Maryjane (1968)

A teacher trying to break up a local drug ring is framed and arrested for possession of marijuana.

Director:

Maury Dexter

Writers:

Maury Dexter (story), Richard Gautier,

Stars:

Fabian, Diane McBain, Kevin Coughlin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fabian	...	Phil Blake
Diane McBain	...	Elli Holden
Kevin Coughlin	...	Jordan Bates
Michael Margotta	...	Jerry Blackburn
Patty McCormack	...	Susan Hoffman
Russ Bender	...	Harry Braxton
Booth Colman	...	Maynard Parlow
Baynes Barron	...	Police Chief Otis Mosley
Henry Hunter	...	Arthur Ford
Phil Vandervort	...	Herbie Mueller
Ivan Bonar	...	Roger Campbell
Byron Morrow	...	Judge
Ward Ramsey	...	Mr. Blackburn
Bruce Mars	...	Toby
Steve Cory	...	Chuck Poe

Storyline

Fabian plays a high school art teacher who is framed and busted while trying to convince the school principal that grass isn't such a bad thing. Diane McBain plays a fellow teacher who has her own problems to deal with. The rebellious students are about as threatening as a teenage root beer bust.

---

Plot Keywords:

teacher | play | school | student | high school | 

---

Taglines:

... the shocking FACTS behind the marijuana controversy!

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Djävuls-bruden

Filming Locations:

Greystone Park & Mansion - 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Did You Know?

Goofs

During cemetery scene, mourners are all huddled under dripping umbrellas even though it's obviously a sunny day and driveways surrounding graveyard are dry during cut away shots to arriving cars.

---

Connections

Featured in Classroom Scare Films Vol. 5: More Drug Evils (1997)

User Reviews

The Shocking FACTS Behind The Marijuana Controversy!

So they said. And that may be just the problem with "Maryjane", which was promoted as a typical AIP drive-in thriller, and too often becomes a tiresome talk fest. The film does have its good points. It is handsomely photographed, well enough acted and has a good score. New high school art teacher/football coach (Fabian) gets in hot water with school officials when he foolishly confesses to having tried pot in his college days. Of course, the stiff-necked faculty and the police chief react with horror, and let him know they'll be watching him closely. Meanwhile, baby-faced student Kevin Coughlin, who is also the school's star football player, spends his after school time as the leader of the "Maryjane" club. The members, who wear medals (!) include former "Bad Seed" Patty McCormack, Teri Garr and Robert Lipton (Peggy's bro). Desperately trying to join the club is sensitive student Michael Margotta. Coughlin makes it clear he doesn't want Margotta joining them, and humiliates him at every opportunity. As the kids hold "pot parties" in secluded lagoons, playgrounds, and deserted amusement parks, Teacher Fabian attempts to get to know fellow teacher Diane McBain, (the best performer in the film) and the quicker, the better.No luck, however, she's not interested in any advanced ''Sex Education''.Not with him, anyway. At the same time, he strikes up a friendship with Margotta, which leads to even more trouble for Our Hero. Director Maury Dexter, who also directed "Born Wild", "The Mini-Skirt Mob" and "Hell's Belles" for AIP, lost the touch this time, because, in between the pot sessions, there are some long, pointless scenes in which the Marijuana question is talked to death. The screenwriters (Dick Gautier and ''Hollywood Squares'' host Peter (L) Marshall) worked their limited knowledge of the subject into the story, and beat you over the head with it. That's a shame, because the rest of the film moves fast, and the kids are portrayed (for a change) as middle class students, not crazed "dope fiends". No wonder the film is not as well known as other AIP potboilers (no pun). Not bad, by any means, but not the exploitation classic it could (and SHOULD) have been. Some have called it a 1960's ''Reefer Madness''. Sadly, it's not. Look for future producer Garry Marshall ("Happy Days", "Laverne and Shirley"), as a gas station attendant.