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IMDbPro

Girls Under 21

  • 19401940
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
48
YOUR RATING
Bruce Cabot, Rochelle Hudson, Paul Kelly, Roberta Smith, Tina Thayer, and Lois Verner in Girls Under 21 (1940)
  • Adventure
  • Crime
  • Drama
Frances Ryan, living high-and-free-wheeling life as the wife of gangster "Smiley" Ryan, spends some time behind bars as a result of her husband's activities, and, when she gets out, realizes... Read allFrances Ryan, living high-and-free-wheeling life as the wife of gangster "Smiley" Ryan, spends some time behind bars as a result of her husband's activities, and, when she gets out, realizes she has been a bad example for her kid-sister, Jennie White, and five of her friends. Wit... Read allFrances Ryan, living high-and-free-wheeling life as the wife of gangster "Smiley" Ryan, spends some time behind bars as a result of her husband's activities, and, when she gets out, realizes she has been a bad example for her kid-sister, Jennie White, and five of her friends. With the aid of her old boyfriend, she manages to divert them from their juvenile-delinquent ... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
48
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Max Nosseck
  • Writers
    • Jay Dratler(original screenplay)
    • Fanya Foss(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Bruce Cabot
    • Rochelle Hudson
    • Paul Kelly
Top credits
  • Director
    • Max Nosseck
  • Writers
    • Jay Dratler(original screenplay)
    • Fanya Foss(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Bruce Cabot
    • Rochelle Hudson
    • Paul Kelly
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

    Bruce Cabot, Paul Kelly, Roberta Smith, Tina Thayer, Joanne Tree, Beryl Vaughan, and Lois Verner in Girls Under 21 (1940)
    Bruce Cabot and Paul Kelly in Girls Under 21 (1940)
    Bruce Cabot and Paul Kelly in Girls Under 21 (1940)
    Rochelle Hudson and Paul Kelly in Girls Under 21 (1940)
    Rochelle Hudson, Ruth Robinson, and Tina Thayer in Girls Under 21 (1940)
    Girls Under 21 (1940)
    Bruce Cabot, William Edmunds, Rochelle Hudson, Paul Kelly, Roberta Smith, Tina Thayer, Joanne Tree, John Tyrrell, Beryl Vaughan, Lois Verner, and Debbie Ellis in Girls Under 21 (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bruce Cabot
    Bruce Cabot
    • Smiley Ryanas Smiley Ryan
    Rochelle Hudson
    Rochelle Hudson
    • Frances White Ryanas Frances White Ryan
    Paul Kelly
    Paul Kelly
    • Johnny Caneas Johnny Cane
    Tina Thayer
    Tina Thayer
    • Jennie Whiteas Jennie White
    Roberta Smith
    • Sloppy Krupnikas Sloppy Krupnik
    Lois Verner
    • Fatso Cheruzzias Fatso Cheruzzi
    Beryl Vaughan
    • Marge Dolanas Marge Dolan
    Joanne Tree
    • Gertie Dolanas Gertie Dolan
    Debbie Ellis
    • Tessa Mangioneas Tessa Mangione
    William Edmunds
    • Tony Mangioneas Tony Mangione
    John Dilson
    John Dilson
    • Albert Carter, School Principalas Albert Carter, School Principal
    John Tyrrell
    John Tyrrell
    • Rustyas Rusty
    Gisela Werbisek
    Gisela Werbisek
    • Mrs. Krupnikas Mrs. Krupnik
    • (as Gisela Werbesik)
    Sam Ash
    Sam Ash
      Budd Fine
      • Copas Cop
      • (uncredited)
      Richard Fiske
      Richard Fiske
      • Copas Cop
      • (uncredited)
      Jack Gardner
        Bud Geary
        Bud Geary
          • Director
            • Max Nosseck
          • Writers
            • Jay Dratler(original screenplay)
            • Fanya Foss(original screenplay)
          • All cast & crew
          • See more cast details at IMDbPro

          Storyline

          Edit

          User reviews1

          Review
          Top review
          8/10
          Girls under 21 in 1940
          I saw "Girls Under 21" at the Guild Cinema in Albuquerque as part of a Noir festival. I went with low expectations but the film surprised me. It moved at a brisk pace, had many snappy, funny, irreverent lines, and its ending seemed socially progressive rather than one artificially moralistic to satisfy the Production Code. Paul Kelly, Rochelle Hudson, and the young actresses who played the delinquents all gave good performances. Bruce Cabot, although good, really had nothing more to do than to advance the plot. The film is worth viewing.

          The IMDb plot description indicates Frances, the Rochelle Hudson character, had been the wife of Smiley Ryan (Bruce Cabot) before she spent time in prison as a result of his illegal activities. This piece of information was lost on me. I don't remember any mention of a divorce or of Frances still being Smiley's wife which should have come up given her friendship with the high school teacher (Paul Kelly) -- and his interest in her -- and all the gossip and disapproving looks she receives from the women in the neighborhood. I assumed Frances and Smiley had had a less formal relationship, but one he wanted to continue given his 'your my woman' attitude. Of course, it may have been brushed over quickly in the sequence when Frances returns to her old neighborhood, spectacularly well dressed and looking so healthy after her time in jail that I was puzzled attempting to figure out why this beautiful, articulate, and stylish woman was on the steps of a tenement talking to a group of delinquent teenage girls while a multitude of dowdy women looked on with disapproval. But this was Hollywood in 1940.
          helpful•7
          2
          • warrenk-2
          • Jul 30, 2013

          Details

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          • Release date
            • November 15, 1940 (United States)
          • Country of origin
            • United States
          • Language
            • English
          • Also known as
            • The Little Professor
          • Production company
            • Columbia Pictures
          • See more company credits at IMDbPro

          Technical specs

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          • Runtime
            1 hour 4 minutes
          • Color
            • Black and White
          • Aspect ratio
            • 1.37 : 1

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          Bruce Cabot, Rochelle Hudson, Paul Kelly, Roberta Smith, Tina Thayer, and Lois Verner in Girls Under 21 (1940)
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