THE REEFER MADNESS ERA
FILM INDEX
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MUSEUM OF REEFER MOTION PICTURE FILM INDEX:
(INDEXED BY DATE OF RELEASE)
NOTCH NUMBER ONE (1924)
(AKA: The First Notch)- Ben Wilson Productions. Distribution - Arrow Film Corp. 13 Sep 1924
NOTCH NUMBER ONE (1924)
Love, death and "marihuana" highlight this 1924 western melodrama, set in the late 19th century at the fictional Moore Ranch. Tom Watson, the rugged foreman at the Moore Ranch, is an affable friend to all, especially Dave Leonard, fiancée to Dorothy, the young daughter of Tom's boss. Dave Leonard is also a friend to the unfortunate Pete, a ranch hand recently fired by Tom. Distraught over the firing, Pete smokes marihuana -- loco weed -- and gives some to Dave, who is driven violent by the weed. Pete, also violent from the demon weed, seeks revenge against Tom for his firing. However, Dorothy intervenes, and is shot dead by Pete in the process.
JEWEL ROBBERY (1932)
68 mins, Print from MGM/United Artists
JEWEL ROBBERY (1932)
One of the most delightful of the marihuana madness flicks, William Powell charms his way through his 51st film, in which he plays the sly sophisticated criminal known simply as "The Robber." He not only plies his victims with marihuana cigarettes, but he saddles the police with sexy blonde female witnesses, causing comedic confusion on all fronts. The Robber rules the day, easily slipping diamonds from a plush Vienna jewelry shop while the beautiful Baroness Teri, played by debonair Kay Francis, is "smitten to the point of indiscretion," as one reviewer of the day stated. This is not one of those infamous marihuana exploitation films, but is in the genre of the screwball comedies.
Narcotic (1933)
NOT a reefer madness film, but because of the subject matter and director "Dwain Esper" Everyone thinks that it is.
HARLEM AFTER MIDNIGHT (1934)
Micheaux Pictures Corp. Distribution Micheaux Pictures Corp. 1934/5
HARLEM AFTER MIDNIGHT
"Harlem After Midnight" is not one of the marihuana exploitative films of that era. It is a well-written drama about the Negro gangsters that ran Harlem in the 30's. The complex plot follows Vivian Poret, whose gangster husband is serving time in jail when this story unfolds. Dating her employer's son Nelson Gentry, she seeks an annulment from her jailed husband, Jerry "The Snitch" Martin, who escapes in the first reel and seeks to get some cash from his wife's dilemma. Jerry is a "reefer addict" who eventually kidnaps a wealthy Jewish businessman in the hopes of netting $10,000.
MURDER AT THE VANITIES (1934)
89 mins, 35mm
MURDER AT THE VANITIES
A musical murder mystery (with The Duke Ellington Orchestra), "Murder at the Vanities" This film pushes the envelope of the day, bringing more bawdiness and nudity to the screen than will be seen again on the American big screen until the 1960's. Marihuana has a small cameo role in this film when Carl's ex-girlfriend Gertrude sings (surrounded by chorus boys in sombreros) the song "Sweet Marihuana," about a lost love, which will be brought back to her in fantasies created by marihuana.
MARIHUANA (1936)
AKA: MARIHUANA - The Devil's Weed - AKA: --- The Devil's Weed --- AKA The Weed with Roots in Hell"
MARIHUANA
Skinny dipping, illegitimate children, and of course, the devil's weed highlight this exploitation "documentary" that illustrates how good girls go bad after smoking the devil's weed. One of the classic exploitation films of the era, director Dwayne Esper does it again, and Anslinger must have been proud of this government-produced extravaganza. The foreword states: "For centuries the world has been aware of the narcotic menace. We have complacently watched Asiatic countries attempt to rid themselves of DRUGS CURSE, and attributed their failure to lack of education. We consider ourselves enlightened, and think that never could we succumb to such a fate. But--did you know that-the use of Marihuana is steadily increasing among the youth of this country? Did you know that---the youthful criminal is our greatest problem today? And that---Marihuana gives the user false courage and destroys conscience; thereby making crime alluring, smart? That is the price we are paying for our lack of interest in the narcotic situation. This story is drawn from an actual case history on file in the police records of one of our large cities. Note: MARIHUANA, Hashish of the Orient, is commonly distributed as a doped cigarette. Its most terrifying effect is that it fires the user to extreme cruelty
MARIJUANA: ASSASSIN OF YOUTH (1935)
AKA: MARIJUANA: Assassin Of Youth (1936) --- AKA: - Assassin Of Youth. BCM Productions. 1937; Prod: ended late Sep 1937 at Grand National Studios.
