Sex Madness
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| Sex Madness | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Dwain Esper |
| Written by | Joseph Seiden Vincent Valentini |
| Produced by | Dwain Esper |
| Starring | Vivian McGill Rose Tapley Al Rigeli Stanley Barton Linda Lee Hill |
Release date |
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Running time | 57 mins. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Sex Madness is a 1938 exploitation film directed by Dwain Esper, along the lines of Reefer Madness, supposedly to warn teenagers and young adults of the dangers of venereal diseases, specifically syphilis.[1]
Plot
This exploitation film belongs to the social guidance genre of quasi-documentary narratives, which exhort young adults to follow particular moral and social prescriptions related to sexuality and drug use.
The film centers on Paul Lorenz, a "concerned citizen" alarmed at the spread of venereal diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea. However, at a New York City burlesque show, several protagonists are more intent on engagement in sexual pleasure, regardless of the subsequent costs. They include Paul's own son Tom, burlesque dancer Sheila Wayne (who has syphilis), and two secretaries, lesbian Peggy and Betty, whom she is trying to seduce. However, one figure is not amongst them- Millicent Hamilton, a reformed former burlesque dancer. Millicent won a beauty contest in her hometown, which led her to New York, but a "casting couch" sexual encounter led her to contract syphilis. Millicent is told by her physician, Dr. Hamilton, that her condition can be cured, but only after slow, and painstaking treatment, and she should reject quack pseudo-cures. Millicent consents to this, eager to return to her home town and marry her boyfriend, Wendell- but will she heed the doctor's warnings? And what will the consequences be if she does not?
Wild parties, lesbianism, and premarital sex are some of the forms of 'madness' portrayed. The educational aspect of the film allowed it to portray a taboo subject which was otherwise forbidden by the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930, and its stricter version imposed by Hollywood studios in July 1934.
Status
The film has fallen into the public domain and can be freely downloaded from the Internet Archive.
See also
References
- ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:..Sex Madness Retrieved October 21, 2016
External links
- Sex Madness at IMDb
- Sex Madness at AllMovie
- Sex Madness is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- Sex Madness on YouTube
