Girls Town (1959) User Reviews

Great Fun

[angelknpenny · 5/10 · 16 August 2005]

This movie is a great trash fest. Sometimes there is nothing better than when Hollywood of the 50s and 60s attempts to have teens portrayed by aging icons. This one goes straight thru the stratosphere when they make Mel "the velvet fog"Torme a gang leader of sorts. Mamie van Doren is way sexy. I'm surprised she didn't make the ranks of a major sex symbol. I've always found her to be hotter than Jayne Mansfield. If you don't believe me, check out High School Confidential; teenage boys would kill for an aunt this sexy. It's great fun no matter what, but even though MST3K cut out some scenes for their version, their great snotty comments are priceless. Get a hold of it, if you can!

This 1950s teen angst movie might got some fast cars, but it doesn't have the James Dean spirit, nor the Norma Jean beauty. It was a below-average film.

[ironhorse_iv · 3/10 · 12 May 2016]

A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can't go anywhere, without changing it. This movie is just a flat tire without a spare. I'm sorry, if anybody honestly like this old school classic about teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, but I kinda found it, somewhat annoying. I get that girls just wanna have fun, but all the troubled reckless youth in this film, were just not unlikeable at all. Way too much backtalk and sass with little caring. This movie is no Rebel without a Cause, because of that. Directed by Charles Haas, this movie tells the story of a juvenile delinquent, Silver Morgan (Mamie Van Doren) who is sent to a girl's school run by nuns, after being mistaken for a woman that was with her ex-boyfriend, Chip Gardner (Harold Lloyd Jr) at the time of his death. Unable to prove, her innocent, Silver must learn, how to live at the rehabilitation center, while, also trying to solve her ex boyfriend's murder. Without spoiling the movie, too much, this movie is probably best known as the film that the 1990s movie-mocking television series, 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' lampooned in Season 6, Episode 1, September 1994, airing on Comedy Central. Nevertheless, what people don't know, about that airing is that, about 15 minutes of the actual film was cut from this version. It get worst, as some versions of the film, imposed the removal of several scene in which Silver is bathing, because it was considered to be offensive to decency at the time. So, if you really want to see the full version, you might have to find the VHS tape, since as of this writing, this film hasn't yet, come into DVD. It's a really hard and rare movie to find a full version of this film. Despite the movie being impossible to find, the movie isn't as bad, as Mystery Science Theater 3000 make it out to be. It's not the worst to ever air on MST3K. However, it's does have a lot of moments, throughout the film, that will anger you. I think, one of them, for me, was the fact that the girls in the film, hardly learn any lessons. There is no character development. I get that, the movie is trying to be a straight-up morality tale about religion and friendship turning around the life of an angst juvenile delinquent, but the problem with that, is the innocent event that got Silver sent to Girls Town, overlook Silver's own crimes. Yes, it's true, that she found religion for a punishment, she didn't do, but it doesn't really show, much or any change in her persona about her own past crimes. Another problem with the film is how most of the cast are much older than the teenagers they're supposed to be playing. Annoying Marilyn Monroe rip-off, Mamie Van Doren was actually 28 at the time, a good 11 years older than her character. While, she was a fine-actor. The over-used of slang, really made her character, hard to understand. A good example of this, was with the word, 'henchman'. Silver probably mean henchman, in a way, like buddy, friend or pal, but it comes across, as lame attempt to give new meaning to that word. Other dialogues sentences, really become, very funny to the modern viewers, as meaning for certain words, now have sexual undertones with them. A good example of this, is when Silver told the villain in the film is 'that she will blow his whistle'. I can't help laughing. Despite that, Mamie Van Doren was somewhat sexy at certain moments in the film. I just wish, she stop, looking like a Marilyn Monroe clone. She's really ruin her looks, in her later years. One another character that really seem out of place is Jazz composer turn actor, Mel Tormé. He was 34 when he was declare to played, street racer/gang member Fred Alger. It was really jarring to see, a man known for playing smooth jazz, try to act, like a youthful bad-ass, when he clearly not. I really didn't like his character. Other characters that seem, like they don't belong in this film is, singer, Jimmy Parlow (Paul Anka) whom oddly seem to love, to hang out at Girl's Town for no reason, but to torment his stalker, Serafina Garcia (Gigi Perreau), by giving her mixed messages. Why would you want to be friends with your stalker? That would, only give them, more reasons to seek you out, Jimmy! Despite that, Paul Anka does alright in his first starting role. He remind me, so much of a young Dustin Hoffman, in this film, but as much as I love his singing of songs, "Lonely Boy", "It's Time to Cry", "Girls Town Blues", and "Ave Maria". The whole stalking sub-plot really felt like a different type of a movie, going on, at the same time, as the main plot. Another plot-line, that isn't followed up, on enough was the whole idea of the Joe Cates (Charlie Chaplin Jr.) trying to incriminate Silver in Chip's murder. It's come and goes, without any backstory on why. It's weird to see, the children of famous good-natured comedians, Harold Lloyd Jr and Charlie Chaplin Jr. being told to play bad guys. It's so jolting to watch. Even the whole idea of attempted rape in a late 1950s/early 1960s movie, was a little bit, too disturbing. Despite that, the action in the film is alright. The Game of Chicken with the cars was surprised, not that bad. It had some intense moments. Overall: This teen exploitation film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is a dated time capsule of a film that doesn't age well, since the 1950s, however, it's unique and entertaining the whole way through. Worth maybe one watch, but not much, other than that. If anything, just watch the MST3K version, instead.