MARIJUANA: ASSASSIN OF YOUTH
Exploitation is the name of the game as this film explores the evils that await those who indulge in marihuana. The story attempts to illustrate the sins produced by marihuana, and this film indeed begins with sin, when the elderly Elizabeth Barrie is struck and killed by a youth who, while driving and smoking marihuana, kisses a girl, causing the accident. It seems the evil of marihuana is merged here with the evil of pre-marital kissing. Can it get any worse? YES!
REEFER MADNESS (1937)
AKA: TELL YOUR CHILDREN: - Re-released in 1939 as The Burning Question and in 1947 as Reefer Madness.
REEFER MADNESS
What makes Reefer Madness so notorious is its utter disregard for truth, and over-the-top dramatization. It should be noted however that the movie was made with the complete cooperation of the DEA then known as the Bureau of Narcotics.
The narrator [theoretically a high school principal, Dr. Alfred Carroll] warns parents about the dangers . . . "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." He tells us how "time slows down…almost stops," that it is "worse than heroin." Can it get any worse? Oh yes, oh yes.
PAROLED FROM THE BIG HOUSE: (1938)
Jay Dee Kay Productions. Dist State Rights. 15 Aug 1938 [Jay Dee Kay Productions: 20 Jun 1938.
PAROLED FROM THE BIG HOUSE
Not really a reefer madness film. The story has more to do with an outlaw gang and a protection racket. If it wasn't for the fact that one of the main characters (while at a police station) meets a marihuana addict, Binnie Bell, who is on good terms with the gang, and who talks her into taking a job at a gangster hangout.
The WAGES OF SIN (1938)
(Real Life Dramas; 14 Jul 1939; LP8177).
The WAGES OF SIN
The good girl is this flick is Marjorie, who is poor but works hard in a laundry to support her no-good parents and older brothers. Being poor, she is unkempt, and shunned by her co-workers. However, when her co-worker Florence invites her on a double date, Marjorie is able to borrow clothes and have her hair done. The girls are taken to one of those notorious cafes where booze and drugs flow and anything goes. Marjorie gets drunk and tries a marihuana cigarette --- it's all downhill from there.
DEVIL'S HARVEST (1942)
Continental Pictures, Inc. Dist Continental Pictures, Inc.
DEVIL'S HARVEST
Oliver sells marihuana and hot dogs to high school students from his stand across the street from the local high school. Feeling guilty over the marihuana sales (but not the hot dogs), Oliver tells Sam, a henchman of gang lord Larry McGuire, of his intention to quit the marihuana dealing. Meanwhile, naïve student Kay is asked to dance at a new night club run by Cliff, one of the gangsters. Tom, Kay's high school sweetheart, is aghast at this prospect, and meets her at the nightclub to protect her "innocence." Etc., etc., -- One of the lesser known marihuana exploitative films, and certainly not one of the best. The Movie Poster however is one of the best.
WILD WEED (1949)
AKA - THE DEVIL'S WEED; SHE SHOULDA SAID NO
WILD WEED
Franklin Productions, Inc. Dist State Rights, Jul 1949: World premiere in Chicago: 14 Jul 1949; Prod: mid May-late May 1949 at Hal Roach Studios.
This film follows the exploits of Captain Hayes and the LAPD Narcs as they battle the evil menace of marihuana. Markey, an infamous "dope dealer," sells marihuana cigarettes to some teens, who promptly go out and get into a car accident, killing one and demolishing the legs of another. . . . . . Note: This film's working title was The Devil's Weed. The film was exhibited in certain areas under his title. The closing titles include the following written statement: "No one seeing this film could be easily tempted to so-wreck their mind and body. But millions won't see it. To enlighten them-is your job."
MARIHUANA (1950)
Made in Argentina by Sono Films: Nothing else is known about the move.
BORDERLINE (1949)
BORDERLINE
Johnny Macklin, one of two undercover narcotic agents assigned to infiltrate a marihuana smuggling ring in Mexico. To add to the plot, the agents begin to suspect one another of a double-cross. The movie was meant to be part comedy part action.
THE MARIHUANA STORY (1951)
THE MARIHUANA STORY
One of the best Latin American imports of the period (Spanish, English subtitles), this is not a cheesy exploitative film, but is a serious study of one man's struggle against drugs after they claim the life of his wife. As he gets deeper and deeper into the drug lifestyle, a downward spiral seems apparent. Directed by Leon Klimovsky.
HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL (1958)
HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL
An all-star cast highlights this campy midnight special, a campy flick. The film opens as Jerry Lee Lewis (played by himself) rolls into town, perched on the back of a flat-bed truck, punching out tunes on an upright piano. Tamblyn, who is actually undercover narcotics agent Mike Wilson, takes the identity of typical high school student Tony Baker, who convinces fellow students that he seeks some fun with drugs. Evil drug lord Mr. A. (played by Jackie Coogan) is his main target, and he tantalizes the locals, including "jive-talking king daddy-o" in order to get the proper introductions. -- Sound Track: - High School Confidential - Lewis, Jerry Lee Great Balls of Fire
THE COOL AND THE CRAZY (1958)
THE COOL AND THE CRAZY
Marihuana was so notorious that this film wouldn't even utter the word, referring to the weed throughout simply as "M." A teenager fresh from reform school enrolls at a Kansas City high school intent to open a drug trade. The action commences when he convinces some of his new classmates to try the demon weed. Before you know it, the "Gateway" has opened and soon they're addicted to the drug, going on crime sprees, going insane and dying. The film lives up to its ad; "Seven savage punks on a binge of violence!" This is not your typical "Happy Days" films of the 50's.
THE GENE KRUPA STORY (1959)
THE GENE KRUPA STORY
Drummer Gene Krupa, one of the jazz greats of the 50's, is portrayed by Sal Mineo ("Rebel Without A Cause"), one of the teen acting greats of the 50's. The film combines them into a classic depiction of a young jazz drummer obsessed with following his muse and proving himself to the world. Although entirely factual, marihuana is given the role of antagonist when Krupa begins his slide down the dark side of the abyss when offered the demon weed. Not tempted enough to try it, he is later slipped a reefer by a singer when he asks for a cigarette. Discovering after one puff that it is the deadly weed, he takes another puff, and thus begins his troubles.
After a concert he is accosted by detectives in his dressing room, who have found some marihuana cigarettes (37!) in his dressing room. They arrest him, which causes him to be blackballed from the jazz world. The film's soundtrack features some excellent pieces recorded by Krupa himself. The film also breathed new life into Krupa's career, and soon he career is reborn. According to Krupa, a friend wanted to give Krupa a gift, and gave him some marihuana. The police were tipped off and began searching the theater where Gene's band was playing. Krupa said; "I suddenly remembered the stuff's at the hotel where they're going next. So I call up my new valet and say, 'Send my laundry out. In one of my coats you'll find some cigarettes. Throw them down the toilet.' But the kid puts them in his pocket and the police nail him on the way out, so I get arrested. The ridiculous thing was that I was such a boozer I never thought about grass. I'd take grass, and it would put me to sleep. I was an out-and-out lush. Oh, sure, I was mad. But how long can you stay mad? So long you break out in rashes? Besides, the shock of the whole thing probably helped me. I might have gone to much worse things. It brought me back to religion."
FIEND OF DOPE ISLAND (1961)
Harold Odell Productions. Distributed by Essanjay Films.
FIEND OF DOPE ISLAND
The film follows the exploits of Caribbean drug lord and sadistic maniac Charlie Davis, who maintains his power by exploiting the natives, growing marihuana and gun running.
Charlie arranges for his chief gunrunner, Captain Fred, to import entertainer extraordinaire Glory La Verne to the island. Played by former Yugoslavian Olympic swimmer Tania Velia (Queen of Outer Space - 1958), her suspicions soon lead her to discover Charlie's evil ways. But not to fear, she has already fallen in love with Charlie's assistant, Davey, and they conspire in sabotage as they lead a native revolt, blow up the ammunition dump and trap Charlie in the canteen. Charlie escapes, but Davey catches him at the dock where they struggle for survival. As luck, and Hollywood, would have it, Charlie tumbles into the water where he is torn apart by sharks, and Glory and David live happily ever after.
It should be noted that a great deal of subjectivity (subject to challenge), has been used with regards to what is and is not a Reefer Madness film. In addition, it is our opinion that Reefer Madness stopped just short of the 1960's. Any movie made after that is strictly exploitative in nature.
No attempt has been made here to suggest that this list is in any way, shape, or form complete. In addition we openly admit that much of our material was originally found via the "American Film Institute Catalog." Unfortunately, we were NOT able to obtain permission to reproduce their original material, which can be found in numerous public libraries.
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