Some of these exploitation films from the Thirties are better than others, and for the most part, this one's a blast. While it's main target involves the seamy side of the prostitution trade, there's a lot of stuff going on that will simply amaze you. Like the wild house party Marian Morgan (Mary Ainslee) throws together once her mother steps out with her favorite gigolo from the local escort service, The Count (Willy Castello). I'm using the term 'wild' rather loosely here, as most of the kids were basically having some fun dancing, with a side game of strip poker going on. I don't know who's idea it was to have a baton twirler show up, that made the whole thing just a little surreal.
A later scene appears to take place in some sort of night club where the entertainment is provided in a Mexican motif, a la Spanish dancers and a faux bullfight act. That's right, not a misprint. A face painted bullfighter waves his cape at a dog outfitted with a pair of longhorns, and gets a rise out of the crowd when the 'bull' butts him in the backside. This is not the risqué kind of business I'd expect to see in something titled "Mad Youth", but hey, I'll go with it.
The main story involves the previously mentioned mother and daughter Morgans who have a falling out over The Count. He wants to date Marian for real, and does so, until mysteriously dropping out of sight. Distraught, Marian looks up her friend Helen (Betty Atkinson) who by this time has been ensnared by a prostitution racket. Both girls would have been goners if The Count hadn't shown up to make the save, having decided to go straight and quit the escort service.
Best line of the film was Marian to The Count about midway through the story, so good I had to rewind to hear it a second time - "Aw, don't be an icky". That my friend, was good for a bonus point.
A later scene appears to take place in some sort of night club where the entertainment is provided in a Mexican motif, a la Spanish dancers and a faux bullfight act. That's right, not a misprint. A face painted bullfighter waves his cape at a dog outfitted with a pair of longhorns, and gets a rise out of the crowd when the 'bull' butts him in the backside. This is not the risqué kind of business I'd expect to see in something titled "Mad Youth", but hey, I'll go with it.
The main story involves the previously mentioned mother and daughter Morgans who have a falling out over The Count. He wants to date Marian for real, and does so, until mysteriously dropping out of sight. Distraught, Marian looks up her friend Helen (Betty Atkinson) who by this time has been ensnared by a prostitution racket. Both girls would have been goners if The Count hadn't shown up to make the save, having decided to go straight and quit the escort service.
Best line of the film was Marian to The Count about midway through the story, so good I had to rewind to hear it a second time - "Aw, don't be an icky". That my friend, was good for a bonus point.