Mamie Van Doren!

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 2 May 2020]

Mamie Van Doren was the bad girl of her era and this movie is one of the many reasons why. Despite being 27 at the time of filming, she plays 16-year-old Silver Morgan, who fends off an assault by knocking a man off a cliff. That is enough to send her to Girls Town, a place where bad girls turn to God thanks to some nuns.

Can Silver win over the tough women of Girls Town?

Will Serafina get to meet Paul Anka?

Will Silver's sister Mary Lee (Elinor Donahue, Father Knows Best) escape the evil clutches of Fred (Mel Torme, the Velvet Fog!) and white slavery in Tijuana in time to reveal that it was really her that killed the man and not her sister?

Producer Albert Zugsmith was a master of exploitation, getting his start with movies like Invasion U.S.A., The Incredible Shrinking Man and Touch of Evil before finding his niche with movies like High School Confidential!, Sex Kittens Go to College and the perfectly named Movie Star, American Style or; LSD, I Hate You. He also wrote, produced and directed noted comic strip bomb Dondi, which I really need to get to soon.

Director Charles F. Haas studied under T.S. Elliot at Harvard, which seems the perfect place to learn how to make movies like Summer Love with John Saxon, The Beat Generation with Van Doren and Platinum High School with Mickey Rooney.

Girls going to town-in a big way!

[Oosterhartbabe · 2/10 · 1 November 2005]

This movie is a laugh and a half. From the first scene, where we have an appearance of Mel Torme as a big, bad Jaguar drivin' stud muffin gang leader(and that's a giggle-fest in itself), to the final image of Mamie Van Doren, now a rehabilitated angelic teen strolling out of the prison(errr..loving girl's home run by iron fisted nuns), you can't stop shaking your head. The cast of this movie is a cheesy list from Mel and Mamie to the talentless Paul Anka(all I wanted through most of this movie was for him to just STOP SINGING!) and the King of Forty Year Old Teens, Dick Contino. Gloria Talbot, playing a humorless teen girl with more than a few chops(judo, not acting) I last saw in the horrible misogynist 50's romp Leech Woman, with a hairstyle so bad it looked like a dead woodchuck that had been squashed by a Mac truck.

Mamie is a bad, bad girl-she smokes, swears, runs wild, hits teachers, and runs around with gang leaders. She dumps her idiot Jaguar driving boyfriend Chip(who we see in the first scene trying to rape a blonde girl, before he falls off a cliff-nice guy), and proceeds to take up with Dick Contino instead. Whether this is a step up for her is anybody's guess. Mel shows up at a party she's at with her new beau, and accuses her of pushing the nasty Chip off the cliff. While I'm sure that she would have liked to, she wasn't there. A stupid fight scene between Contino and his gang and Mel and his jazz freaks ensues, with some hilariously bad moves on both sides.

Mamie ends up being sent to girls town, a reform school..errr...loving home for erring girls..run by Sister Iron Pants and her fellow sisters of correction. She annoys the nuns(and us) by scatting, tossing off sullen one-liners, and just generally showing how bad she is. She quickly runs into Gloria Talbot, playing one of the misbehaving girls, who gives her a chop sockey so that she knows her place. She meets a limp noodle of a girl who's obsessed with Paul Anka's character(why?). This little drip becomes her 'henchman'.

