"Reefer Madness" (originally made as Tell Your Children and sometimes titled as The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth and Love Madness) is a 1936-1939 American propaganda exploitation film revolving around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try marijuana - from a hit and run accident, to manslaughter, suicide, attempted rape, and descent into madness. The film was directed by Louis Gasnier and starred a cast composed of mostly unknown bit actors.
Originally financed by a church group under the title Tell Your Children, the film was intended to be shown to parents as a morality tale attempting to teach them about the dangers of cannabis use. However, soon after the film was shot, it was purchased by producer Dwain Esper, who re-cut the film for distribution on the exploitation film circuit beginning in 1938/39 through the 40s and 50s.
The film was "rediscovered" in the early 1970s and gained new life as satire among advocates of cannabis policy reform.
Although finding a popular audience as a cult film, critics have panned it as one of the worst films ever made.
Directed by Louis J. Gasnier
Produced by George Hirliman (1936 film)
Dwain Esper (1938/39 release)
Written by Arthur Hoerl
Starring:
Dorothy Short
Kenneth Craig
Lillian Miles
Dave O'Brien
Thelma White
Warren McCollum
Carleton Young