Product Details

• Actors: Dorothy Short, Kenneth Craig, Lillian Miles, Dave O'Brien, Thelma White
• Directors: Louis J. Gasnier
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A2ZCDS, Inc.
• DVD Release Date: October 1, 2007
• Run Time: 68 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000WDVIWE
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,680 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This unabashed propaganda film (also known by the title Tell Your Children, a dead giveaway) has become a cult classic of comically bad cinema due to its dated, alarmist views on the dangers of "marijuana addiction" and the exaggerated symptoms thereof. After the onscreen prologue that declares "Something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace," Reefer Madness launches into a case study of clean-cut WASP couple Bill (Kenneth Craig) and Mary (Dorothy Short), high schoolers who play tennis and drink tea on the back porch. Their friend Jimmy (Warren McCollum) introduces them to a pot dealer named Jack (Carleton Young), who invites Bill up to his den of inequity, where stoned ne'er-do-wells laugh fiendishly, dance, and play the piano. After one joint, Bill is hooked, and his life begins to plummet down the tubes -- he starts flunking school and becomes a promiscuous regular in Jack's apartment. When a worried Mary tracks Bill down, she too is given a joint and begins giggling uncontrollably while being aggressively fondled by the bizarre addict Ralph (Dave "Tex" O'Brien). When Bill bursts out of the bedroom to tangle with Ralph, hallucinating and blacking out, Mary is accidentally shot. This prompts a string of guilt and calamitous occurrences, including several more deaths and courtroom sentences to mental institutions, all because of the devil weed. The film ends with the ominous warning, "The dread marijuana may be reaching forth next for your son or daughter...or yours...or YOURS!" --Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide

Product Description

Propaganda film that relates the story, as told by high school principal Dr. Carroll to parents at a PTA meeting, of the scourge of marijuana. The tale revolves around Mae and Jack, accomplices in the distribution of marijuana, who manage to entice the local high school kids to stop by Mae's apartment to smoke reefer. The lives of all who are involved with this menace are inevitably shattered. One man becomes so addicted to the killer weed that the guilt over framing a teen for murder causes a judge to order him to be committed for life to a mental hospital! Dr. Carroll closes by advising us to not incur the same tragedy. Written by Rick Gregory {[e-mail]}

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Eye-Opening Experience, December 19, 2007

By	Deacon (America) - See all my reviews

Great example of the length that the American Government will go to impose an agenda on the people. This film is a result of the machinations of the first "drug czar", Harry Anslinger. Some people believe that Anslinger's main mission was to protect his financial backers, William Hearst and Dupont, from the threat that hemp posed to their synthetic fibers business. If anything, this over-the-top, hilarious, and deceitful story of kids turning crazy from the wicked weed provides ample evidence that someone was willing to say anything at all to get rid of marijuana.

The aesthetic of the case and the dvd is subtle, ironic and pleasing, which is a nice bonus.

3.0 out of 5 stars Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, November 26, 2009

By	bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (VINE VOICE)

The original title is "Tell Your Children." aka Dope Addict (1938), aka Doped Youth (1938), aka Love Madness (1938), aka Burning Question, The (1939), aka Reefer Madness (1947).

This is an educational movie that shows you what they do not want you to know about the seamy side of burning hemp.

A tale by Dr. Carroll (Joseph Forte) of May Colman (Thelma White) and Jack Perry (Carleton Young) distributors. Their dealings with high school students that look like they flunked a few grades. There are many overlapping scenarios; one is which Ralph, under the influence, helps Mary with her inhabitations towards disrobing. Some time during this trying evening Mary is all shot. Others are rundown and some Grin and grin and grin and bear it.

A side note Mary and Ralph (Dorothy Short and Dave O'Brien) in real life were married to each other at the time of the movie.

Being a cult classic does not give it any better production rating.
You may just want rent this film first as it is not really one for re-watching.