Assassin of Youth
Directed by Elmer Clifton
Written by Elmer Clifton and Charles A. Browne
1937/USA
BCM Roadshow Productions
First viewing
[box] Tagline: MARIHUANA – a Puff – a Party – a Tragedy![/box]
What?! An exploitation flick with a “plot” and “acting”? Heresy, I say.
Joan Barry’s aunt dies and leaves her a fortune. The catch is there is a morals clause in the will. This should be no problem for the church-going Joan. However, town slut and dope pusher Linda Clayton will inherit if Joan is excluded and Linda sets out to trick Joan at every turn. In the meantime, ace reporter Jack Howard has been sent to town to do an article on this headline-worthy story and later an investigative piece on the marijuana plague ravaging its youth.
This is by far the “best” of the 30’s marijuana exposées I have seen thus far. Unfortunately, that also means there is the least camp and unintentional hilarity. We do get a classic character performance by the town gossip who rides around town on a motor scooter looking exactly like Margaret Hamilton in her Miss Gulch costume. The old codger who plays the soda fountain owner is also a hoot. Anyone going for the advertised “orgies” would have been sorely disappointed. There’s some brief flashing of garters during a jitterbug scene but that’s about it.
Trailer
Any film made by BCM Roadshow Productions has got to be worth watching. Another “educational” film (read “exploitation) directed by Elmer Clifton (BTW, he was not in “Musketeers of Pig Alley”, that was Elmer Booth). As you mentioned in your review, this is a little less ridiculous than the usual run of “drug” movies where people jump from windows to their death after one toke.Although I must say that if the “orgy” that is synonymous with the Roman Empire was anything like the one in this film, Rome would still be ruling the world. If there is such a thing as a higher class exploitation film, this is it…..which isn’t saying much. It won’t have you rolling in the aisles but it is still pretty enjoyable. I love exploitation films!!!!
Me too! In 1938, we have Terror of Tiny Town, Sex Madness, and Child Bride to look forward to!