Maryjane (1968)

Director:

Maury Dexter

Writers:

Maury Dexter (story)
Richard Gautier (writer)

Release Date:

February 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

2 are in jail & the others have blown their minds!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | School | Play | Drugs | Marijuana

Cast

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

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Movie Connections:

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

The Shocking FACTS Behind The Marijuana Controversy!

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 try to bag fellow teacher Diane McBain, who is, as usual, better than her material. 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. 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. Look for future producer Garry Marshall ("Happy Days", "Laverne and Shirley"), as a gas station attendant.