So Evil So Young has a great title and an early appearance by Jill Ireland, but at heart it remains what it is: a Danziger Brothers production. That means a poor script, a largely unknown cast, and a minimum of thrills. The film hearkens back to similar American films like Caged (1950) but is, of course, a much more genteel affair. Nonetheless, this film is relatively interesting, being one of the few Technicolor films the Brothers produced. Perhaps the Eadie money arrived early that month. It's always fun to see these glimpses of pre-Beatles coffee bar culture in England, especially when you can see how bright red the glace cherries are on the buns, and there are a couple of brief snippets of early '60s rock and roll, performed by John Charlesworth as Tom, Jill's love interest whilst she's behind bars in a girls' borstal serving time for a crime she did not commit. Not to worry--justice is ultimately served.
13 Reviews
About what you'd expect
preppy-311 October 2003
An innocent girl, Ann (Jill Ireland) is framed by an evil girl, Lucy (Jocelyn Britton) and sent to a borstal (British girls prison). There we have an evil prison guard, suicides, cat fights, riots and a strong suggestion of lesbianism.
For what it is, it's not bad. It's made in bright, strong colors and has a fairly decent script. Jill Ireland is actually pretty good as Ann, Sheila Whittingham is equally fine as a fellow inmate and Ellen Pollock amusingly chews the scenery as the evil Miss Smith. Also the lesbian suggestions were pretty strong for its time. But I can only give this a 5.
For some reason, they play sleazy music almost constantly in the background. It never matches whats playing on the screen and totally destroys any dramatic impact. Also, you can tell the actors are doing a good job, but the music is really distracting. At some points the music almost drowns out the dialogue! What's the point of all that?
So, without the music I would probably give it a higher rating but, as it stands, I can only give this a 5.
For what it is, it's not bad. It's made in bright, strong colors and has a fairly decent script. Jill Ireland is actually pretty good as Ann, Sheila Whittingham is equally fine as a fellow inmate and Ellen Pollock amusingly chews the scenery as the evil Miss Smith. Also the lesbian suggestions were pretty strong for its time. But I can only give this a 5.
For some reason, they play sleazy music almost constantly in the background. It never matches whats playing on the screen and totally destroys any dramatic impact. Also, you can tell the actors are doing a good job, but the music is really distracting. At some points the music almost drowns out the dialogue! What's the point of all that?
So, without the music I would probably give it a higher rating but, as it stands, I can only give this a 5.
Forgotten British women-in-prison picture
davidvmcgillivray-24-90581117 October 2014
One of a couple of colour co-features the Danziger Brothers made around the turn of the 1960s, this was written by an American and follows the American "women in prison" stereotype except that of course it has no teeth. The reform school inmates are all well turned-out young ladies and it's absurd that one of them is described as having "a distinct Cockney accent" because everybody uses RP. There's a brief riot; but the main appeal for lads at the time would have been the girls in bed scenes. There's also a hint of lesbianism. The coffee bar looks nothing like one and the pop star who's performing (John Charlesworth) doesn't open his mouth while the track is playing! (Charlesworth finished his role then killed himself). Watch out, during the penultimate scene, for the actress who flinches before she's slapped. The film probably inspired "House of Whipcord". Some of the lines are identical and the parts of the lesbian wardress played here by Ellen Pollock and in "Whipcord" by Sheila Keith are basically the same. The film's currently on You Tube.
Reform School or Charm School?
mls418215 December 2021
This one is pretty tame. One usually watches these old exploitation pix for their camp value. You know, girls/women in prison with girdles and push up bras under their tailored uniforms and perfect bought hairsmdos. This one is pure as the pink pressed dresses they all wear.
The plot picks up by way of the usual melodramatic misunderstanding and a riot ensues.
Jill Ireland is very lovely but what this film really needed was a Diana Dors type, in a tight uniform, cotton colored hair and walking around slinging her hips in a tight uniform chomping gum and chain smoking.
This was bad, but no reason for John Charlesworth to gas himself over.
The plot picks up by way of the usual melodramatic misunderstanding and a riot ensues.
Jill Ireland is very lovely but what this film really needed was a Diana Dors type, in a tight uniform, cotton colored hair and walking around slinging her hips in a tight uniform chomping gum and chain smoking.
This was bad, but no reason for John Charlesworth to gas himself over.
