The Diary of a High School Bride

Although the makers of "The Diary of a High School Bride" make the film seem like an exploitation film about young brides when it begins, the film is far less than you might expect. Plus, back in 1959, folks getting married at 17 wasn't all that unusual.

The film begins with Steve and Judy having just eloped. She is only 17 and so technically the marriage isn't legal. However, when Judy's parents hear about it, her father (with some objections from the mother) decides that the best thing to do is just accept it. Plus, he figures his daughter will soon come to her senses. However, the big problem with the marriage comes from some punks at Judy's high school (she is a Senior). They think it's funny to harass them and some of their 'pranks' get amazingly dangerous. However, Chuck's actions soon intensify, as he decides he's going to have sex with Judy whether she's willing or not! So, instead of a drama about teen marriages, it's more a film about rape. And, as such, it's actually not bad and responsibly done. Worth a look.

By the way, if you are interested, Judy (Anita Sands) was about 18-19 when she made the film and Steve (Ron Foster) was 28-29. To me, this huge age gap was a lot creepier than having Sands play a 17 year-old.

This 1959 picture starts with a disclaimer stating, "Teenage marriage is one of today's most controversial subjects. The producers do not attempt to present a solution or take sides..."

The producers also take no sides, or seemingly have an issue, with a 24 year old man marrying a 17 year old girl.

Instead, they take the controversial topic and turn it into a pulpy melodrama aimed at the teenage drive-in theatre audience of the times.

Some of the film's elements border on the surreal. Take the beatnik coffee shop that doubles as a flamenco lounge. Or one of the establishment's customers who tunes out the live music, and the world around him, by hearing music from his transistor radio through ear "buds." Or, how about the 17-year old constantly cuddling her stuffed toy dog to symbolize her youth. On her wedding night the camera tilts down from her kissing her husband to her hand dropping the pooch and lingers on her wedding ring.)

Then, there's the psychotic ex-boyfriend. He can't stand that he never got to first base with the now newlywed and resorts to criminal behavior. One could say his actions symbolize the challenges the young couple faces, but, based on director Burt Topper's other work, I doubt the thought ever entered his mind.

The bride is played by Anita Sands who photographs beautifully. Her career, though, was short-lived as she retired from acting at the age of 23 and later became an astrologer to Hollywood stars.

The film is a curiosity for those interested in looking into Hollywood's handling of teen marriage in the 1950s and fans of the work of American International Pictures - the studio that built a mini-empire by focusing on films for young people.

I don't know why, but for some reason "The Diary of a High School Bride" was a title that piqued my curiosity. Unfortunately, the film itself didn't live up to those expectations. I imagined there might be voice-overs of a young high school girl reading from her diary regarding her experiences, memories, feelings, challenges of being, or having been a high school bride. What we're given is something much more straightforward, complete with awkward performances, awkward direction, a weak script, and a story that doesn't really go anywhere and doesn't offer up many genuine insights regarding what it feels like to be a high school bride. Oh sure, there is some information and light shed on this topic, but not as much as it could have. The only interesting thing is the slight bit of suspense towards the very end, which I won't spoil for anyone still interested in checking this film out. Oh, and the painting on the wall referencing another film, "The Screaming Skull", that bit worked well, even if it was only a couple seconds.

The lesson here seems to be that if you are a 17-year-old high school senior who marries a 24-year-old, your parents will be ticked off, your friends will diss you, your ex-boyfriend will get turned on, and your acting career will end up in the toilet. Who saw any of this coming?

Judy (Anita Sands) carries a stuffed animal with her, even on her wedding night. Maybe there is something Freudian in that; I wouldn't know. Her new hubby Steve (Ronald Foster) lives in a one-bedroom apartment, but is a law student, so maybe Judy hopes that someday he will become rich and unprincipled. Chris Robinson, as her borderline psycho ex, is not very menacing, and can be taken out with a few punches. There are several scenes in a teen hangout, a dive which seems to be a combination of fast-food diner, beatnik café, Spanish guitar and dancer mishmash. One of the patrons does something weird with his cheeks, but I didn't rewind to study it more carefully.

Tony Casanova, who apparently had a singing career for a few days (you'll see why if you watch this), performs the title tune, and also another ditty in the hangout. The ending has a modicum of suspense, but by then I doubt if you'll be paying attention. The only bit of interest is a passing reference to "The Screaming Skull," which was far better than this opus - and which is also not saying much. At least that film featured a nice performance by Peggy Webber's upper body.

This 1959 was most likely encouraged by all parents as a "must see" who had teenaged children who were a few years still away from full adulthood. In the 1950's and 1960's the man was almost always the bread winner and the woman were stay at home moms. Historically young women were in competition with one another to find that "big catch" of a man so marrying quite young was the norm. It also meant that woman felt their biological clock (and hormones) were most strong at the earliest of age to have babies.

This story pits a seventeen (17) year old teenager named Judy (Anita Sands) with two completely different male suitors. One is a rough and tumble ex boyfriend named Chuck (Chris Robinson), and the other is a more recent suitor an older and mature law student named Steve (Ron Foster).

The message and theme of the film is exposing the potential serious consequences of making rash and impromptu decisions at a very young age. Hormones are running rampant as is the testosterone of the virile young men who live either in the past and/or the present but not considering what the future will hold in store for their abrupt actions sometimes.

Thank goodness the pendulum has swung to the farther right these past seven (7) decades and young adults are waiting longer to tie the proverbial knot. Too bad divorce rates are running around fifty (50) percent today.

I give this crime/drama themed film a 6 out of 10 IMDB rating.