13 Frightened Girls

I had a Friday afternoon off, so to relax I turned on the Turner Classic Movies channel and saw that a film called "13 Frightened Girls!" was about to come on. I had never heard of it, and from the title it sounded like it might be a cult-favorite B movie directed by somebody like Roger Corman. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a Cold War era spy flick with lots of hot girls from 1963. Innocent though, mind you; the film has a strong feel of the way live-action Disney movies like the original "That Darn Cat!" used to be, except this is a Disney-like movie where people actually get killed!

Our sixteen-year-old heroine, Candace "Candy" Hull, reminded me of what Nancy Drew would be like if she opted to be an amateur international spy instead of an amateur detective. The film seems aimed at the age group that would enjoy reading Nancy Drew books, but it has material that adults can enjoy too. As for the reference to thirteen girls and why they are frightened, the beginning of the movie takes them on a very dangerous bus ride, but an even greater reason for their fear is not revealed until near the end. Most of the plot deals with the exploits of Candy and her Chinese friend Mai-Ling as they probe the liquidation of a foreign agent, then attempt to prevent a revolution, and that's just for starters. Interestingly, the part of Mai-Ling's mysterious uncle is played by Khigh Dhiegh, later known for his recurring role as the archvillain Wo Fat in the original version of the television series "Hawaii 5-O".

The film seemed uneven in a few places, but not enough to interrupt my involvement in the story. I was just relaxing, wasn't trying to pick it apart and suspended disbelief, so I had lots of fun with this movie and I'm very glad I was given the opportunity to see it. It's from a different era and doesn't fit with today's jaded mind-set, but for those who appreciate values beyond those of our present culture, watching this film just might be eighty-nine minutes well spent.

Miss Pittford's Academy for Young Ladies is a Swiss boarding school for the daughters of competing diplomats from various countries. American Candace Hull earns the right to drive the bus for a school trip. She has a desperate crush on secret agent Wally Sanders (Murray Hamilton) who is involved with his work partner Soldier (Joyce Taylor). She is in the Chinese embassy when she accidentally comes upon a murdered man. She becomes secret agent Kitten, a secret even to her father and Wally.

How old is this girl? She's 16 and driving the bus? Then she's chasing around forty year old Murray Hamilton. This is a weird premise of Gidget fights the Cold War. Kathy Dunn is a fine Gidget. It has the feel of a bad Disney movie with murder and suggested sexuality. It's intriguingly despite being weirdly bad. I am never sure if this is intended to be a silly comedy or a serious thriller. It's both and not quite successful in either.

I'm amazed I've found this movie, and that others remember it! A great flick I saw when I was young. Even then it was over 20 years old and it was still intriguing. The dark nature of the film would not be allowed for children to view these days... a shame. The movie focuses on a boarding school with a group of teenage girls, each representing a different country. The girls encounter dangerous villains and uncover secrets while having to use their cleverness to stay alive (from what I remember). It's a fun, unique film that has brought together the genres of thriller, mystery, and "family," if one would ever think it possible.

I wish I could find it on DVD these days. It really brings me back.

Typically humorous , intriguing , tongue-in-cheek William Castle opera with his usual ingredients . Set in Swiss boarding school catering to daughters of diplomats , after trading bits of info they picked up from daddy during the holidays . While attending a school for diplomats' daughters, the teen-aged daughter nicknamed "Kitten", "Candy" (the unknown but very likable Kathy Dunn) of the American ambassador (Hugh Marlowe) uses her access to USA and China embassies to engage in espionage. Candace has a special relationship with Wally Sanders (Murray Hamilton) , who Candy has known all her life and on who she now has a crush despite he being engaged to his colleague nicknamed Soldier (Joyce Taylor) , a code breaking specialist. Candy passes along the information to Wally only under the code name "Kitten". As meddled Candy decides to go off and do spy stuff . While visiting Mai-ling (Lynne Sue Moon) , niece of the Red Chinese ambassador she stumbles into a major political secret, involving a murder. 13 terrified teenagers on the run !. The big fright! The eerie sight!

