Satan's School for Girls (1973 film)
Encyclopedia
Satan's School for Girls is a 1973
made-for-tv horror film
directed by David Lowell Rich
, and produced by Aaron Spelling
. The film has been named as one of the most memorable TV movies of the 1970s.
) find her hanged
in her room. The police overrule her death as an unmotivated suicide
, but Elizabeth refuses to believe this and goes into further investigation. She is planning on visiting the exclusive academy which Martha attended, the Salem Academy for women, despite warnings of Martha's roommate Lucy Dembrow (Gwynne Gilford
). Under the assumed name of Elizabeth Morgan, she enrolls at the college, where she is welcomed by her classmates Roberta Lockhart (Kate Jackson
), Debbie Jones (Jamie Smith Jackson
) and Jody Keller (Cheryl Ladd
).
Elizabeth quickly notices the strange occurrences in school. After one of the unusual classes, Debbie has an outburst in the middle of school. Meanwhile, the feared headmistress, Mrs. Jessica Williams (Jo Van Fleet
), is worried about 'the new girl', Elizabeth. When word comes out that Lucy has committed suicide, Elizabeth resumes her investigation. She becomes intrigued with a painting from Debbie of Martha in a dungeon-like room. Debbie is terrified of the painting and claims she made up the background, but Elizabeth finds an identical setting in the cellar of the campus. There, she runs away when she spots a person with a sharp weapon, who turns out to be Professor Delacroix (Lloyd Bochner
).
The next night, Elizabeth returns to the cellar with Roberta, who is now suspicious as well. They locate a hidden room in which they find the dead body of Debbie, who earlier that evening tried to leave the campus. Elizabeth suspects that Delacroix is responsible, considering his odd behavior and an experiment in class in which he drives mice to their deaths. Elizabeth thinks Delacroix is doing the same with the students and breaks into his office, only to find him in a deranged state, with a gun in his hand. He fears something supernatural is after him and jumps through the window. After running around, he ends up helpless in a swamp, where he is beaten with sticks by some of the students, including Jody.
Meanwhile, the otherwise popular Dr. Joseph Clampett (Roy Thinnes
) reveals himself as the person responsible for all the murders to the headmistress, and he orders her to evacuate the school, leaving behind Elizabeth and Roberta. When she hears some cars driving away, Elizabeth runs outside, only to find the body of a brutally murdered Delacroix. She and Roberta turn to Williams for help, but she has gone insane as well, fearing for a woman named Abigail.
When they are unsuccessful in calling the police, Elizabeth and Roberta go to the cellar to find a gun. There, they find the satanic
cult of Clampett. Among his followers believing that he is Satan
are Jody, and Roberta reveals herself as his loyal servant. Elizabeth is able to escape when Clampett sets the school on fire, and she is able to take Williams with her. The girls, however, stay behind to sacrifice themselves, as does Clampett, who, actually being supernatural, is later seen outside, then disappearing.
1973 in film
The year 1973 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. Blakely would later marry actor/singer Frank Sinatra....
made-for-tv horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
directed by David Lowell Rich
David Lowell Rich
David Lowell Rich is an American film director and producer. He has directed nearly 100 films and TV episodes between 1950 and 1987...
, and produced by Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits...
. The film has been named as one of the most memorable TV movies of the 1970s.
Plot
The film opens with a mysterious person chasing a student, Martha Sayers (Terry Lumley). The same day, the police and her sister Elizabeth (Pamela FranklinPamela Franklin
Pamela Franklin is a British actress who appeared in feature films from 1961 until 1976, and on American television throughout the 1970s.-Early life and career as a child actress:...
) find 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...
in her room. The police overrule her death as an unmotivated suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, but Elizabeth refuses to believe this and goes into further investigation. She is planning on visiting the exclusive academy which Martha attended, the Salem Academy for women, despite warnings of Martha's roommate Lucy Dembrow (Gwynne Gilford
Gwynne Gilford
Gloria Gwynne Gilford is an American actress. She appeared in several television series in the 1970s and 1980s, including A New Kind of Family, The Young Lawyers and The Waverly Wonders, and had a role in the 1987 film version of Masters of the Universe.Gilford was born in Los Angeles, California,...
). Under the assumed name of Elizabeth Morgan, she enrolls at the college, where she is welcomed by her classmates Roberta Lockhart (Kate Jackson
Kate Jackson
Kate Jackson is an American actress, director, and producer, perhaps best known for her role as Sabrina Duncan in the popular 1970s television series Charlie's Angels...
), Debbie Jones (Jamie Smith Jackson
Jamie Smith Jackson
Jamie Smith Jackson is an American actress who performed in the 1973 movie Go Ask Alice. Jackson is married to Michael Ontkean.-External links:...
) and Jody Keller (Cheryl Ladd
Cheryl Ladd
Cheryl Ladd is an American actress, singer and author. Ladd is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the television series Charlie's Angels, hired amid a swirl of publicity prior to its second season in 1977 to replace the departing Farrah Fawcett-Majors...