Pretty in Pink
richardchatten22 May 2017
A watchable British exploitation quickie incongruously shot in extremely pretty Technicolor, most of which takes place in a reform school for young ladies where common sense and self-control among both the inmates and the staff prove in unfortunately short supply; but where none of the girls otherwise live up to the film's lurid tabloid title. All the usual women's prison clichés are present and correct - the well-meaning matron (Joan Haythorne) whose good intentions are undermined by her brutal second in command (Ellen Pollock), lots of hair-pulling when the dormitory lights are out, and so on - but all presented in a genteel British fashion far from the unflinching brutality currently being depicted so graphically in the St.Trinian's films. The film keeps you sufficiently interested for the plot holes to be ironically more glaring than they would otherwise be in a less engrossing film.
The last of five productions on which The Danzigers had recently splashed out on Technicolor; the girls look incongruously pretty in their pink uniforms, as well as the pink pyjamas they wear in the numerous scenes set in their enormous dormitory, which cameraman Jimmy Wilson never tires of showing off, energetically dollying back and forth and up to the ceiling to give us a good view of it. Unfortunately, as earlier commentators have complained, the film has also been saddled with an insistent jazz score of the kind ubiquitous in British and Continental crime films of the early 60's (in this case lifted from previous Danzigers productions) which keeps barging in when least called for, and providing just the requisite trashiness lacking elsewhere.
The last of five productions on which The Danzigers had recently splashed out on Technicolor; the girls look incongruously pretty in their pink uniforms, as well as the pink pyjamas they wear in the numerous scenes set in their enormous dormitory, which cameraman Jimmy Wilson never tires of showing off, energetically dollying back and forth and up to the ceiling to give us a good view of it. Unfortunately, as earlier commentators have complained, the film has also been saddled with an insistent jazz score of the kind ubiquitous in British and Continental crime films of the early 60's (in this case lifted from previous Danzigers productions) which keeps barging in when least called for, and providing just the requisite trashiness lacking elsewhere.
A Lightweight Drama
atlasmb29 June 2014
"Girls Caged Without Their Guys!" That's what the poster for this movie promises, with some kind of leering suggestion of depravity. The film is about a young girl--Ann, played by a young Jill Ireland--who is falsely accused of a crime. She is sent to a reformatory where there is another girl who is out to get her. But the real villain of the film is Miss Smith, a vindictive martinet who seems to enjoy punishing the girls in her care. A regular Captain Bligh, she runs her tight ship solely for the pleasure of exerting power over the young women. She uses a cane and exudes a flawed psyche like Nurse Ratched or the commandant of a Nazi POW camp.
The story is simplistic--suitable for a cheap drive-in double header. The acting is satisfactory, but uneven.
What most annoys is the cheery jazz score that accompanies every scene, regardless of the dramatic content. It proves very distracting and laughable at times. It's not that the music is bad; it's just inappropriate, undermining the emotional impact of scenes.
The story is simplistic--suitable for a cheap drive-in double header. The acting is satisfactory, but uneven.
What most annoys is the cheery jazz score that accompanies every scene, regardless of the dramatic content. It proves very distracting and laughable at times. It's not that the music is bad; it's just inappropriate, undermining the emotional impact of scenes.
Not So Evil, Not So Bad
aldo-4952714 June 2021
There are several things of interest in this movie: Jill Ireland's first leading role, Jocelyn Britton's performance as the villain, the use of stock music and the final performance of promising actor John Charlesworth before his suicide.
Ireland does well as the wrongly accused young woman sent to prison. Britton is the conniving theft who wrongly accuses Ireland. There's lot of excellent pieces of stock music used, some of it badly, and unfortunately the mix during some scenes drowns out the dialogue. Charlesworth had acted in many films as a child, and unfortunately as a young adult marital and money problems led him to gas himself.
I'm just now becoming familiar with the work of the Danziger Brothers' productions. I'm aware that this film is derivative of some of their other films. I don't see that as a negative.
Ireland does well as the wrongly accused young woman sent to prison. Britton is the conniving theft who wrongly accuses Ireland. There's lot of excellent pieces of stock music used, some of it badly, and unfortunately the mix during some scenes drowns out the dialogue. Charlesworth had acted in many films as a child, and unfortunately as a young adult marital and money problems led him to gas himself.
I'm just now becoming familiar with the work of the Danziger Brothers' productions. I'm aware that this film is derivative of some of their other films. I don't see that as a negative.
