Child Bride
Encyclopedia
Child Bride, also known as Child Brides (USA reissue title), is a 1938 film directed by Harry Revier
. Set in a remote town in the Ozarks
, it claims to be an attempt to draw attention to the lack of laws banning child marriage in many states. The film is very controversial both for its theme, and for showing twelve-year-old actress Shirley Mills
nude during an infamous skinny dipping
scene. Although the Hays Code prohibited onscreen nudity, the movie got around this by being produced and distributed independent of the studio system, and by claiming to be educational. Although it was banned in many areas, the movie's controversial nature gave it a certain infamy and it played on the so-called exploitation
circuit for many years.
This was one of Revier's final films. He had previously made a series of low-budget, independent movies including The Lost City
series and Lash of the Penitentes. The film was produced by Raymond L. Friedgen.
According to an interview with Michael J. Nelson
and Kevin Murphy
of Mystery Science Theater 3000
fame, this movie was screened for the show, but it was considered too awful and disturbing by the crew.
the practice of child marriage, in which older men wed teen or preteen girls. Her campaign raises the ire of some local men, led by Jake Bolby, who drag her into the woods one night with the intention of tarring and feathering
her. Before they can do this however, Angelo the dwarf and Mr. Colton arrive with a shotgun to save the day.
Following this, Jake Bolby spots young Jennie Colton swimming naked. When her father dies, he decides to take advantage of the opportunity to blackmail
her mother into letting him marry the girl, threatening that he will see her hanged
for murder otherwise. After he "courts" her by giving her a doll, the two are married. It later turns out that this marriage was unlawful, as child marriage had been banned several days prior, but this point quickly becomes moot. Before Bolby can consummate the union, he is gunned down by Angelo. Jennie leaves his house with Freddie, and the movie ends.
The scene begins with Jennie and Freddie sneaking slyly to a pond in a secret wooded area. Freddie tells Jennie that he will "beat (her) undressed," but Jennie tells him that they can no longer swim naked together. When Freddie asks why, Jennie replies "because we're not what we used to be."
Freddie asks how they are different, and Jennie turns to answer him, briefly revealing her breasts and nipples to the camera. The film then cuts to a lengthy long shot
showing Jennie and Freddie, both topless and separated by a stand of trees, as they discuss how these changes will affect their relationship. Freddie asks if he can still kiss Jennie; she replies that he can but only when she is wearing her clothes.
Jennie then removes her dress entirely, runs naked through the woods and dives into the pond. The next two minutes of the movie consist largely of shots of Jennie swimming nude and frolicking with her dog. Jake Bolby appears on a ridge above the pond, and observes the naked girl. An old woman sees what Bolby is doing, and says to him "Purdy, ain't she?" Freddie hears this and alerts Jennie to the fact that someone is watching her, and she swims for cover.
Finally she asks Freddie to bring her clothes to her, without looking at her. He uses a long stick to give her the dress, she pulls it on, and climbs out of the pond.
Some prints of the film have censored this scene. Alpha Video
's DVD
release presents the film in its uncensored form, while Mill Creek Entertainment
included a censored version of this film in their 20 Movie Pack Cult Classics collection.
Harry Revier
Harry Jack Revier was an independent American director, producer and first generation exploitation film maker best known for his sound films; The Lost City , Lash of the Penitentes and Child Bride .-Biography:Born in Philadelphia in 1890, some sources state that Revier gained early experience as...
. Set in a remote town in the Ozarks
The Ozarks
The Ozarks are a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States. It covers much of the southern half of Missouri and an extensive portion of northwestern and north central Arkansas...
, it claims to be an attempt to draw attention to the lack of laws banning child marriage in many states. The film is very controversial both for its theme, and for showing twelve-year-old actress Shirley Mills
Shirley Mills
Shirley Olivia Mills was an American actress. Mills' most notable role was in the 1938 film Child Bride, made when she was only twelve years old...
nude during an infamous skinny dipping
Skinny dipping
Nude swimming, colloquially called skinny dipping, is a term used to describe swimming naked.-Etymology:The term skinny dip, first recorded in English in the 1950s, includes the somewhat archaic word skinny, known since 1573, meaning "having to do with skin", as it exposed the naked...
scene. Although the Hays Code prohibited onscreen nudity, the movie got around this by being produced and distributed independent of the studio system, and by claiming to be educational. Although it was banned in many areas, the movie's controversial nature gave it a certain infamy and it played on the so-called exploitation
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
circuit for many years.
This was one of Revier's final films. He had previously made a series of low-budget, independent movies including The Lost City
The Lost City (1935 serial)
The Lost City is an independently made film serial produced in 1935 directed by Harry Revier.-Plot:The film took the premise of that year's The Phantom Empire but transferred the lost civilization motif from the west to another popular serial locale, the African jungle...
series and Lash of the Penitentes. The film was produced by Raymond L. Friedgen.
