Expecting a typical 1940's drama of scandal and controversy, I was surprised by the sensitive manner in which this message drama was transfered to the screen. Most of the story focuses on 18 year old Marcia Mae Jones, an innocent young lady who loses her virginity on prom night and braces unwed motherhood when her boyfriend goes off to college. She can't confide in her too busy parents, and when the unexpected occurs, she has no choice but to make a drastic decision.
The last quarter of the film has the more exploitive documentary about child birth and sexually transmitted diseases. This part of the film shows both male and female anatomy and is even shocking today. I can't even imagine this being shown in schools let alone movie theaters, but the message is clear. Old forms of abortion are dramatized, and the operator at the clinic where Jones goes is an old hag who could be considered a 40's version of a witch. Joseph Crehan is sincere in his narration of the story. Jones also delivers a believable performance. So even if certain elements in the structure of this tale seem very dated, a lot of other parts remain very timely.
The last quarter of the film has the more exploitive documentary about child birth and sexually transmitted diseases. This part of the film shows both male and female anatomy and is even shocking today. I can't even imagine this being shown in schools let alone movie theaters, but the message is clear. Old forms of abortion are dramatized, and the operator at the clinic where Jones goes is an old hag who could be considered a 40's version of a witch. Joseph Crehan is sincere in his narration of the story. Jones also delivers a believable performance. So even if certain elements in the structure of this tale seem very dated, a lot of other parts remain very timely.