There's a long bit of movie where nothing much happens, except St. Paul of Anka keeps showing up and proving how saintly he is. He sings way too much in this interval, until you want to smack him in his huge snozz to just make him be quiet! And Mamie's little sister, played by Princess of Father Know's Best fame, calls her to tell her she's in trouble. Turns out it was sis who went out with the Chipster, and now Mel's blackmailing her because he found out. The girls all break out to go save her, with a hysterical fight scene between the girls and Mel and his boys. this is after a race between Mel and Dick that is just so stupid that it boggles the mind. The overage teenagers in this corny movie have a fabulous good time romping through what is basically a silly, badly written and morally preachy film that accomplishes none if its aims-unless its aim was to make you laugh out loud.

Welcome to girl's town!

[Aaron1375 · 2/10 · 17 April 2011]

This is one of those rebel type movies where the plot has way to many points and the film ends up being a tad jumbled. On the bright side it features Mel Torma whom I never have seen in anything other than old Night Court episodes thus proving he did do something. The plot is all over the place it basically has a guy tumbling over a cliff after chasing a girl in an attempt to sexual assault her, though they never say it in those terms. A girl gets picked up as she was supposed to be having a date with said guy and she is sent to Girl's Town, a place run by nuns that has all the makings of a reform school, but for some reason they act as if it is not one. You also have subplots about a girl who goes gaga for a singer and a race between rival gangs. Just one of those films that is just to all over the place, and you are required to listen to the occasional song sung by either Paul Anka or The Platters. Girl's Town seems like a strange place where the girls can harass the newbies all they want and the nuns rarely intervene. They do role up their sleeves and help with washing the floor, however.

Not outright bad, but not memorable either.

[stormofwar · 4/10 · 6 July 2009]

Admittedly, I watched the MST3K version of this, but it's not actually too bad outright, at least compared to others which deserve my cinematic hatred.

The story centers around a troubled girl wrongly sent to a "reform school" called Girls' Town. Along way, races, redemption, and wackiness (unintentional) happen. The story and acting are a little flat, as is the action. However, the entire thing is actually entertaining to a degree if you are absolutely bored.

Overall, just a simple sub par 50's flick, but far from the worst movie ever made, with some bright spots in the movie (The Ave Maria sequence was good for me).

If you get a chance to watch the MST3K version, you won't be disappointed. By it self, not so much, but I can think of worse methods of torture ("Spiker" anyone?).

Classic Song Writers VS Nuns in Edsels

[yonhope · 4/10 · 11 August 2018]

Paul Anka wrote the Tonight Show Theme and the English lyrics to My Way and The Longest Day Theme and he wrote a song for Buddy Holly that probably described his agent's thoughts about this movie. The song was "Guess it doesn't matter anymore." Mel Torme on a Summer's day needed a buck or two and he wrote a Christmas song that might be the all time number one unit sales Christmas song. It is called The Christmas Song. The song writers act well enough but the script is funny where it is supposed to be serious. Cat fights look a bit staged. We learn here that everyone leaves their keys in their cars. You should not grab the steering wheel when you are about to crash into a concrete support. Paul Anka has the best smile. Mamie was a beauty for sure. She is not given a lot to do in this movie except chew gum and look tough. The Platters song was written by Buck Ram who wrote the big Platters hits like Great Pretender and Only You. The song for this movie is not one of The Platters greats. This is a great, very great movie for Bad Movie Night. Wonderful old cars and telephones and hair styles. Don't miss it. Maybe it could be a double bill with High School Confidential.

A Laugh Riot

[lzf0 · 29 August 2010]

Yes, I know that Albert Zugsmith's films are low budget trash. But they are all so entertaining! My favorite part of this one is the casting of Mel Torme as a tough gang leader. Could there possibly be worse casting? And then there's Paul Anka. During the film, bad Mel has a fight with angelic Paul. I always wondered what that was about! Was this supposed to be some Zionist statement or did Mel object to Paul's out of tune singing of "Ave Maria"? Maybe Mel wanted to sing it in Yiddish or use it as a vehicle for a scat solo! But, I digress. Like all the Zugsmith films, this one is both intentionally and unintentionally funny. Director Haas' fast paced direction never lets the film get boring, even though the acting is as horrible as usual. It's in the same class with "High School Confidential", "The Big Operator", "College Confidential" and the greatest of them all, "Sex Kttens Go to College". Thank you Mr. Zugsmith! Don't miss this camp classic.

This is the ultimate trashfest

[scsu1975 · 3/10 · 25 November 2022]

With Mamie Van Doren getting top billing (no pun intended) and also starring Mel Tormé as a crumb, Paul Anka as a singer, Maggie Hayes as a nun, and child stars (now grown up) