Jail Bait
Encyclopedia
Jail Bait is a 1954
American crime film
directed by Ed Wood, with a screenplay by Wood and Alex Gordon
. The film stars Timothy Farrell as a gangster who undergoes plastic surgery to elude the police. Famed bodybuilder Steve Reeves made his first screen appearance in the film.
Brady plans to rob a theater. Don is reluctant to become involved but is bullied into participating by Brady. During the robbery, Don kills a night watchman and Brady wounds the theater’s bookkeeper. The two crooks get away with the theater’s payroll. but Brady senses Don is having second thoughts about his involvement. Fearing Don will turn himself in to the police, Brady kills him and stuffs his body into a closet.
In order to elude the police, Brady decides to undergo plastic surgery. He contacts Dr. Gregor, telling him he is holding his son hostage until plastic surgery is completed. Dr. Gregor begins the surgery in Brady‘s apartment, but discovers his son’s corpse in the closet. He controls himself, and completes the surgery. Two weeks later, Brady’s bandages are removed, and, to the everyone‘s horror and amazement, Brady’s facial features are exactly those of Don‘s. The police arrive with the theater bookkeeper who identifies “Don” as the man who killed the night watchman. Brady makes a break for it, but dies in a shoot-out with the police.
’s Let 'Em Have It (1935) which told the story of a gangster undergoing plastic surgery to elude the police. Jail Bait was originally titled The Hidden Face. Herbert Rawlinson, whose role as Dr. Gregor was originally intended for Bela Lugosi
, died the night after shooting the film (Grey, p201).
1954 in film
The year 1954 in film involved some significant events and memorable ones.-Events:*May 12 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces wife Marion Benda...
American crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Ed Wood, with a screenplay by Wood and Alex Gordon
Alex Gordon (writer-producer)
Alex Gordon was a British writer and film producer.He produced eighteen films, including the American International Pictures films Day the World Ended and The She Creature...
. The film stars Timothy Farrell as a gangster who undergoes plastic surgery to elude the police. Famed bodybuilder Steve Reeves made his first screen appearance in the film.
Plot
Don Gregor, the son of a plastic surgeon, is jailed by the police for carrying an unlicensed handgun. Inspector Johns and Lt. Lawrence suspect he is an associate of gangster Vic Brady. Don’s sister Marilyn bails her brother out of jail, and the siblings agree to keep their father uninformed about Don’s indiscretions. Dr. Gregor is aware of his son’s secret life, but believes Don is a good person and that everything will “straighten itself out nicely.”Brady plans to rob a theater. Don is reluctant to become involved but is bullied into participating by Brady. During the robbery, Don kills a night watchman and Brady wounds the theater’s bookkeeper. The two crooks get away with the theater’s payroll. but Brady senses Don is having second thoughts about his involvement. Fearing Don will turn himself in to the police, Brady kills him and stuffs his body into a closet.
In order to elude the police, Brady decides to undergo plastic surgery. He contacts Dr. Gregor, telling him he is holding his son hostage until plastic surgery is completed. Dr. Gregor begins the surgery in Brady‘s apartment, but discovers his son’s corpse in the closet. He controls himself, and completes the surgery. Two weeks later, Brady’s bandages are removed, and, to the everyone‘s horror and amazement, Brady’s facial features are exactly those of Don‘s. The police arrive with the theater bookkeeper who identifies “Don” as the man who killed the night watchman. Brady makes a break for it, but dies in a shoot-out with the police.
Cast
- Lyle TalbotLyle TalbotLyle Talbot , born Lisle Henderson, was an American actor on stage and screen, best known for his long career in movies from 1931 to 1960 and for his frequent appearances on TV in the 1950s and '60s, including his decade-long role as Joe Randolph on television's The Adventures of Ozzie and...
as Inspector Johns - Steve ReevesSteve ReevesStephen L. Reeves was an American bodybuilder and actor. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.-Childhood:...
as Lt. Bob Lawrence, the Inspector’s associate - Herbert RawlinsonHerbert RawlinsonHerbert Rawlinson was an English stage, film, radio, and television actor. A leading man during Hollywood's silent film era, Rawlinson transitioned to character roles after the advent of sound films. Rawlinson died of lung cancer in 1953...
as Dr. Gregor, a plastic surgeon and father of Don and Marilyn - Clancy Malone as Don Gregor, Dr. Gregor’s son and an associate of gangster Vic Brady
- Dolores FullerDolores FullerDolores Agnes Fuller was an American actress and songwriter best known as the one-time girlfriend of the low-budget film director Edward D. Wood, Jr. She played the protagonist's girlfriend in Glen or Glenda, co-starred in Wood's Jail Bait, and had a minor role in Bride of the Monster...
as Marilyn Gregor, Dr. Gregor’s daughter and Don’s sister - Timothy FarrellTimothy FarrellTimothy Farrell, real name Timothy Sperl, was an American film actor, best known for his roles in the Edward D. Wood, Jr. films Jail Bait, The Violent Years, and Glen or Glenda...
as Vic Brady, a gangster - Theodora ThurmanTedi ThurmanTheodora Thurman, better known as Tedi Thurman, was a fashion model and actress who found fame in the 1950s as Miss Monitor on NBC's Monitor, programmed by Pat Weaver as an innovative 40-hour weekend radio show....
as Loretta, Brady’s mistress - Bud OsborneBud OsborneBud Osborne was an American film actor. He appeared in over 600 films and television programs between 1912 and 1963.Osborne was born in Knox County, Texas, and died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack...
as a Night Watchman in a theater - Mona McKinnon as Miss Willis, a bookkeeper in a theater
- La Vada Simmons as Miss Lytell, Dr. Gregor’s receptionist
- Regina Claire as a Newspaper Reporter
- John Robert Martin as Detective McCall
- Don Nagel as Detective Dennis
- John Avery as a Police Doctor
Production
The film was inspired by producer Edward SmallEdward Small
Edward Small was a film producer from the late 1920s through 1970....
’s Let 'Em Have It (1935) which told the story of a gangster undergoing plastic surgery to elude the police. Jail Bait was originally titled The Hidden Face. Herbert Rawlinson, whose role as Dr. Gregor was originally intended for Bela Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
, died the night after shooting the film (Grey, p201).