According to an interview with Michael J. Nelson
Michael J. Nelson
Michael John Nelson is a U.S. comedian and writer, most famous for his work on the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Nelson was the head writer of the series for most of the show's 11-year run, and spent half of that time playing the on-air host, also named Mike Nelson...
and Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy (actor)
Kevin Wagner Murphy is an American actor and writer best known as the voice and puppeteer of Tom Servo on the Peabody Award-winning comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000.- Early career :...
of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
fame, this movie was screened for the show, but it was considered too awful and disturbing by the crew.
Cast
- Shirley MillsShirley MillsShirley Olivia Mills was an American actress. Mills' most notable role was in the 1938 film Child Bride, made when she was only twelve years old...
as Jennie Colton: This was Mills's first movie role. She went on to appear in many films over the next decade, mostly in supporting roles. - Bob Bollinger as Freddie Nulty: This was Bollinger's only film role. According to Mills's website, now offline, the two young actors became friends, and Bollinger later asked her to marry him, which she declined.
- Angelo RossittoAngelo RossittoAngelo Rossitto was an American actor. He had dwarfism and was 2'11" tall.Rossitto was discovered by John Barrymore and made his screen debut opposite Barrymore in The Beloved Rogue . He appeared in the then controversial 1932 film Freaks directed by Tod Browning. He appeared in another...
as Angelo the dwarf: Rossitto had a long career in movies, stretching from the 1920s to the 1990s. He is perhaps best known for his role as Master in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. - Warner RichmondWarner RichmondWarner Richmond was an American actor. He appeared in 141 films between 1912 and 1946.He was born in Racine, Wisconsin and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* Brown of Harvard...
as Jake Bolby: Along with Mills and Rossitto, Richmond was one of the few actors involved in this film who had any sort of film career. He appeared in films between 1912 and 1946, including the Gene Autry serial The Phantom EmpireThe Phantom EmpireThe Phantom Empire, starring Gene Autry the Singing Cowboy, was a 12-chapter 1935 Mascot serial that combined the western, musical, and science fiction genres. The first episode is 30 mins, the rest about 20 minutes...
. - Diana Durrell as Miss Carol
- Dorothy Carrol as Flora Colton
- George Humphreys as Ira Colton
Plot
Miss Carol is an idealistic teacher in a remote one-room school house. A native of the Ozarks herself, she is determined to stopthe practice of child marriage, in which older men wed teen or preteen girls. Her campaign raises the ire of some local men, led by Jake Bolby, who drag her into the woods one night with the intention of tarring and feathering
Tarring and feathering
Tarring and feathering is a physical punishment, used to enforce unofficial justice or revenge. It was used in feudal Europe and its colonies in the early modern period, as well as the early American frontier, mostly as a type of mob vengeance .-Description:In a typical tar-and-feathers attack, the...
her. Before they can do this however, Angelo the dwarf and Mr. Colton arrive with a shotgun to save the day.
Following this, Jake Bolby spots young Jennie Colton swimming naked. When her father dies, he decides to take advantage of the opportunity to blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
her mother into letting him marry the girl, threatening that he will see her hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
for murder otherwise. After he "courts" her by giving her a doll, the two are married. It later turns out that this marriage was unlawful, as child marriage had been banned several days prior, but this point quickly becomes moot. Before Bolby can consummate the union, he is gunned down by Angelo. Jennie leaves his house with Freddie, and the movie ends.
The skinny dipping scene
The movie is perhaps best known for its lengthy skinny dipping scene. Allmovie described this scene as "completely gratuitous" and "obviously Child Brides main selling point and the reason for its longevity on the exploitation circuit."Freddie asks how they are different, and Jennie turns to answer him, briefly revealing her breasts and nipples to the camera. The film then cuts to a lengthy long shot
Long shot
In photography, filmmaking and video production, a long shot typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surroundings...
showing Jennie and Freddie, both topless and separated by a stand of trees, as they discuss how these changes will affect their relationship. Freddie asks if he can still kiss Jennie; she replies that he can but only when she is wearing her clothes.
Jennie then removes her dress entirely, runs naked through the woods and dives into the pond. The next two minutes of the movie consist largely of shots of Jennie swimming nude and frolicking with her dog. Jake Bolby appears on a ridge above the pond, and observes the naked girl. An old woman sees what Bolby is doing, and says to him "Purdy, ain't she?" Freddie hears this and alerts Jennie to the fact that someone is watching her, and she swims for cover.
Finally she asks Freddie to bring her clothes to her, without looking at her. He uses a long stick to give her the dress, she pulls it on, and climbs out of the pond.
Some prints of the film have censored this scene. Alpha Video
Alpha Video
Alpha Video is an entertainment company, based near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of public domain movies and TV shows on DVD...
's DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release presents the film in its uncensored form, while Mill Creek Entertainment
Mill Creek Entertainment
Mill Creek Entertainment is a home entertainment company that manufactures movie and television DVD compilation box sets at "value" prices. Nashville's Amity Entertainment is an affiliate to Mill Creek...
included a censored version of this film in their 20 Movie Pack Cult Classics collection.