There's obvious exploitation and very subtle exploitation, and this is the later, your typical 30's depression pre-code drama that every major star did a few of until the Hays code went haywire. Jean Lacy may not be Blondell, Rogers, Dvorak, Twelvetrees or Muir (all actresses associated with pre-code troubled young women dramas), but she's sincere in this D grade drama (one with an excellent print available) about an innocent young woman who finds out the hard way the evils of scandalous society. Left alone when the father of the child she gives up is killed, she gets into the harsh world of the party girl complete with pimp, madam and supposed society hostess setting up "entertainment" for her clients in a swell mansion. She's blackmailed into prostitution which ultimately leads to her put on trial for murder!
The blame for her scandalous life is put on her overly religious mother who objects to her liberal school education meant to warn young people about the possible hardships of an unclean life. The mother spends the first five minutes of the film spouting her judgments and then disappears, not seen outside of being at the trial. She's a pretty minor character to be mentioned in the title, so I think another one should have been used. The film itself is one of the better exploitation films that I've ever seen, certainly no "Maniac" or "Reefer Madness". The budget seems a lot higher than it most likely was, and the script is pretty no nonsense with the acting and direction first rate. The sets and costumes are similar to what would have been done as a B at the major studios, and for that, I find this a top notch drama even though it's covered in as much sin as it is sequins and "sauce".
The blame for her scandalous life is put on her overly religious mother who objects to her liberal school education meant to warn young people about the possible hardships of an unclean life. The mother spends the first five minutes of the film spouting her judgments and then disappears, not seen outside of being at the trial. She's a pretty minor character to be mentioned in the title, so I think another one should have been used. The film itself is one of the better exploitation films that I've ever seen, certainly no "Maniac" or "Reefer Madness". The budget seems a lot higher than it most likely was, and the script is pretty no nonsense with the acting and direction first rate. The sets and costumes are similar to what would have been done as a B at the major studios, and for that, I find this a top notch drama even though it's covered in as much sin as it is sequins and "sauce".
