3. Reefer Madness (1936)
Drugs are bad m'kay? Exploiters knew that way back in the 1930s. They knew parental hysterical concern over the dreaded marijuana and the makers of Reefer Madness set out to make a film that would portray dope as a one way ticket to ruination. Yes it can turn your kid into a raving lunatic murderer promised the film. The set up of a dope ring is established at the start of the film. They sell reefer to Jimmy who subsequently gets into his car and drives dangerously. He knocks down some poor unfortunate soul who later dies of their injuries. The plot meanders on with a murder attributed to madness induced by pot. There is a manic piano playing sequence which is very funny. A woman jumps out the window under the influence and a man is confined to an asylum for the criminally insane. The film ends and we are shown a doctor going through the watching audience - "This could be your son.... Your daughter.... (and looking into the camera) ... OR YOURS!". The film was originally known as Tell Your Children. It was financed by Church groups and it was meant to be a morality film to be shown to parents. However, it soon fell into the hands of Dwain Esper who jazzed the film up to be more salacious and called it Reefer Madness. It did the exploitation rounds before finally falling into the public domain. In the 1970s it was rehabilitated as a cult film for pot smokers and college students who derived much mirth from its campy capers. It is considered one of the best Midnight movies. I personally love the piano playing scene which is so OTT in its depiction of the state of stonedness it makes me want to light up a big fat blunt.
Drugs are bad m'kay? Exploiters knew that way back in the 1930s. They knew parental hysterical concern over the dreaded marijuana and the makers of Reefer Madness set out to make a film that would portray dope as a one way ticket to ruination. Yes it can turn your kid into a raving lunatic murderer promised the film. The set up of a dope ring is established at the start of the film. They sell reefer to Jimmy who subsequently gets into his car and drives dangerously. He knocks down some poor unfortunate soul who later dies of their injuries. The plot meanders on with a murder attributed to madness induced by pot. There is a manic piano playing sequence which is very funny. A woman jumps out the window under the influence and a man is confined to an asylum for the criminally insane. The film ends and we are shown a doctor going through the watching audience - "This could be your son.... Your daughter.... (and looking into the camera) ... OR YOURS!". The film was originally known as Tell Your Children. It was financed by Church groups and it was meant to be a morality film to be shown to parents. However, it soon fell into the hands of Dwain Esper who jazzed the film up to be more salacious and called it Reefer Madness. It did the exploitation rounds before finally falling into the public domain. In the 1970s it was rehabilitated as a cult film for pot smokers and college students who derived much mirth from its campy capers. It is considered one of the best Midnight movies. I personally love the piano playing scene which is so OTT in its depiction of the state of stonedness it makes me want to light up a big fat blunt.