One Castle's strangest movies , set in a Swiss boarding school and American , Chinese Ambassy , though actually shot in Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, and Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California . An amusing movie with thrills , tension , intrigue , chuckles , twists and turns . This is an Euro-spy and a teen movie more than a typical spook opera from Castle who often used a lot of gimmicks , this time , only one : spectators in the theater were given lottery cards for a chance to win a gift or a prize . Dealing with thirteen girls and particularly starred by Kathy Dunn as intrusive Candace Hull giving a very sympathetic acting as the meddling teen stirring up serious problem on her vacation as she messes with the diplomatic affairs of their elders and get into trouble when a Russian spy is discovered killed . Castle held a worlwide talent search to find his stars , this time Kathy Dunn , for whom this was first and no doubt last movie. Along other known actors as Murray Hamilton , Hugh Marlowe , with Khigh Dhiegh cleverly cast as a sinister Ambassador , as he played a similar and unforgettable role in The Manchurian candidate . Adding a group of charming adolescents , some of them to be continued a cinematic career as Judy Pace and Alexandra Bastedo .

This juvenile , cute motion picture was professionally directed by William Castle . He was an expert craftsman with some of the all-time great schlock names serving as the producer Sam Katzman and fondness for gimmicks as proved in his successful terror films such as : House of haunted hill , The Tingler , Mr Sardonicus , Strait-jacked , Homicidal , Macabre and 13 Ghosts . Castle emulated Alfred Hitchcock , this included the practice of appearing in the trailers, and even making cameo appearances in his films . Furthermore , he made several Westerns such as : 1955 Duel on the Mississippi , 1955 The Gun That Won the West ,1955 El Americano , 1954 Masterson of Kansas , 1954 The Law vs. Billy the Kid , 1954 Jesse James vs. The Daltons , 1954 Battle of Rogue River , 1953 Fort Ti , 1951 cave of outlaws. Rating : 6/10, acceptable and passable , being one of Castle's weirdest movies . A side-splitting vintage picture awaiting rediscovery.

I just discovered who William Castle is, and even though I've seen and loved Rosemary's Baby, which he produced, I wanted to see the B-movies he's famous for, and this turned out to be a good start.

The movie is about an American teenage girl who goes to a boarding school for the daughters of diplomats. When the spy who works for her father, and she has a crush on is in danger of losing his job, she decides to use her connection to the international students to gather Intel and secretly complete his missions, thus becoming a super spy called the kitten. It's an absolute great premise that was flushed out brilliantly by William Castle.

Interesting concept to the movie is the fact that a girl went to such great lengths for a man she has a crush on. Usually it's the other way around in these types of movies, but Castle was ahead of his time with this concept cause not even in today's film making do you see many stories like that. I feel like I'm almost insulting Castle by saying it's the greatest Disney movie they never made, but in all honesty, this is the movie that Disney should have made. Although they would have to change a few scenes as there are times when in her "missions" it looks like she's going to get raped or murdered and she also causes the death of another spy. So maybe it should not be a Disney movie because part of the charm is the fact that we are shown vividly what a dangerous game this little girl is playing, and Disney would screw that up.

Another interesting concept of the movie is that in a time when espionage was all about cool gadgets and cool dudes, the movie was more realistic of the concept. Wally Sanders, the spy Candy The kitten was crushing on is just a regular guy whose job was to gather Intel, though he did use microfilm, which feels outdated when you can take a picture on your cell phone, he was no James Bond by far, except in the eyes of a teenage girl.

Don't let the title fool you. 13 Frighten Girls! Was a title given to cash in on William Castle's status as a Horror Icon. This is relevant with the trailer that makes it seem like a movie about 13 girls trapped in a school being terrorized by enemy agents. In fact, the only other girl with an actual role to play in this movie is Mai-Ling, Candy's friend whose uncle is a Chinese diplomat, which would automatically make her an enemy during the 1960s, but the two girls manage a friendship despite. See it was made for Disney.

My advice to you is to go see this movie before someone at Disney reads this and decides to remake it. This way, when it comes out and it sucks you'll be able to tell everyone it's not better than the original.