A collection of exploitation films from the 1930's thru the 1970's used as educational tools in the attempt to save young people from the horrors of drug addiction and crime.  A great set of propaganda films which we don't see in this era.





HOOKED, VOLUME 2 -1936 thru 1979



For decades Governments, Church Groups, Medical Societies and all round do-gooders have been trying to educate teenagers about the evils of drugs. Then there's the Film Makers... Although in many cases their motives were honourable some were debatable and seem to be more involved in showing various forms of debauchery on the screen than sending out a genuine warning. Others had no idea of the actual effects on the body and portray Marijuana as leading to murder, rape, suicide and swallowing glass. This collection contains some of the most outrageous, imaginative and ridiculous of these films and also a couple that were quite constructive.  There are also a couple of short films that weren't meant to be seen by the general public, they were made for narcotics officers as some kind of educational tool.








Here are the 10 Films and shorts you will see:









REEFER MADNESS - 1936


Mae Coleman and Jack Perry are a cohabitating couple who sell marijuana. The unscrupulous Jack sells the drug to teenagers over Mae's objections; she'd rather stick to an adult clientele. Ralph Wiley, a sociopathic college dropout turned dealer, and siren Blanche help Jack recruit new customers. Ralph and Jack lure high school student Bill Harper and college student Jimmy Lane to Mae and Jack's apartment. Jimmy takes Bill to a party where Jack runs out of reefer, and Jimmy, who has a car, drives him to pick up more. When they get to Jack's boss' "headquarters", Jimmy asks for a cigarette as Jack gets out and he gives him a joint. By the time Jack returns, Jimmy is unknowingly high; he drives away recklessly and hits a pedestrian. A few days later, Jack tells Jimmy that the man died of his injuries and agrees to keep Jimmy's name out of the case – if Jimmy will agree to "forget he was ever in Mae's apartment." As the police did not have enough specific details to track Jimmy down, he indeed escapes punishment.

Bill, whose once-pristine record at school has rapidly declined, has a fling with Blanche while high. Mary, Jimmy's sister and Bill's girlfriend, goes to Mae's apartment looking for Jimmy and accepts a joint from Ralph, thinking it's a regular cigarette. When she refuses Ralph's advances, he tries to rape her. Bill comes out of the bedroom and, still high, hallucinates that Mary is willingly offering herself to Ralph and attacks the latter. As the two are fighting, Jack knocks Bill unconscious with the butt of his gun, which inadvertently fires, killing Mary. Jack puts the gun in Bill's hand, framing him for Mary's death by claiming he blacked out. The dealers lie low for a while in Blanche's apartment while Bill's trial takes place. Over the objections of a skeptical juror, Bill is found guilty.


By now Ralph is paranoid from both marijuana and his guilty conscience. Blanche is also high; at one memorable point she plays the piano more and more rapidly as Ralph eggs her on. The boss tells Jack to shoot Ralph to prevent him from confessing, but when Jack arrives, Ralph immediately recognizes the threat and beats him to death with a stick as Blanche laughs uncontrollably in terror. The police arrest Ralph, Mae, and Blanche. Mae's confession leads to the boss and other gang members also being arrested. Blanche explains that Bill was innocent and agrees to serve as a material witness for the case against Ralph, but instead, she jumps out of a window and falls to her death, traumatized by her own adultery and its role in Mary's death. Bill's conviction is overturned, and Ralph, now nearly catatonic, is sent to an asylum for the criminally insane for the rest of his natural life.


The film's story is told in bracketing sequences at a lecture given at a PTA meeting by high school principal Dr. Alfred Carroll. At the film's end he tells the parents he has been told that events similar to those he has described are likely to happen again, then points to random parents in the audience and warns that "the next tragedy may be that of your daughter... or your son... or yours or yours..." before pointing straight at the camera and saying emphatically "... or yours!" as the words "TELL YOUR CHILDREN" appear on the screen.







