tom Keene (billed as "George Duryea").

Quotes:

Opening Title Card: [first card] It is not generally known that there are Atheist Societies using the schools of the country as their battle-ground - attacking, through the Youth of the Nation, the beliefs that are sacred to most of the people.
Opening Title Card: [second card] And no fanatics are so bitter as youthful fanatics.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Cecil B. DeMille: American Epic (2004) (TV)

A good film, but . . .

I very much enjoyed this film. Noah Beery was appropriately villainous and the stars were attractive and appealing.

However, as a life-long atheist, I was offended by De Mille's take on the question of atheism vs. belief. It is clear that he considers atheism to be a very evil thing and something that should be shunned, if not forcibly eliminated.

To my eyes, the religious kids in the school were the truly intolerant ones, who came to the atheist meeting with the intention of breaking it up, using force if needed. Force was indeed used, and the ensuing Merle resulted in the unnecessary death of a student.

The reformatory was a hellish place, though it was interesting that De Mille put in a disclaimer to the effect that although the events depicted actually do take place in some reformatories, there are many that actually try to rehabilitate, so we shouldn't judge such places too harshly.

The first is exciting and it seems that the set was actually burned down, with injuries inflicted on the star.

As an atheist, I wasn't too fond of the heroine's conversion.