Girls in pink
malcolmgsw8 March 2019
This rather reminds me of Boys in Brown because the inmates,who would be in their teens,are played by actresses who were in their mid twenties.Some of the dialogue is priceless eg"tell it to the marines".As has been mentioned by others the music is a major irritation,drowning out dialogue.Ellen Pollock as Chief Warden is a real hoot.She reminds me of Cloris Leachman as Nurse Diesel in High Anxiety.
Sort of like a women in prison film written by a charm school graduate!
planktonrules27 April 2017
Before I talk about the movie, there is a bit of confusion that Americans might feel when they see this film about a women's reform school. Apparently, the person running the prison is called the 'matron' and the women working under her are called 'wardens'. In the States, it's the other way around...there is only one warden and that's the boss of the prison.
The story is about Ann Turner (Jill Ireland), a nice young girl who is sent to prison for a crime she didn't commit. Her adjustment to the prison life is tough at first, as the lady who lied and got her sent to prison is there! Fortunately, the nice Matron takes a liking for her and gives her a chance. But this chance is jeopardized when one of the wardens pushes one of the ladies to kill herself. Ann refuses to help her or the matron because she feels the riot that resulted from this was justified.
This film is an incredibly mild women in prison sort of picture-- nothing like the American versions such as "Caged". So, while the treatment by the warden is supposed to be harsh, it all seems incredibly lame when compared to the much tougher and more violent American women in prison films. American films have a strong suggestion of lesbianism and sadism...whereas this one looks like a prison film written by a charm school graduate! Not a bad film...but one that is incredibly tame and 'nice'!
The story is about Ann Turner (Jill Ireland), a nice young girl who is sent to prison for a crime she didn't commit. Her adjustment to the prison life is tough at first, as the lady who lied and got her sent to prison is there! Fortunately, the nice Matron takes a liking for her and gives her a chance. But this chance is jeopardized when one of the wardens pushes one of the ladies to kill herself. Ann refuses to help her or the matron because she feels the riot that resulted from this was justified.
This film is an incredibly mild women in prison sort of picture-- nothing like the American versions such as "Caged". So, while the treatment by the warden is supposed to be harsh, it all seems incredibly lame when compared to the much tougher and more violent American women in prison films. American films have a strong suggestion of lesbianism and sadism...whereas this one looks like a prison film written by a charm school graduate! Not a bad film...but one that is incredibly tame and 'nice'!
Relatively Tame for the Genre
Uriah4314 November 2013
This film begins with two young ladies, "Lucy" (Jocelyn Britton) and "Claire" (Bernice Swanson) sneaking into a house and stealing some jewelry from the safe. Unfortunately for them, the butler comes in and recognizes Lucy before being knocked unconscious from behind by Claire. When he comes back to his senses he calls the police and gives Lucy's description to them. Knowing that she will soon be arrested Lucy gives all of the jewelry to Claire to hold onto until she eventually gets released-except for a diamond bracelet which she keeps for herself. However, when she walks into a local hangout she notices her former boyfriend "Tom" (John Charlesworth) talking to another young lady named "Ann" (Jill Ireland) and she becomes extremely jealous. So she slips the diamond bracelet into Ann's coat pocket and upon being arrested tells the police that Ann was her accomplice. Even though Ann denies the charges she is found guilty and sent to a reform school along with Lucy. Things get dicey after that. Anyway, rather than detail what follows I will just say that this film was relatively tame for the genre. There is no sex or profanity and the couple of episodes of violence were rather tame as well. In short, this is a movie that is watchable but isn't quite as good as several other movies of this type.
a few problems
SnoopyStyle13 June 2021
Lucy Owens robs a safe in a mansion where she used to work. She is spotted by the butler but the other girl Claire gets away. She's jealous of Ann Turner (Jill Ireland) over a musician named Tom and frames her as her accomplice. Ann is sentenced to three years and gets imprisoned along with Lucy. The Matron is trying to be a modern reformer while the brutal Miss Smith has other ideas. Mary becomes Ann's only prisoner friend.
Tom is really dumb. His ex is caught stealing and his new girlfriend is supposedly her partner. Sometimes, I call movie characters too dumb to live. Tom starts out as one of those. In the real world, he would be called to testify. In order to make the movie not dumb, he needs to be scared of being pulled into the whole affair. He wouldn't want to be called a co-conspirator. Anyways, it would be better for the story to have him abandon her. It needs to be her alone against the world. As for her escape, she needs a better reason like Miss Smith telling her that she is going to hang her next. Like a lot of this movie, the writing is not quite well thought out. This is not good enough to be taken serious and it's definitely not camp.