Reefer Madness (originally made as Tell Your Children and sometimes titled The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth, and Love Madness) is a 1936 American propaganda film about drugs, revolving around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try marijuana – and upon trying it, they become addicted, and their addiction leads them to become involved in various crimes such as a hit and run accident, manslaughter, murder, conspiracy to murder and attempted rape. While this is all happening they suffer hallucinations, descend into insanity, associate with organized crime and (in one character's case) commit suicide. The film was directed by Louis J. Gasnier and featured a cast of mainly little-known actors.


Originally financed by a church group under the title Tell Your Children, the film was intended to be shown to parents as a morality tale attempting to teach them about the dangers of cannabis use. Soon after the film was shot, it was purchased by producer Dwain Esper, who re-cut the film for distribution on the exploitation film circuit, exploiting vulgar interest while escaping censorship under the guise of moral guidance, beginning in 1938–1939 through the 1940s and 1950s.


The film was "rediscovered" in the early 1970s and gained new life as an unintentional satire among advocates of cannabis policy reform. Critics have called it one of the worst films ever made and has gained a cult following within cannabis culture. Today, it is in the public domain in the United States.


Reefer Madness is considered to be a cult classic and one of the most popular examples of a midnight movie. Its fans enjoy the film for the same unintentionally campy production values that made it a hit in the 1970's.



  


This farce is hysterical! It is as useless as it was when it first came out. If you need a great laugh, this comedy is for you. Yes, it is a comedy from start to finish. The first time a person takes a puff off a "reefer," they INSTANTLY go nuts! Hysterical laughing and nasty moods instantly overtake our poor heroine.

Of the many scholastic films I've seen in my time, this has to be the most hilarious piece of tripe I've ever seen. The setting is a small urban town, in the mid thirties. Everyone is all happy, and everyone seems normal, that is, everyone BUT the shifty, shady, marijuana dealers who look just like *Gasp* you and me! They look so normal, lure your children into their home, and sell them exotic herbs from far away places! All whilst turning your children into sex maniacs, one puff hookers, and violent terrorists high on life (and that's not all!) Fun for the whole family (well...it all depends on your family...), this is a great flick, worth the watch! 






SUBJECT: NARCOTICS - 1951




This film, which was actually made for narcotics officers and was not meant to be seen by the general public, shows the destructive effects of marijuana, which produces "unpredictable emotional results", and shows a (phony) round-up of drug addicts in downtown L.A.--the implication being, of course, that they all started out using marijuana.

This short was produced to teach new cops in Los Angeles what to look for but it eventually leaked out to the general public and recently had an airing on Turner Classic Movies. This 20-minute short talks about various drugs on the streets and what type of effect they have on the user. We learn about various sleeping pills, pot and of course heroin. The interesting thing about this short is that a lot of the "dangerous" drugs talked about are now available on store shelves everywhere. Overall this short is pretty entertaining and it's done is a straight, non-humor way. Most of these types of films are over the top and campy but that's not the case here as the film-making is certainly better than normal. This was director Denis Sanders first film and he would later make SHOCK TREATMENT, ELVIS: THAT'S THE WAY IT IS and the cult INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS as well as winning two Oscars.











DISTANT DRUMMER - 1972



The Distant Drummer is a short-lived series of four 22-minute American documentary films produced in the early 1970's as a societal warning against the proliferation of drugs during the counterculture of the 1960s. Directed by William Templeton and written by Don Peterson, the series was produced by Airlie Foundation and George Washington University Department of Medical and Public Affairs and lists "in cooperation with" credits for the American Academy of General Practice, the District of Columbia Medical Society and the National Institute of Mental Health.


The first film, A Movable Scene, focuses on the rise of the counterculture and its association with marijuana use, while the second film, A Movable Feast puts additional spotlight on marijuana and expands the view to include injected methadrine, cigarettes, alcohol, coffee and over-the-counter medications. Both films were released in 1970 and were narrated by Robert Mitchum who, at the time of the films' release, was top-billed in one of the year's leading productions, Ryan's Daughter. Mitchum, who had been arrested in September 1948 for possession of marijuana and served 43 days at a California prison farm (the conviction was overturned in January 1951), subsequently narrated the 1973 anti-marijuana-and-LSD documentary short America on the Rocks.


