Reefer Madness

Starring: Dorothy Short & Dave O'Brien Director: Louis J. Gasnier

Unintentionally hilarious 1930's exploitation film depicting the evils of marijuana abuse among our youth.

DVD Features:

Description by OLDIES.com:

The evils of marijuana addiction are "chillingly detailed" in this cult classic, which is narrated by a high school principle who declares, "Something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace!" A case study of all-American high school kids Bill and Mary highlights the danger of marijuana use when the teens change from tennis-playing, iced tea-drinkers to fiendish, promiscuous, dope addicts after sampling one joint. Naturally, the marijuana users in the film play the piano, dance, and laugh uncontrollably - all surefire signs of "devil weed" use. Bill hallucinates and faints one fateful evening as Mary is accidentally shot; then, more deaths occur before the inevitable mental institution scenes which serve to underscore the horrors of smoking reefer.

Product Description:

Considered by many to be the most famous exploitation film ever, REEFER MADNESS is a hilariously campy cult-classic about the dangers of the devil's weed. You know, marijuana. The story stems from a high school principle's lecture to parents during a PTA meeting about the dangers of smoking pot, which apparently leaves the teens in a state of mental lunacy! Originally titled: "Tell Your Children."

Plot Synopsis:

Educator Dr. Carroll warns parents about the dangers of the scourge of marijuana usage by schoolchildren. A group of college students have their lives turned upside down as they get hooked on dope and descend into a world of wild parties, car accidents, rape, murder and suicide.

Plot Keywords:

Campy | Cult Film | Drugs | Essential Cinema | Exploitation | Politics | Road To Ruin | Substance Abuse

Exerpts:

"[Business] is getting better every day. These kids sure go for it." (Dope peddler Jack Perry) "I recall distinctly a few weeks ago. It was during a class on English literature. There was a serious discussion of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," when he suddenly burst into an uncontrollable fit of hysterical laughter." (Dr. Carroll, describing the behavior of Billy Harper)

Production Notes:

• The prologue to the film states: "Marihuana is... an unspeakable scourge--the Real Public Enemy Number One! Its first effect is sudden violent, uncontrollable laughter, then come dangerous hallucinations,... the loss of all power to resist physical emotions, leading finally to acts of shocking violence,... ending often in incurable insanity." Although production values for this cult-film are okay for a crime melodrama of its type, "Reefer Madness" is about as subtle as a brick. In its treatment of marijuana as a drug that brings complete ruin on all who sample it, and more dangerous a narcotic than heroin, the film manages to lose whatever edge it may have had in its time. And when those college kids light up, they all get evil gleams in their eyes and dance with abandon. Not to be confused with the 1922 British film (released by Gaumont) "Tell Your Children," adapted from Rachel MacNamara's novel "Lark's Gate."

Cast and Crew: