Reefer Madness (PG)
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Caution: spoilers.
This was originally made in 1936 under the title "Tell Your Children," as a propaganda film to warn parents about the dangers of marijuana addiction. It was recut in 1938 as an exploitation film, and later still, in the 1970s, gained popularity as a cult film. Since then, it's been used by proponents of legalizing marijuana, or else just enjoyed by people who get stoned, because it's unintentionally campy, redonkulous, and hilarious. (Actually, I have no idea whether that take on the film began in the 70s, or whether the 1938 cut itself was intentionally campy.) An even campier (totally intentionally so) colorized version was released in 2004, but I haven't seen that. Anyway, I first watched the black & white version in 2012, as a bonus feature on the DVD of the TV movie Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical. But I didn't write a review of it at the time; I'm writing this three years later, after creating a B-movies section in my movie reviews. So now I don't remember the movie well enough to say anything specific about it. All I can tell you is that I found it hilarious, in spite of the fact that I wasn't stoned (I don't think I was even drinking). I feel I should mention that I have tried marijuana, in some form, and I didn't like it. (But I don't suppose it's impossible that I might like it better if I tried it in a different form. I very much doubt I ever will try it again, though, in any form.) However, even if I didn't know perfectly normal, decent people who do enjoy it (responsibly)- and I do know such people- I'd still find it hard to imagine anyone would ever take seriously the depictions of marijuana use in this movie. Because damn.
Anyway, as for the plot... like I said, I don't remember it well. Of course, you can read about it on Wikipedia or something. But I want to mention that immediately after watching the movie a few years ago, I read a review on Amazon, which I liked well enough that I copy & pasted it on facebook, so now I'll copy & paste it here:
Bill and Mary were just two typical all-american 25 year old highschool students, playing tennis, drinking hot cocoa, and reciting Shakespeare. Then, Bill got mixed up with the "wrong crowd". He ended up at their house of evil, where He took a "hit" from a marijuana cigarette and "freaked out". Bill joined in with "satan's children" as they danced uncontrollably, played piano jazz, and had wanton abandon sessions! Meanwhile, Mary's brother borrowed her car, took a puff from a "hemp-joint" and drove uncontrollably, running over a pedestrian, laughing mercilessly. Ultimately, poor Mary ended up at the "drug den" herself, being introduced to the "killer weed" by Ralph, a crazed "pot fiend" given to uncontrollable fits of hysterical laughter. Ralph took advantage of Mary, causing Bill (who was having a wanton abandon session with a female "pot-head" in another room) to lose control and attack Ralph. Suddenly, the swinging "dope pad" was turned into a murder house, as the co-owner of the hangout drew a gun. Bill fought him and Mary was inadvertently shot dead! Bill was framed for Mary's homicide and Ralph was committed to an insane asylum. And, remember the wicked girl Bill was having wanton abandon with? Well, she was called upon to testify in court, and wound up diving out a window! Let us learn the lessons here! Remember, smoke only good wholesome tobacco, or drink harmless, invigorating alcohol; and leave the "reefer" to the ne'er-do-wells and hepcats of the world...