They Were So Young (1954) Mannequins für Rio (original title)

Director:

Kurt Neumann

Writers:

Jacques Companéez (source material)
Felix Lützkendorf
(more)

Release Date:

7 January 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Too innocent! Too willing! and far, far Too Eager!... and so Beautiful!

Plot:

A model agency in Rio de Janeiro is actually a front for a white-slavery ring that kidnaps European women and sells them on the South American sex market. |

Plot Keywords:

Dead Body On Beach | Dead Woman On Beach | Stockings | Wet Lingerie | Faux Nudity

Cast

Johanna Matz	...	Eve Ullmann
Scott Brady	...	Richard Lanning
Ingrid Stenn	...	Connie Voorhees
Raymond Burr	...	Jaime Coltos
Gisela Fackeldey	...	Mme. Lansowa
Kurt Meisel	...	Pasquale
Katharina Mayberg	...	Felicia
Gert Fröbe	...	Lobos
Erica Beer	...	Elise LeFevre
Hanita Hallan	...	Lena
Elizabeth Tanney	...	Emily
Gordon Howard	...	Garza
Eduard Linkers	...	M. Albert
Pero Alexander	...	Manuel
Caterina Valente	...	Tanzt & singt auf der (Palacio do Oro)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hannelore Axman	...	Vincenta
Das Cornell-Trio	...	Music Players
Josef Dahmen	...	Dr. Perez
Das Horst Wende-Sextett	...	Music Players
William Trenk	...	Senor Bulanos
Leo Fischer	...	(uncredited)
Friedl Hardt	...	VicentaGamboa Mannequin (uncredited)
Ian MacDonald	...	General Rodriguez Garcia (uncredited)
Gerhard Wendland	...	Singt im Nacht-Club zu Rio (uncredited)

Directed by
Kurt Neumann

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ernst Blass		retold by
Jacques Companéez		source material
Felix Lützkendorf
Kurt Neumann
Dalton Trumbo		uncredited
Michael Wilson		uncredited

Produced by
Kurt Neumann	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Jary

Cinematography by
Ekkehard Kyrath

Film Editing by
Eva Kroll

Art Direction by
Hans Sohnle

Costume Design by
Alfred Bücken

Makeup Department
Gertrud Coesfeld	....	makeup artist
Josef Coesfeld	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Max Koslowski	....	production supervisor
George von Block	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Winterstein	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Ernst Walter	....	sound

Production Companies

• Corona Filmproduktion

Distributors

• Schorcht Filmverleih Gmbh (1954) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Lippert Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical) (English dubbed)
• VCI Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Kit Parker Films (2004) (USA) (all media)

Also Known As:

"Mannequins für Rio" - West Germany (original title)

Runtime:

Germany:95 min | USA:80 min

Country:

West Germany | USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Klangfilm-Magnetcord-Eurocord)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | West Germany:16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Corona Filmproduktion

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Trumbo (2007)

Soundtrack:

Ich muss bei Deinen Küssen immer weinen

Fashion Show a Blind

The international white slave traffic is the subject of this Lippert Production, They Were So Young. Well at least the women dealt with in this film are legal in any country. I'm betting that title was a hook to draw in the customers who were expecting a bunch of Lolitas.

Set in Rio De Janeiro, but shot in Hollywood, They Were So Young has a bunch of women from around the world coming there answering an advertisement thinking they'll be models. In fact the blind in front of the brothel is a fashion show. But it ain't dresses these men out front are buying.

Scott Brady who works for rich Brazilian mine owner Raymond Burr is brought in after months in the Amazon up country for a little relaxation. But new 'model' Johanna Matz doesn't have the rules down straight and she slaps his face. Then when the facts of life are explained to her, she balks and starts making trouble.

But when trouble visits her, who you going to call? Why that nice American you left feeling a little deprived that night. And it actually works because beneath the heart of a miner in need is a hero.

But who does Brady take her to, why his boss Burr whom he does not know is heavily involved in the prostitution trade.

If you think this plot description is silly, well the film is just as silly even more so. Raymond Burr who always is good in some really horrible junk can't even make this one minutely believable. And this company did not even get a trip to Rio for their work.

Pass this silly stuff by folks.