Reform School (film)

Reform School is an American film produced by Million Dollar Productions in 1939, starring Louise Beavers.[1] The film was directed by Leo C. Popkin.[2] In 1944 the film was re-released as Prison Bait.

Reform School
Directed byLeo C. Popkin
Written byJoseph O'Donnell
Hazel Barnes Jamieson
Screenplay byZella Young
Produced byHarry M. Popkin
StarringLouise Beavers
Reginald Fenderson
Monte Hawley
CinematographyWilliam Hyer
Edited byBart Rauw
Music byLou Frohman
Distributed byMillion Dollar Productions, Inc.
Release date
27 April 1939
Running time
82 mins
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Beavers plays as Mother Barton, a probation officer[3] of a large city that believes in a plan for an "honor system" at a reform school. When the previous superintendent of the school is ousted, she becomes superintendent and has to address a brutal guard, the previous superintendent's "henchmen", and teens at the school. Reginald Fenderson played a supporting role as "Freddie Gordon", one of the boys at the school.[4]

The film debuted a group called the "Harlem Tuff Kids", which included Eugene Jackson playing as "Pete", DeForrest Covan as "Bill", Eddie Lynn as "Joe" and Bob Simmons as "Johnny".[5] The Harlem Tuff Kids also appeared in the 1942 film Take My Life.

The executive producer of the film was Harry M. Popkin.[6] The writers were Jos. O'Donnell and Hazel Jamieson.[4]

Posters for the film remain.[7]

In 2022 a print restored by the Academy Film Archive premiered on Turner Classic Movies. Source: TCM website, AMPAS website.

Cast

References
  1. Dodson, Nell (6 May 1939). "Million Dollar Pictures Scores Dramatic Hit With "Reform School"". Afro-American. p. 11. ProQuest 531249052. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. Grant, Barry Keith (December 1, 2012). Film Genre Reader IV. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292745742 – via Google Books.
  3. Gates (Jr.), Henry Louis; Higginbotham, Evelyn Brooks (November 25, 2009). Harlem Renaissance Lives from the African American National Biography. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195387957 – via Google Books.
  4. "Reform School at Apollo: Louise Beavers to Appear With Gripping "Dead End" Drama". New York Amsterdam News. 17 June 1939. p. 17. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  5. Harry, Levette (17 Apr 1939). "Louise Beavers "Tops" In "Reform School" Feature: Interpretation Is Best In Her Career". Atlanta Daily World. p. 2. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  6. ""Reform School" Brings Out Great Beavers' Talent". Atlanta Daily World. 17 Apr 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  7. McCluskey, Audrey Thomas (November 25, 2007). Imaging Blackness: Race and Racial Representation in Film Poster Art. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253217790 – via Google Books.


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