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1938·Drama·1h 6m
6.4
★
High-school principal Dr. Alfred Carroll relates to an audience of parents that marijuana can have devastating effects on teens: a drug supplier entices several restless teens, Mary and Jimmy Lane, sister and brother, and Bill, Mary's boyfriend, into frequenting a reefer house. Gradually, Bill and Jimmy are drawn into smoking dope, which affects their family lives.
Directed by Louis J. Gasnier
drug dealer
propaganda
drug trafficking
drug addiction
opium
exploitation
hallucination
hallucinogenic drug
marijuana
drugs
psychotronic
baffled
YouTube
Trailer
IMDB
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
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Cast

Dorothy Short
Dorothy Short
Mary
Lillian Miles
Lillian Miles
Blanche
Dave O'Brien
Dave O'Brien
Ralph
Thelma White
Thelma White
Mae
Carleton Young
Carleton Young
Jack
Joseph Forte
Joseph Forte
Dr. Carroll
Richard Alexander
Richard Alexander
Pete Daley (uncredited)
Bob Burns
Bob Burns
Juror (uncredited)
Lester Dorr
Lester Dorr
Joe the Bartender (uncredited)
Phil Dunham
Phil Dunham
Juror (uncredited)
Edward Earle
Edward Earle
FBI Investigator Mr. Wayne (uncredited)
Frank LaRue
Frank LaRue
Bill's Lawyer (uncredited)

Crew

Louis J. Gasnier
Louis J. Gasnier
Director
Hugo Riesenfeld
Hugo Riesenfeld
Original Music Composer

Popular Reviews

94 reviews
Sam Stevens
Sam Stevens
4.0★ · 06/02/26
Tell Your Children
A rather (ironically) funny public information film on the dangers of weed in the 1930s. The sheer naivety and ignorance is so absurd that it creates a sort of accidental satire on the hysteria of drug scares. It’s also very poorly acted and written, with dialogue that could be written by a child and an almost incoherent structure that got lost in its own head sometimes. It’s quite a bit of fun though and it’s very fascinating to see the state of government media in the mid 30s.
A rather (ironically) funny public information film on the dangers of weed in the 1930s. The sheer naivety and ignorance is so absurd that it creates a sort of accidental satire on the hysteria of drug scares. It’s also very poorly acted and written, with dialogue that could be written by a child and an almost incoherent structure that got lost in its own head sometimes. It’s quite a bit of fun though and it’s very fascinating to see the state of government media in the mid 30s.
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robert
robertPRO
5.0★ · 05/22/26
Tell Your Children
damn i want what they’re having
damn i want what they’re having
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Jasmine
Jasmine
4.0★ · 04/11/26
Tell Your Children
TIL there are soldiers failing their drug tests on purpose in protest of the current bullshit, and that feels like the ultimate victory against bullshit like this movie.
TIL there are soldiers failing their drug tests on purpose in protest of the current bullshit, and that feels like the ultimate victory against bullshit like this movie.
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Robbin
Robbin
4.0★ · 03/18/26
Tell Your Children
Conservatives hate fun!!!



Mi parte favorita fue cuando Blanche salto de un edificio y la mujer que la acompañaba grito de la manera más aburrida posible
Conservatives hate fun!!!



Mi parte favorita fue cuando Blanche salto de un edificio y la mujer que la acompañaba grito de la manera más aburrida posible
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Sarah
Sarah
1.0★ · 03/04/26
Tell Your Children
Watched for the Anti-Criterion Challenge 2026: https://letterboxd.com/that1oboist/list/the-anti-criterion-challenge-2026/

10/52: Cult classic or a film about a cult- cult classic
Watched for the Anti-Criterion Challenge 2026: https://letterboxd.com/that1oboist/list/the-anti-criterion-challenge-2026/

10/52: Cult classic or a film about a cult- cult classic
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