So Young So Bad (1950)

A psychiatrist and nurse overthrow the abusive heads of a girls' reform school in order to teach the "unfortunate" young women that they have a chance at healthy lives.

Director:

Bernard Vorhaus

Writers:

Jean Rouverol (story), Bernard Vorhaus (story),

Stars:

Paul Henreid, Catherine McLeod, Grace Coppin

Cast

Cast overview:
Paul Henreid	...	Dr. John H. Jason
Catherine McLeod	...	Ruth Levering
Grace Coppin	...	Mrs. Beuhler
Cecil Clovelly	...	Mr. Riggs
Anne Francis	...	Loretta Wilson
Rita Moreno	...	Dolores Guererro (as Rosita Moreno)
Anne Jackson	...	Jackie Boone
Enid Pulver	...	Jane Fleming

Storyline

Idealistic and naive Dr. Jason arrives at a school for delinquent girls and immediately begins to try to make a difference in the lives of some of the inmates. Oblivious to the sadistic treatment of the girls by the matrons, it takes a rebellious girl named Loretta to open his eyes. Assisted by a female staff member, Jason finally gets proof of the abuse and threatens the head of the school with exposure unless he is given full reign to run things.

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Plot Keywords:

unwed mother | tension | fire hose | carousel | lesbianism | 

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Taglines:

What Made Them This Way!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

So jung und so verdorben

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Danziger Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Rita Moreno.

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Goofs

When Loretta meets her baby at the adoption agency, he has a thick head of hair. When Jackie walks in, the baby has much less hair.

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Quotes

Jackie Boone: [Talking to one of the girls who is leaving] I don't want to see your ugly puss again.

User Reviews

Early Exploitation

The director, Bernard Vorhaus, had real talent, as evidenced by the undeniably powerful firehose and suicide scenes, not to mention his handling of a fascinating young cast headed by Anne Francis (who is terrific) Rita Moreno, Anne Jackson and even Mike Kellin, in a bit. Vorhaus knows how to play with light and shadow - he probably would have excelled in Noir films had he not been blacklisted - and has a knack for finding novel settings to either enhance or contrast the mood of a particular scene. (The merry-go-round scene would do Hitchcock proud.) His camera's always on the move and the editing of the film has a rhythm and a pull that keeps you involved and in suspense.

But make no mistake this is a B-film with an erratic script that falters at several critical junctures. Immediately after the sadistic worker turns the hose on the girls for setting fire to the dorm, things come to a head, with Henried and pretty Catherine McLeod angrily confronting the corrupt Head of the institution (Cecil Clovelly) and threatening to file official reports on the abuse at the school unless sweeping changes are made. Clovelly admits that if that happened there would probably be an uproar, an unfavorable investigation and he would more than likely be fired, BUT - and this is what made absolutely no sense - he gets them to back down by suggesting that if he were fired who's to say somebody even worse than him wouldn't take his place? Huh?!!! What are the odds of that? I think I'd take my chances.

Still an effective film that will hold your interest. I should also point out that the other comment about this film is inaccurate on several plot details and seems to have it confused with some other film.