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 Anne Jackson.

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Goofs

When Dr Jason brings Loretta into his office after being sprayed with the hose, her hair is almost completely dry.

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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

The Girls Are Young, The Movie's Pretty Bad

This seems to have come out right around the same time as the infinitely better "Caged." It isn't terrible by any means but it sometimes feels like a Doris Wishman opus. Paul Henreid seems to be the star and the girls -- well, they're attractive background.

As TO the girls: Wow, the casting director picked some fine young performers to play the prison trams. Anne Francis is the one on whom the primary subplot focuses. She's very good. Then there is "Rosita" Moreno, also good, getting her hair horn by a sadistic matron, a la "Caged." And, of all people, Anne Jackson! She is also good but what a place to find her and how different from her later roles.

Some scenes are powerful. The one, not to give too much away, involving the matron and the rabbit is sickening. And the one that follows that closely, involving the matron and a firehose is powerful too.

I apologize for the cheap shot in my summary. The movie could have been better but it could have been a whole lot worse, I apologize for the cheap shot in my summary. The movie could have been better but it could have been a whole lot worse, too.