The Student Nurses (1970)

Director:

Stephanie Rothman

Writers:

Stephanie Rothman (story)
Don Spencer (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Sexy young nurses apply special therapy in their daily rounds.

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Sex | Erotica | Female Nudity | Exploitation

Cast

Elaine Giftos	...	Sharon
Karen Carlson	...	Phred
Brioni Farrell	...	Lynn
Barbara Leigh	...	Priscilla
Reni Santoni	...	Victor Charlie
Richard Rust	...	Les
Lawrence P. Casey	...	Jim Caspar
Darrell Larson	...	Greg
Paul Camen	...	Mark
Richard Stahl	...	Dr. Warshaw
Scottie MacGregor	...	Miss Boswell
Pepe Serna	...	Luis
John Pearce	...	Patient
Mario Aniov	...	Ralpho
Ron Gans	...	Psychiatrist

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Convalescent Harbor, Torrance, California, USA

Company:

New World Pictures

Movie Connections:

Followed by Private Duty Nurses (1971)

Healthcare 70's style

I was in Grade 9 when this movie came out in 1970. I always remembered it, as the ads in the local paper featured a pouty young nurse with her uniform falling off her shoulders. Pretty hot stuff for a junior high school student in Western Canada in 1970! Naturally, I couldn't go see it, as it was rated "restricted adult", and in the years after the ardour faded and I never got around to viewing it until recently.

Thanks to good ol' cable and their willingness to screen almost anything, I finally got a chance to view this 'hot' artifact of my adolesence. The result, a chance to drift down memory lane and view a classic early 70's youth flic.

The plot needs not be repeated here, as the title basically says it all. The student nurses are young, attractive, rebellious, and, of course, sexually liberated. Various turgid plot devices keep things going between romps in bed. Sundry nude scenes help remind us how actresses looked prior to the era of breast implants. Everybody is groovy, everything is cool, except when 'the man' representing adult authority rears his ugly head.

In spite of the above, though, I couldn't help but like this film. Perhaps it's my age, but it personifies an era that seems so much more innocent and fun than the slasher flics or hard edged teenage exploitation films of today. Soft drugs, unprotected sex, and a basic 'nice' approach to life personifies the earnest strivings of the Student Nurses, and captures a side of the late '60's and early '70's that actually did exist for a few years. I was too young to participate, but I witnessed it, and like many boomers, I mourn it's passing.

See the flic if you get a chance. If you're over 40, it'll bring back memories. If you're under 30, you'll get a chance to see the warmer, softer side of the 60's that your parents remember.

5 out of 10 for nostalgia.