).
Elizabeth quickly notices the strange occurrences in school. After one of the unusual classes, Debbie has an outburst in the middle of school. Meanwhile, the feared headmistress, Mrs. Jessica Williams (Jo Van Fleet
Jo Van Fleet
Jo Van Fleet was an American theatre and film actress.-Career:Van Fleet established herself as a notable dramatic actress on Broadway over several years, winning a Tony Award in 1954 for her skill in a difficult role, playing an unsympathetic, even abusive character, in Horton Foote's The Trip to...
), is worried about 'the new girl', Elizabeth. When word comes out that Lucy has committed suicide, Elizabeth resumes her investigation. She becomes intrigued with a painting from Debbie of Martha in a dungeon-like room. Debbie is terrified of the painting and claims she made up the background, but Elizabeth finds an identical setting in the cellar of the campus. There, she runs away when she spots a person with a sharp weapon, who turns out to be Professor Delacroix (Lloyd Bochner
Lloyd Bochner
Lloyd Wolfe Bochner was a Canadian actor, usually playing the role of suave, rich leading men.- Career :...
).
The next night, Elizabeth returns to the cellar with Roberta, who is now suspicious as well. They locate a hidden room in which they find the dead body of Debbie, who earlier that evening tried to leave the campus. Elizabeth suspects that Delacroix is responsible, considering his odd behavior and an experiment in class in which he drives mice to their deaths. Elizabeth thinks Delacroix is doing the same with the students and breaks into his office, only to find him in a deranged state, with a gun in his hand. He fears something supernatural is after him and jumps through the window. After running around, he ends up helpless in a swamp, where he is beaten with sticks by some of the students, including Jody.
Meanwhile, the otherwise popular Dr. Joseph Clampett (Roy Thinnes
Roy Thinnes
Roy Thinnes is an American television and film actor best known for his portrayal of lonely hero David Vincent in the ABC 1967-68 television series The Invaders. He also played Alfred Wentworth in the pilot episode of Law & Order...
) reveals himself as the person responsible for all the murders to the headmistress, and he orders her to evacuate the school, leaving behind Elizabeth and Roberta. When she hears some cars driving away, Elizabeth runs outside, only to find the body of a brutally murdered Delacroix. She and Roberta turn to Williams for help, but she has gone insane as well, fearing for a woman named Abigail.
When they are unsuccessful in calling the police, Elizabeth and Roberta go to the cellar to find a gun. There, they find the satanic
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
cult of Clampett. Among his followers believing that he is Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
are Jody, and Roberta reveals herself as his loyal servant. Elizabeth is able to escape when Clampett sets the school on fire, and she is able to take Williams with her. The girls, however, stay behind to sacrifice themselves, as does Clampett, who, actually being supernatural, is later seen outside, then disappearing.
Cast
- Pamela FranklinPamela FranklinPamela Franklin is a British actress who appeared in feature films from 1961 until 1976, and on American television throughout the 1970s.-Early life and career as a child actress:...
as Elizabeth Sayers - Kate JacksonKate JacksonKate Jackson is an American actress, director, and producer, perhaps best known for her role as Sabrina Duncan in the popular 1970s television series Charlie's Angels...
as Roberta Lockhart - Lloyd BochnerLloyd BochnerLloyd Wolfe Bochner was a Canadian actor, usually playing the role of suave, rich leading men.- Career :...
as Professor Delacroix - Jamie Smith JacksonJamie Smith JacksonJamie Smith Jackson is an American actress who performed in the 1973 movie Go Ask Alice. Jackson is married to Michael Ontkean.-External links:...
as Debbie Jones - Roy ThinnesRoy ThinnesRoy Thinnes is an American television and film actor best known for his portrayal of lonely hero David Vincent in the ABC 1967-68 television series The Invaders. He also played Alfred Wentworth in the pilot episode of Law & Order...
as Dr. Joseph Clampett - Jo Van FleetJo Van FleetJo Van Fleet was an American theatre and film actress.-Career:Van Fleet established herself as a notable dramatic actress on Broadway over several years, winning a Tony Award in 1954 for her skill in a difficult role, playing an unsympathetic, even abusive character, in Horton Foote's The Trip to...
as Mrs. Jessica Williams - Cheryl LaddCheryl LaddCheryl Ladd is an American actress, singer and author. Ladd is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the television series Charlie's Angels, hired amid a swirl of publicity prior to its second season in 1977 to replace the departing Farrah Fawcett-Majors...
as Jody Keller - Terry Lumley as Martha Sayers
- Gwynne GilfordGwynne GilfordGloria Gwynne Gilford is an American actress. She appeared in several television series in the 1970s and 1980s, including A New Kind of Family, The Young Lawyers and The Waverly Wonders, and had a role in the 1987 film version of Masters of the Universe.Gilford was born in Los Angeles, California,...
as Lucy Dembrow