Reefer Madness

Reefer Madness (originally made as Tell Your Children and sometimes titled as The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth and Love Madness) is a 1936-1939 American propaganda exploitation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.[5] 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.[5] The film was ”rediscovered” in the early 1970s and gained new life as a piece of unintentional comedy among advocates of cannabis policy reform.[5][6] Today, it is in the public domain in the United States and is considered a cult film.[6] It inspired a musical satire, which premiered off-Broadway in 2001, and a film based on the musical in 2005.

1936

NR

056775048990

Movie

Cult Classics

1

2018-02-07 18:32:48

1.85:1

66

United States

4.7 GB (DVD)

1

1

Snap Case

~$2.89

2026-04-02

2018-02-07 18:32:48