The Wages of Sin (1938)

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Director:

Herman E. Webber

Release Date:

14 July 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

REVEALS ALL And Points A POWERFUL MORAL! (orignal poster)

Plot:

A hard-working woman trying to support her family and working at a menial, low-paying job falls for a low-life and before she knows it, he has her working as a prostitute in a bordello. |

Plot Keywords:

Brothel | Drunkenness | Cult Favorite | Striptease | Social

Cast

Constance Worth	...	Marjorie Benton
Willy Castello	...	Tony Kilonis
Blanche Mehaffey	...	Florence Jones
Frank LaRue	...	Pa Benton
Rose Plumer	...	Ma Benton
Carleton Young	...	Bruce, blind date
Frank Wayne	...	Eddie, Florence's boyfriend
Kenneth Harlan	...	Laundry Owner
Bryant Washburn	...	'John' in Room 530
Ed Cassidy	...	Hotel Detective
Clara Kimball Young	...	Fat Pearl, the madam

Also Known As:

Female Slaves (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Willis Kent Productions

Trivia:

The Spanish-language title for this film literally translates to 'Traffickers of Love.'

Goofs:

Continuity: In the roadhouse, when everybody is dancing, a woman in a bonnet-like hat is shown to be simultaneously on the dance floor and seated at a table behind Marjorie and Bruce.

Quotes:

[Bruce whispers something in Marge's ear]
Marjorie Benton: Leave me alone! Leave me alone!
Florence Jones: What's the matter, Marge?
Marjorie Benton: Oh, he insulted me!
Bruce: That was no insult, stupid. That was a proposition. Take it or leave it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mau Mau Sex Sex (2001)

Soundtrack:

Sea Shells

Another expose on Prostitution, and how good girls should always stay home!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Willis Kent produced this film with famed exploitation producer Louis Sonney, it's a story about a hard working woman named Majorie who works in a laundry plant trying to support her lazy family. She gets into an argument with them when she wants to go out one night and have some fun, after all she is the main breadwinner and should be untitled to some fun. So she goes out, meets a boy and gets thrown out of her home (stupid family, they threw away free money). The Boy she meets keeps telling her that he will marry her as soon as his divorce to his ex-wife is finalized...but months pass and nothing comes of it. Next thing you know her boyfriend is pimping her at Fat Bearl's Brothel, from which she eventually escapes. She tracks down her pimping boyfriend and kills him in and some Dame that he was setting up to his next sugar mama. The film ends with the jury debating whether she should go to prison or be set free. Interesting enough at the films close there is a chance for viewers to send in a essay that argues fair verdict, with a possibility in winning 1000 bucks for the best answer!

Filmed at a time when the depression was in full swing, public feelings and paranoia was not as high as in the early 20th century about white slave traders. Exploitation films dealing with the subject matter were rampant during this time when Lucky Luciano was busted for prostitution rings. In fact it was Lucky Luciano who was often portrayed in these films under a thinly veiled guise, as being solely responsible in shady dealings of white middle-upper class women being abducted and made to work in seedy brothels.