... that's what it said on the credits but you don't want to believe everything you read!!! It may have looked like Betty Compson had hit hard times but looking at her filmography she really never stopped working - she liked money too much!!! She had a big personality and was not too proud to go to poverty row studios like Atlas and Merit when her services were wanted!! Advertised as a "real life drama", "Mad Youth" may have tried to entice cinema patrons in with the titilating title but as usual there was nothing much going on with this set of youngsters.
Lucy Morgan (Compson) is a frequent user of escort agencies and although she is divorced, what with her bridge parties and hiring of gentlemen partners, she often has to borrow money from her daughter. Marian (Mary Ainslee) also has a double life - demure school girl by day, party giver by night where "crazy jitterbugging" (those dances are the highlight of the movie) and "strip" poker are the order of the day!! Lucy and Marian's devotion is just a sham, Lucy feels "baby" is cramping her style and is soon spouting one of those "I never wanted you, I wanted fun and excitement, my marriage was hell" speeches. Her new escort is "The Count" (a younger and chubbier Ricardo Cortez lookalike) but he is not interested in her "that way" - he prefers Marian!! He is horrified at the way he feels American parents let their children run wild (Marian's marriage is going to be fun - I don't think) and there is yet another speech on the downside of modern parenting!! He berates Lucy when he finds out she has let Marian visit Helen who has left town for marriage with a man she has never met!!
It's the same old story - Helen is working in a brothel and under threat of punishment has now lured Marian to the same fate. "The Count" steps in and saves both Marian and Helen from a fate worse than death and while he and Marian plan their future, Lucy is still on the escort treadmill - "I want a nice young college boy, around 27, 28, the same age as me"!!! Once again Betty Compson's professionalism stood out and held the piece together. Mary Ainslee had better luck with the Three Stooges, being in a few of their shorts.
Lucy Morgan (Compson) is a frequent user of escort agencies and although she is divorced, what with her bridge parties and hiring of gentlemen partners, she often has to borrow money from her daughter. Marian (Mary Ainslee) also has a double life - demure school girl by day, party giver by night where "crazy jitterbugging" (those dances are the highlight of the movie) and "strip" poker are the order of the day!! Lucy and Marian's devotion is just a sham, Lucy feels "baby" is cramping her style and is soon spouting one of those "I never wanted you, I wanted fun and excitement, my marriage was hell" speeches. Her new escort is "The Count" (a younger and chubbier Ricardo Cortez lookalike) but he is not interested in her "that way" - he prefers Marian!! He is horrified at the way he feels American parents let their children run wild (Marian's marriage is going to be fun - I don't think) and there is yet another speech on the downside of modern parenting!! He berates Lucy when he finds out she has let Marian visit Helen who has left town for marriage with a man she has never met!!
It's the same old story - Helen is working in a brothel and under threat of punishment has now lured Marian to the same fate. "The Count" steps in and saves both Marian and Helen from a fate worse than death and while he and Marian plan their future, Lucy is still on the escort treadmill - "I want a nice young college boy, around 27, 28, the same age as me"!!! Once again Betty Compson's professionalism stood out and held the piece together. Mary Ainslee had better luck with the Three Stooges, being in a few of their shorts.