For the neglected Gale Storm, being brought up by older brother Anthony Wade and vindictive sister-in-law Gertrude Michael isn't exactly a dream come true for a young lady hoping for a better life. She meets upper class boy Jackie Cooper, recently enlisted in the Navy, and goes dancing at a local juke joint where juvenile clerk Patricia Morison sees her getting drunk and possibly in danger of being taken advantage of. On a joyride with three other post-teen kids, Storm witnesses an attack on a gas station attendent which results in her being wanted by the police. Morison, wanting to promote the need for a youth center, aids Storm in getting out of trouble while Cooper risks everything to help her.
This is an interesting look at the subject of juvenile delinquency but there is not enough of that subject to make this a substantial record of that issue. Other than the sequence of the gas station attendant being beaten and a later scene where Storm is accused by another one of the witnesses by being a narc, there really isn't much in the way of dealing with teenagers on the wrong path. One of Storm's female friends is proven to be a potential sociopath, attacking her and later having a super tantrum in court that is a perfect example of over acting at its worst scenery-chewing possibility.
Cooper, not at all like the child actor from just a decade before, is top billed but doesn't have the meaty material. That goes to Storm who manages to tone down the serious scenes, coming off troubled but sincere. Confrontations with veteran actress Gertrude Michael and Storm lead into some vicious reactions from Ms. Michael, but the gorgeous Patricia Morrison in support is quite good in a role which could have been quite unsympathetic. Although made by Monogram, technically this is above average from their normal programmers but unfortunately the script isn't top notch. it wouldn't be until a decade later when the subject of juvenile delinquency and issues of the problems of youth were dealt with realistically on screen, but at least this one is not as bad as the exploitation films that dealt with that issue.
This is an interesting look at the subject of juvenile delinquency but there is not enough of that subject to make this a substantial record of that issue. Other than the sequence of the gas station attendant being beaten and a later scene where Storm is accused by another one of the witnesses by being a narc, there really isn't much in the way of dealing with teenagers on the wrong path. One of Storm's female friends is proven to be a potential sociopath, attacking her and later having a super tantrum in court that is a perfect example of over acting at its worst scenery-chewing possibility.
Cooper, not at all like the child actor from just a decade before, is top billed but doesn't have the meaty material. That goes to Storm who manages to tone down the serious scenes, coming off troubled but sincere. Confrontations with veteran actress Gertrude Michael and Storm lead into some vicious reactions from Ms. Michael, but the gorgeous Patricia Morrison in support is quite good in a role which could have been quite unsympathetic. Although made by Monogram, technically this is above average from their normal programmers but unfortunately the script isn't top notch. it wouldn't be until a decade later when the subject of juvenile delinquency and issues of the problems of youth were dealt with realistically on screen, but at least this one is not as bad as the exploitation films that dealt with that issue.
