The film's story is told in bracketing sequences at a lecture given at a parent-teacher association meeting by high school principal Dr. Alfred Carroll. Meanwhile, Jack Perry and Mae Coleman are marijuana pushers, they who host marijuana parties on behalf of their boss. Synopsis There is a new menace sweeping the nation, ready to ensnare and seduce the youth and drag them down into a life of sin: REEFER MADNESS! [13] West of Denver, Colorado, the film was generally known as Doped Youth (1940). Bill comes out of the bedroom and, still high, hallucinates that Mary is willingly offering herself to Ralph and attacks the latter. Essay Reefer Madness Summary The United States And The Federal Prison System. Slowly Moving Towards Legalizing Marijuana Essay. For this reason, neither Esper nor original producer George Hirliman bothered to protect the film's copyright; it thus had an improper copyright notice invalidating the copyright. 1930s: Reefer Madness A poster from a later release of the 1936 film. A series of events leads to both Bill then Mary going to Mae's apartment, which in turn results in two tragic events, both the result of marijuana use. Bill's conviction is overturned, and Ralph, now nearly catatonic, is sent to an asylum for the criminally insane for the rest of his natural life. [12][13] The film was then screened all over the country during the 1940s under these various titles and Albert Dezel of Detroit eventually bought all rights in 1951 for use in roadshow screenings throughout the 1950s. In 2013, Nova Scotia based Lions Den Theatre presented a new adaptation of Reefer Madness at Halifax' The Bus Stop Theatre. With Dorothy Short, Kenneth Craig, Lillian Miles, Dave O'Brien. (Wikipedia) Widespread unemployment and poverty during the Great Depression furthered resentment and fear of immigrants and minorities, and fueled concerns about the perceived ills of the drug that had become associated with them. One of those concerned is high school principal Dr. Alfred Carroll, who doesn't like what it is doing to the students at his school. By now Ralph is paranoid from both marijuana and his guilty conscience. Jimmy takes Bill to a party where Jack runs out of reefer and Jimmy, who has a car, drives him to pick up more. Dr. Carroll closes by advising us to not incur the same tragedy. [5] Soon after the film was shot, it was purchased by producer Dwain Esper, who re-cut the film for distribution on the exploitation film circuit, exploiting vulgar interest while escaping censorship under the guise of moral guidance, beginning in 19381939 through the 1940s and 1950s. 80+ Years Of Reefer Madness Propaganda & Lies That Were Used. Mae Coleman and Jack Perry are a cohabitating couple who sell marijuana. In this hilarious, over-the-top satire, the high school drama club, led by the gravely stern Lecturer, illustrates the perils of the leafy green assassin. Based on his/her attributes, we recommend you consider these audition pieces! Featured Songs. Somehow, all the parts fit together, and Reefer Madness, the musical, has turned out to be a lot more fun than its original source. It is notable for being one of the few times in Hollywood where the generation gap between the Lost Generation and the Greatest Generation is portrayed. Infamous Reefer Madness movie in 1936 [21] on through the Hemp for Victory movie during World War II [22] The Boggs Act of 1952 and the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1956 were passed and became law after World War II. A trio of drug dealers lead innocent teenagers to become addicted to "reefer" cigarettes by holding wild parties with jazz music. 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