Released in 1958, "High School Hell Cats" is a 1950's teenage exploitation flick about a new girl at a high school (Yvonne Lime) who joins a group of 'bad girls' called the Hellcats. The Hellcats get bad grades, steal earrings and meet at a dilapidated movie theater on the other side of town. The newbie develops a relationship with a college student who works at the local diner. Jana Lund plays the arrogant leader of the Hellcats and Susanne Sidney her jealous chief follower.
While there are lame, laughable elements to "High School Hellcats" it's entertaining simply as a period piece. Moreover, its basic moral rings true to this day. Many environments (work, school, etc.) have a group led by a pompous moron, like Connie (Lund). To be accepted by this "gang" you have to submit to the manipulations of the leader and his/her sheeple followers. Yvonne Lime is a highlight as the winsome but naïve protagonist. As a side note, it's interesting to observe how widely-accepted smoking was back then (notice how the principle "good" characters all smoke).
The movie runs 69 minutes and was presumably shot in Southern California.
GRADE: C
While there are lame, laughable elements to "High School Hellcats" it's entertaining simply as a period piece. Moreover, its basic moral rings true to this day. Many environments (work, school, etc.) have a group led by a pompous moron, like Connie (Lund). To be accepted by this "gang" you have to submit to the manipulations of the leader and his/her sheeple followers. Yvonne Lime is a highlight as the winsome but naïve protagonist. As a side note, it's interesting to observe how widely-accepted smoking was back then (notice how the principle "good" characters all smoke).
The movie runs 69 minutes and was presumably shot in Southern California.
GRADE: C