This exploitation film belongs to the social guidance genre of quasi-documentary narratives, which exhort young adults to follow particular moral and social prescriptions related to sexualit... Read allThis exploitation film belongs to the social guidance genre of quasi-documentary narratives, which exhort young adults to follow particular moral and social prescriptions related to sexuality and drug use.This exploitation film belongs to the social guidance genre of quasi-documentary narratives, which exhort young adults to follow particular moral and social prescriptions related to sexuality and drug use.
- Wendel Hope
- (as Stanley Barton)
- Dr. Harris
- (as Allan Tower)
- Peggy
- (as Nathalie Donet)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWikipedia and IMDb notwithstanding, this film is not from 1938. The production values, music, hairstyles, clothing etc., are all from the early 1930s. "Sex Madness" started out as a stage show and began screenings as a film sometime in 1934; that is why the title card on vintage prints has a copyright date of MCMXXXIV, or 1934. A search of the Newspapers.com database returns numerous citations for the years 1934-37. For instance, Page 7 of the 3/6/34 edition of the Passaic (NJ) "Herald-News" refers to "advertising used outside the Playhouse Theatre in connection with the motion picture 'Sex Madness'." Page 12 of the Pittsburgh "Post-Gazette" of 4/3/36: "It is true that certain pictures have been banned from the screen in our state (that had been released by producers): 'Sex Madness,' 'No More Children,' 'Streets of Sorrow,' 'Potemkin' and others." Etc. etc.
- GoofsWhen Millicent is talking to her landlady, the window in the background falls shut. This distracts the actress, who nearly flubs her line.
- Quotes
Millicent Hamilton: I'm tired. Me for bed.
Sheila Wayne: Bed? Did you say bed?
[laughs]
Sheila Wayne: That's not for relaxin', that's for action!
- Crazy creditsIn versions titled "They Must Be Told" all the opening credits, even the title, are preceded by the following explanation: "FOREWORD: Down through the ages has rushed a menace more dangerous than the worst criminal. Syphilis. Let us seize this monster and stamp out forever its horrible influence. Syphilis must no longer play its deadly part in our lives preventing marriages ... breaking up families ... and resulting in innocent offspring born blind, diseased and maimed ... doomed to a life of misery. The subject of syphilis must no longer remain hushed, but must be fought in the open like any other dangerous contagious disease ... humanity must be enlightened! Ignorance must be abolished! Young and old ... rich and poor ... "
- ConnectionsEdited into Muchachada nui: Episode #2.5 (2008)
That is really the main part of the movie that caught my attention. The film does have valid points about how you shouldn't have a kid if you have syphilis. And you shouldn't have sex if you have it either. However, the whole idea of someone with this disease being forbid by their doctor to get married seemed a little strange to me. Plus the main woman was in cloud nine the whole as if the whole world was either completely wonderful or completely horrible.
I also thought the point about the "quacks" was interesting because it's harder today to figure out if a doctor is a quack since we have such a high rate of suing for malpractice. A doctor today might push some unnecessary pills on you so that s/he will get some money from the drug company, but they would never go so far as to guarantee you are cured of syphilis and can now freely have sex with people when you actually weren't cured at all. That's just bogus. I'm glad that doesn't happen anymore.
Watch this movie to see how drastically times have changed but also to educate yourself about this disease. It's the only thing that hasn't changed.
- ethylester
- Oct 24, 2003
Details
- Runtime57 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1