The original 'Reefer Madness' PSA that accidentally slaps harder than your D.A.R.E. officer.
Bill is targeted by pot pushers who use him as their entry to the "good kids." Needing money because his mother is sick and his father is absent, he drops out of school to become a pusher. He seeks help after seeing his supplier shoot up.
Acting
Steve Railsback's descent from honor student to 'dealer chic' in 19 minutes flat.
Production
Gritty LA locations that accidentally document actual 1951 skid row.
Writing
Dialogue so overwritten it circles back to poetry: 'I'm hooked, see? HOOKED!'
Director
Larry Frisch
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was distributed to actual schools as 'social guidance,' making it part of a government-funded moral panic industry that peaked before the 1960s counterculture made such films ironic artifacts.
Director Larry Frisch made multiple drug scare films; this one starred Steve Railsback in his first role—yes, THAT Steve Railsback, later famous for playing Charles Manson in 'Helter Skelter' (1976), completing his journey from fake addict to real-life monster portrayer.
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