Monday, April 17th, 2006

Something Weird Video’s Delinquent Double Feature

Hooked – 1957

     Yes, these movies from the 50’s are going to warn us of the dangers facing kids. Our first feature shows us the terrible effects of drug addiction. Did you know that heroin use is an epidemic? Well, it was back then, I guess. Or at least among these 25 year old high school students.

These old melodramatic movies were meant to scare kids. In this case, into not using drugs. Yeah, how’s that working out for you?

Flaming Teenage – 1956

     This starts out as an ‘anti-drinking’ movie, but then, after 15 minutes, erupts into a whole other movie. I’d say this “The Fred Garland Story” was a film someone bought, discovered that it was too short for a feature, and so added the teenage drinking at the beginning. It’s obviously a tack on job. The Fred Garland story is then a 45 minute long short about the effects of alcohol and drug addiction on, you guessed it, Fred Garland. Who must have been a preacher of some kind, because this movie then ends in an evangelistic alter call. Did you know that giving your life to Jesus will take away your addiction to drugs? Yes sir, you become a new man in Christ, and you nasty ol’ addictions are washed away. I’m fairly certain the churches have backed away from this stance. They certainly are pushing that in Seventh Heaven.

This being a SWV release, there a passel of trailers, and three shorts, all with strong anti-drug and alcohol messages. And one is also by another church group. Obviously, religion was leading the fight for temperance back in the 50’s. All good stuff, if you like that kind of thing.

Three beers out of five. It’s too bad they didn’t have any nudity back then.