The third entry in the series, Bridge from No Place, narrated by Rod Steiger, was released in 1971 and centers upon the experience of drug culture. Addicts, including Vietnam War soldiers describe what it feels like to be addicted and treatment options are discussed.


The fourth and final Distant Drummer film, Flowers of Darkness concerns the dangers associated with heroin sale and addiction. A visit is paid to the California-based drug treatment program Synanon, while drug enforcement agents, along with police officers, describe the crime brought on by drugs. The short was released in 1972, with narration voiced by Paul Newman.





This is an anti-drug short chronicling the history of opium. Of course, it starts off with a nod to marijuana. The devil's weed needs to be criminalized at every opportunity. Then it goes through a low light history of opium and its modern derivatives. It is what one expects from these public service educational shorts. They were probably shown to high school classes where the kids can take a nap. It is interesting to see the source of opium being Turkey during this time in history. It is the French Connection. It's a crew cut federal agent telling a story about an ice cream cone. It's a real drug deal going down in the ghetto. It's both fascinating and sleepy time. It's fascinating to see some modern documentary touches and as a time capsule. It's also so old style that it had no chance of speaking to the youths of its day.








SOCIAL SEMINAR: CHANGING - 1971


SOCIAL SEMINAR : BUNNY - 1971


SOCIAL SEMINAR: GUY - 1971


SOCIAL SEMINAR: TOM - 1979




The Social Seminar is a series of educational films for adults produced by the Extension Media Center of the University of California at Los Angeles in 1971. The original full name of the series was "The Social Seminar: Education, Drugs, and Society." The series was executive produced by Gary Schlosser, an Oscar-nominated producer of short-subject documentaries. The films were distributed nationally, for example to state educational film offices. The series was produced for the National Institute of Mental Health as a "multi-media training series."


Fifteen films were originally produced for The Social Seminar series: "Changing" (30 min., color), "The Family" (30 min., B&W), "News Story" (30 min., color), "Youth Culture Series" (1 hr., color), "Drugs and Beyond" (30 min., color), "Brian at Seventeen" (30 min., B&W), "Jordan Paul: One Teacher's Approach" (30 min., B&W), "What is Teaching? What is Learning?" (30 min., color), "Mr. Edler's Class: Drug Education at the Elementary Level" (30 min., color), "Drug Talk: Some Current Drug Programs (30 min., color), "Understanding: A New Institution" (6 min., B&W), "Community in Quest" (30 min., color), and "Meeting" (30 min., B&W). The longest film, the hour-long "Youth Culture Series," consisted of four segments each focusing on a specific young adult; these segments were named "Guy," "Bunny," "Tom," and "Teddy."


The first nine films in the series depict, in a cinema-verite style without voiceover or introduction, aspects of the lives of a selected person or family as they dealt with personal, interpersonal, and societal change. For example, the film "Changing" shows how one man's reevaluation of his life and social standing led to his becoming a "hippie" in the eyes of his family and coworkers; though his home life was enhanced, he found himself increasingly socially isolated. The remaining six films focus on various ways that educators, families, and communities attempt to solve societal problems.




THE SOCIAL SEMINAR: CHANGING along with SOCIAL SEMINAR: BUNNY..... SOCIAL SEMINAR: GUY..... and SOCIAL SEMINAR: TOM are included in this DVD set:





SOCIAL SEMINAR: CHANGING 


Demonstrates the quality of life as its impact is felt by a young family trying to reorient themselves in a society of conflicting standards and values. Shows how the terms hippie, square, hardhat and straight become blurred when one just tries to find the lifestyle that suits him best. Puts the drug question in perspective as it relates to adults and the total society.





This was reality Television 35 years ahead of its time, the only difference being this stuff isn't staged. Here we have some "Hippie" parents that the film makers follow around. We see into some of the issues facing their life (work, drugs, raising children). I was very intrigued by this and now plan to watch all of the "Social Service" films that I have read about in the reviews here. This was an excellent unbiased documentary that truly gives you a glimpse into a "counter culture" household of late 1960's America!






SOCIAL SEMINAR: BUNNY



Another in the Social Seminar series. This time, we don't really focus on a total pothead, but an occasional drug user. Bunny uses drugs from time to time (usually after groovy pot luck dinners with two kinds of garlic bread), but looks to me like your typical late 60's/early 70's mixed up kid who's tired of everything around her and not afraid to experiment. Luckily, Bunny seems to have a good head on her, not unlike her comrades in the rest of this series.







SOCIAL SEMINAR: GUY



Presents the experiences of Guy, a 15-year-old Mexican-American who spends a great deal of time stoned on reds. Shows his flight into passivity and escape from the realities of an ungiving environment. Questions why he needs to escape and what should change in his surroundings to make his life more challenging.






There isn't a lot of Chicano American representation in the archives, so this is why this film is such a kick! Here we profile Guy, a Latin kid who drops out of school and gets high on reds, alcohol and any aerosol cannister he can get his hands on. Guy is great, as he and his pals are not the least bit camera shy as they get together on their CLASSIC bikes and shoot the breeze. Guy sometimes tries to get reformed by the White Man Who Speaks Jive, but mostly gets into trouble. But Mom's always there to cook for him though, she's sweet.


The gang hangs out, alcohol and funny cigarettes are consumed, and pills are popped. Then the inhalants are huffed. Watch the brain die right there on camera for you. Shock ending. 







SOCIAL SEMINAR: TOM


Tells about a 26-year-old man who is a heavy user of drugs. Questions what the drugs offer him and to what they serve as a transition. Examines his feelings about alternative routes to heightened awareness.





This Social Seminar film introduces us to a fellow named Tom, a guy you wouldn't want to introduce to your folks, for fear he might do something embarrassing. Tom is such a pot-dope-LSD-mushroom head and his ruminations about life are too funny. Loved his printing skills too! Check out his (I think) Welfare meeting and his "spot-the-bullshit" game he plays with his counsellor! Look what kind of pad 3 potheads can share (quite nice actually). Tom says, while he's high on mushrooms, 'Let's Go Hiking!', my response, "Yes, Lets!"









ASSASSIN OF YOUTH - 1937



The journalist Art Brighton goes undercover to investigate the granddaughter of a recently deceased rich woman, killed in a drug-related car crash. The girl, Joan Barrie, will inherit the fortune of her grandmother if she is able to fulfill a morals clause in the will. Joan's cousin Linda Clayton and her husband Jack will try to frame Joan to acquire the fortune themselves.

The journalist tries to save Joan and dismantle the criminal gang of marijuana-dealing youths to which Linda belongs. While the newspaper tries to show the horrible dangers of marijuana to the general public, violence scales in the town in the form of obscene all-night drug parties where anything can happen.

A key concluding scene in a courtroom involves the prosecution of Joan. Just as the judge is about to pass sentence, the journalist Art Brighton rushes in with evidence exposing Linda's involvement in the drug distribution. The film ends announcing Joan's engagement to Art.



Assassin of Youth is a 1937 exploitation film directed by Elmer Clifton. It is a pre-WWII film about the supposed ill effects of cannabis. The film is often considered a clone of the much more famous Reefer Madness (sharing cast member Dorothy Short). The thriller reflects perfectly the antidrug propaganda of its time.






Another "warning" picture tells us the horrors of marijuana. In the film various teens are losing their minds, killing others or killing themselves all because they take a hit of the evil weed. Soon a reporter goes undercover as a soda jerk to try and get to the bottom of this evil drug that is causing people to lose their minds with a single puff. Obviously this film falls into the same category as REEFER MADNESS but this here doesn't come close to the "class" of that picture.


Blonde bombshell, Fay McKenzie, steals the picture from the others as the evil, conniving, immoral Jezebel who heads a marijuana ring. Fay is a really delightful minx who doesn't try to gain any sympathy as she leads brainless bimbo, Luana Walters, down the paths of unrighteousness. Everyone seems to pick on poor Luana. She's the heiress to a small fortune, only, if she comports herself in a clean and moral way. Then there's another sub-story of a reporter who infiltrates this drug crazed group of swingers and wouldn't you know it, but he also gets Luana into deep trouble. The great fun of watching these long forgotten roadshow movies--where the movie owners would rent a theater in towns to show them--is wondering whatever happened to the cast and crew. This movie has some good location and indoor shooting. You watch the young performers doing the latest hot dance step which consists of much hip shaking and head jerking. Whatever happened to Fay McKenzie? She had an honest sparkle of talent and looked great in her l936 fashions.








DRUGS IN OUR CULTURE - 1970


A look at the use of legal and illegal drugs in American culture and the reasons why such use has exploded in recent years. Drug experts, professors, law-enforcement personnel and young people themselves are interviewed and give their opinions on the subject.






Interesting short from late 1960's-early 1970's. Love watching these nostalgic educational films.









DAY IN THE DEATH OF DONNY B - 1969



A Day in the Death of Donny B is a 1969 American short docudrama written and directed by Carl Fick and shot in cinéma-vérité style. Mostly considered an anti-drug film, it was made for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The film follows its protagonist, Donny B, a young black man who appears to be a heroin addict, as he makes his way through the cruel ghettos of New York City. He tries to score money for his next fix by stealing hubcaps, purse-snatching, panhandling, and engaging in street gambling.


The short film's soundtrack mostly consists of voice-overs of his parents despairing over his future, former addicts describing the junkie lifestyle, and cops informing the audience of the consequences of illegal drug use and addiction. Through the run time of 14 minutes, a blues-like tune written and performed by Harry Holt plays over the footage and voice-overs, with vocals that come in and out during the film, narrating Donny B as he does wrong.






With its droning musical score, over-saturated sound track and hideous visuals, this anti-drug Public Service short emphasizes the ugliness of narcotics addiction in a cinematically telling manner that was, alas, probably wasted on its intended audience.

Cameraman Harold Grier hasn't had much of a career in the movies. He seems to have been a successful wedding photographer, judging by what I can find on the Internet. However, he has a very telling way of shooting zoomed long shots that shows his subject -- the eponymous Donny B -- in tight focus; however, the framing of image is deliberately off, reducing Donny B to to an ugly participant in an ugly world.










There you have it....10 films and/or shorts about the dangers of drugs that our parents watched when they were young.  Once-sensational but now campy "public service" films that unveil the sordid worlds of sex, drugs, juvenile delinquency and having babies. They were often pedaled from town to town as "Road Shows" with a host who also sold books.  Watching them now one gets that nostalgia feeling, but deep down you got to wonder:  Did the kids of the day really get "scared straight" from watching these classics?  This is a really cool 2 DVD set with rare public propaganda, exploitation films along with the always fun to watch REEFER MADNESS and ASSASSIN OF YOUTH.  If you like watching wacky cult classics and "educational" shorts from a time not that long ago...this set is for you!!




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"The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly-increasing numbers. Marihuana is that drug - a violent narcotic - an unspeakable scourge - The Real Public Enemy Number One! Its first effect is sudden, violent, uncontrollable laughter; then come dangerous hallucinations - space expands - time slows down, almost stands still ....fixed ideas come next, conjuring up monstrous extravagances - followed by emotional disturbances, the total inability to direct thoughts, the loss of all power to resist physical emotions... leading finally to acts of shocking violence... ending often in incurable insanity. In picturing its soul-destroying effects no attempt was made to equivocate. The scenes and incidents, while fictionized for the purposes of this story, are based upon actual research into the results of Marihuana addiction. If their stark reality will make you think, will make you aware that something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace, then the picture will not have failed in its purpose.... Because the dread Marihuana may be reaching forth next for your son or daughter."