Satan's School for Girls

OK, everybody is always ragging on made-for-TV movies because yes, more often than not, they are really cheesy. But keep in mind made-for-TV movies are made-for-TV, so they are, of course, made on a much smaller budget. However, this is one TV film that rises above its low-budget status. This, for the most part, has to do with the supremely talented cast involved. '70's Scream Queen Pamela Franklin, fresh out of Richard Matheson's nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat suspense thriller THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, stars as a young woman who enrolls in a distinguished all-girls' school to probe her sister's mysterious suicide. The plot reminds me of Dario Argento's horror classic SUSPIRIA, but this TV movie was actually made four years before Argento's film, so perhaps Argento pilfered from this little seen gem. Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd, before they became 'Charlie's Angels', co-starred as two of Franklin's fellow classmates. Incidentally, Jackson later played the Jo Van Fleet role of THE HEADMISTRESS in the 2000 remake. Aaron Spelling produced both versions.

I have to admit it - I've had a crush on Pamela Franklin since 1964 (A Tiger Walks). I was about ten at the time and I even wrote to disney asking for a photo of her. They sent me an 8x10 glossy of young Pamela -FOR FREE !! It came with nice letter on Disney stationary thanking ME for asking for the photo. It hung in my room for a while until I realized there were real girls out there!

I finally got around to seeing SSFG after all these decades. It came out just as I was getting out of High School almost half a century ago. It rekindled my heart-throb for Pamela. She looked so cute in this film I found myself at age 19 (1973) wondering what it would have been like to have known her. Silly...I know! She was just adorable.

She hasn't acted in years and I understand she and her husband run a book store in Hollywood now. I just find it a interesting human oddity that someone's image and persona -an actress - can get embedded in one's psyche as a child and still be there with the same regard so many years later. I guess that is the magic of cinema.

The movie is not much of a blockbuster and is obviously dated but it was fun to go along with it and watch these young actresses perform so earnestly. Seeing Pamela as a beatiful young woman made it all worth it.

This movie managed to slip by. It should, at the least be a cult classic, but unless you accidently see it on cable, or someone tells you about it, you never hear of it. This is a lively, interesting movie, that works better than a lot of movies that cost much more to make. You also get to see Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd before Charlie's Angels. If you get a chance watch this movie, if you like occult horror, you will enjoy it.

Following the mysterious suicide of her sister, a young woman enrolls herself in the girl's college she was attending to investigate what really happened.

This 70's telefilm can sort of be looked at as an earlier, far less extravagant version of "Suspiria". After a strong opening, emphasis is firmly placed on the investigation aspect. We get a solid cast, as was often the case in these old TV efforts. Pamela Franklin, so good in "And Soon the Darkness" and "Legend of Hell House", plays the lead role of investigating sibling. Also present is the lovely Kate Jackson, as well as Cheryl Ladd under a different name. It's interesting seeing these two together before they would later go on to star opposite each other in "Charlie's Angels". Not too surprising when you consider that both this movie and that show were Spelling productions.

There are some good moments here, but a few too many scenes of exploring dark corridors slow the film considerably. The ending is predictable, but I suppose that's to be expected given the title. It's worth a look, but don't expect one of the better TV horrors.

This is another movie which I have looked for over the years to see on latenight channels but is no longer available I believe. I really liked this because it had an overall scary plot running throughout the movie. Both of my kids, (Nate and Ryann like these types of movies and they are at the right age to spot good quality. I hope if anyone knows if this is still being shown around the country to let me know because I can't find it for anything. If you get a change to watch it, by all means do so. It will not let you down and is a little above a B grade movie. Look at how young all the pre Charlie's Angels are in this flick... Enjoy!