Review of Damaged Lives

Damaged Lives (1933)
Exploitation Film
2 November 2004
This is a typical early 1930s film warning about the dangers of unprotected sex and the diseases one can contract. The film was directed by Dwain Esper, who made several films in this drama. The film involves a young executive, with an important job and a long term girlfriend. His boss insists that he go out with him to a party and while out at the party he sleeps with a young wealthy woman, and contracts syphilis from her. The girl is so upset that she commits suicide. He is convinced to go to a doctor (played by Jason Robards, father of Jason Robards Jr) who displays poor people suffering from various infectious diseases. The young executive (who out of guilt has married his girlfriend, is upset when he finds out that his wife has syphilis too and that their baby might be infected. The wife, in a state of depression tries to kill herself, and her husband by opening the gas jets on the stove. There is a happy ending though.

The film is entertaining, and not quite as glum as it sounds. Played out in beautiful art deco sets, and with above par acting for this type of film, this public domain film, available in VHS and DVD is worth seeing if only for its risqué subject matter.
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