Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Tell Your Children (1936)
Tell Your Children
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Tell Your Children (1936) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 21 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
Tell Your Children (1936) -- Young people go from marijuana to wild piano playing, hysteria and death.
Tell Your Children (1936) -- Cautionary tale features a fictionalized and highly exaggerated take on the use of marijuana. A trio of drug dealers lead innocent teenagers to become addicted to "reefer" cigarettes by holding wild parties with jazz music.

Overview

User Rating:
3.3/10   3,157 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 9% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Louis J. Gasnier
Writers:
Lawrence Meade (original story)
Arthur Hoerl (screenplay)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Tell Your Children on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1938 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
SEE youthful marijuana victims - what actually happens! more
Plot:
Cautionary tale features a fictionalized and highly exaggerated take on the use of marijuana. A trio of drug dealers lead innocent teenagers to become addicted to "reefer" cigarettes by holding wild parties with jazz music. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
User Comments:
1930's potheads become hopelessly and incurably insane? more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Dorothy Short ... Mary
Kenneth Craig ... Bill
Lillian Miles ... Blanche
Dave O'Brien ... Ralph
Thelma White ... Mae
Carleton Young ... Jack
Warren McCollum ... Jimmy (as Warren McCullom)
Patricia Royale ... Agnes (as Pat Royale)
Joseph Forte ... Dr. Carroll (as Josef Forte)
Harry Harvey Jr. ... Junior
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Dope Addict (USA) (reissue title)
Doped Youth (USA) (reissue title)
Love Madness (USA) (reissue title)
Reefer Madness (USA) (reissue title)
The Burning Question (USA) (reissue title)
more
Runtime:
66 min | France:63 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | USA:PG (1973) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | UK:15 (video rating)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
A special-edition DVD of the film was released in 2004, with an outrageously non-realistic colorization (the various characters who smoke all exhale brightly colored pastel smoke) and a satirical commentary track by Michael J. Nelson of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988). more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: In the close-up of Mary lying dead on the couch, a shadow of the camera's barn doors falls on the arm rest just above her head. more
Quotes:
Mae: I wish you'd lay off those kids!
Jack: Why don't you get over that "mother complex"?
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Dead by Dawn 2: The Mask of Conrad (2004) (V) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 18 people found the following comment useful:-
1930's potheads become hopelessly and incurably insane?, 10 March 1999
10/10
Author: Doug Galecawitz (dougg@evilnet.net) from Lisle, IL

This movie is funny. Not just regular funny but inexplicably funny. I wish public schools all over the country would show this movie in classes. This cult classic gives what is supposed to be a serious warning of the dangers of marijuana. Instead the over exaggeration of the side effects of weed become un-intentionally and absurdly funny. I smoked grass in my day but I sure haven't killed anyone yet. This movie is legendary. Anyone who has ever smoked should view this. Just if only to see how this whole silly "war on drugs" thing got started. Is pot ever to be legalized? Probably not so long as there are people who take this movie seriously. As for the rest of us laugh yourself into hopeless and incurible insanity for 67 minutes.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Tell Your Children (1936)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Watch/Download Reefer Madness for Free! mrreece5
Funniest Moment of the Movie! preming1
Blog on Exploitation Scare Tactic Films maren-solheim
Thoughts on the film's message (SPOILERS INCLUDED) petekrug17
ummm hellokittyspeedboat
Legalization XLCH1000
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical Grandma's Boy City of Shoulders and Noses Pineapple Express Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.