Les dépravées

This low-budget juvenile delinquents/women in prison flick from United Artists and director Bernard Vorhaus has Paul Henreid starring as Dr. John Jason, newly arrived at the Elmview Corrective School for Girls. Dr. Jason brings his psychiatric expertise to bear while dealing with the newest group of young female delinquents, including tough girl Loretta (Anne Francis), emotionally unstable Dolores (Rita Moreno), and thick-as-thieves duo Jackie (Anne Jackson) and Jane (Enid Rudd). However, the cruel and tradition-bound senior staff disapprove of the new doctor's techniques, which include treating the girls with respect, and a clash is inevitable.

While budgetary limitations are abundantly obvious, there are some interesting filming choices, involving close-ups, quick-cut editing, and off-kilter framing, so that the movie never gets dull. Despite what I have read about Pagan Love Song being her debut, this film was in fact Rita Moreno's first film. This was the first substantial role for Anne Francis, and she's the clear standout. This was also Anne Jackson's debut, and her character's obvious, if unstated, lesbianism is unusual for movies of the period.