Tom is really dumb. His ex is caught stealing and his new girlfriend is supposedly her partner. Sometimes, I call movie characters too dumb to live. Tom starts out as one of those. In the real world, he would be called to testify. In order to make the movie not dumb, he needs to be scared of being pulled into the whole affair. He wouldn't want to be called a co-conspirator. Anyways, it would be better for the story to have him abandon her. It needs to be her alone against the world. As for her escape, she needs a better reason like Miss Smith telling her that she is going to hang her next. Like a lot of this movie, the writing is not quite well thought out. This is not good enough to be taken serious and it's definitely not camp.
The rules have to be obeyed!
kapelusznik1830 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Framed for a crime, Jewel robbery & assault, sweet and innocent Anne is given six months hard time at the notorious,without bars and gates, Wilsham juvenile womens prison where the person who framed her Lucy in incarcerated in. It was Lucy who got hot in the collar as well as in her panties when she saw Anne making out with her boyfriend handsome guitarist Tom. Planting the stolen jewelry in Anne's jacket had her arrested and sentenced which didn't, in her being innocent, make Anne very happy. Besides Lucy Anne is now accosted by the prison Sergeant of the Guards Mrs. Smith who seems to have it in for her in her being the prison warden or matron Joan Haythorne's favorite pet. Mrs. Smith also has it in for Joan in feeling that she not her deserves, in working in that hell hole for some 20 years, that prestigious position.
Things really heat up at Wilshem when the girls throw a going away party for the just to be released, after serving four years for armed robbery, Mary who was found by Mrs. Smith out of her bed dancing after lights out and sent to the hole, solitary confinement, as punishment. With Mary not knowing that Warden Haythorne will not extend her sentence she ends up hanging herself in the prison playroom. This sparks a major riot with the girls lead by Lucy beating the living hell out of Mrs. Smith whom they held responsible for Mary's suicide.
***SPOILERS*** It's finally discovered that Lucy's partner in crime Claire, whom Anne took the rap for, pawned off the stolen jewelry at Honest Moran's pawn shop. It's Honest Morgan who then called the police, in being the honest person that he is, to report the heist and thus, proving that she didn't do it, throwing a life line to Anne. With a now outraged Lucy seeing that she's been double-crossed by her friend Claire in trying to pawn off the jewelry and keep the cash, while Lucy's in jail, all for herself. This soon lead to a vicious cat fight between the two girls that had Lucy,while getting her face & eyes clawed, to implicate Chaire and having Anne found innocent.
Things really heat up at Wilshem when the girls throw a going away party for the just to be released, after serving four years for armed robbery, Mary who was found by Mrs. Smith out of her bed dancing after lights out and sent to the hole, solitary confinement, as punishment. With Mary not knowing that Warden Haythorne will not extend her sentence she ends up hanging herself in the prison playroom. This sparks a major riot with the girls lead by Lucy beating the living hell out of Mrs. Smith whom they held responsible for Mary's suicide.
***SPOILERS*** It's finally discovered that Lucy's partner in crime Claire, whom Anne took the rap for, pawned off the stolen jewelry at Honest Moran's pawn shop. It's Honest Morgan who then called the police, in being the honest person that he is, to report the heist and thus, proving that she didn't do it, throwing a life line to Anne. With a now outraged Lucy seeing that she's been double-crossed by her friend Claire in trying to pawn off the jewelry and keep the cash, while Lucy's in jail, all for herself. This soon lead to a vicious cat fight between the two girls that had Lucy,while getting her face & eyes clawed, to implicate Chaire and having Anne found innocent.
Underrated women's prison scheme
searchanddestroy-123 March 2023
Well this is not John Cromwell's CAGED nor Lewis Seiler's WOMEN'S PRISON, the best of the best in terms of gals behind bars, in the can, but this one is different of the exploitiation stuff that will emerge in the seventies, providing nude, sex, violence - maybe realistic though, regarding what really happens in jail - but unfortunately meaningless, destined to male audiences seeking girls else than law abiding students living in a quiet suburb dating for the first time. This film is definitely smoother, nearly destined to family audiences, than the previous movies which I first talked about here. And Jill Ireland had an actress life before meeting Charles Bronson.
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