Child Bride
About Child Bride
Miss Carol returns to an Ozark settlement to campaign against child marriage. Jake Bolby and the men who want the custom left alone tie her up to be tarred and feathered. Angelo, a dwarf, and Jennie Colton's father Ira break it up with a shotgun. After Ira dies, Jake threatens to have Jennie's mother hanged for murder unless she lets him marry the girl. The wedding goes ahead. Angelo shoots Jake before the marriage goes any further. Jennie leaves with Freddie Nulty. The ceremony is later called illegal.
Cast & crew
More about Child Bride
Harry Revier wrote and directed. Raymond L. Friedgen produced. Felix Mills wrote the music. Astor Pictures released it outside the studio system and billed it as an educational attack on states that had no statute against child marriage. Shirley Mills, who plays Jennie, was 12. The Production Code Administration refused a seal.
Themes
Background
The advertising claimed the story would push states to outlaw child marriage. The same print was sold on the exploitation circuit, which is why the bans did not end the bookings.
Making
Because Astor was outside the major studios, the picture did not need a Code seal to reach the exploitation houses. It was banned in many towns and kept circulating on that circuit for years.
Music
Felix Mills composed the score.
Preservation
The film is in the public domain. Both cut and uncut copies are on video.
Notes
- Reissue titles include Child Brides, Child Bride of the Ozarks, and Dust to Dust.
- Diana Durrell plays Miss Carol, Warner Richmond plays Jake Bolby, Angelo Rossitto plays Angelo, and George Humphreys plays Ira Colton.
- Bob Bollinger plays Freddie Nulty. Dorothy Carrol plays Jennie's mother.
- The Code office cited the subject, a nude swimming scene with Mills, and a killing that is not punished.
- Some later prints cut the swimming scene. Alpha Video and Kino Lorber have issued uncut editions. Mill Creek's DVD is a cut version.
- Kino Lorber paired an uncut copy on Blu-ray with Tomorrow's Children.
Scenes
- Jake's men tie Miss Carol up for a tarring, and Ira and Angelo stop them.
- Jake forces the marriage by threatening to have Jennie's mother hanged.
- Angelo shoots Jake, and Jennie leaves with Freddie.
Also available
- Internet Archive (ChildBride)
- Kino Lorber Blu-ray (with Tomorrow's Children)
- Alpha Video DVD
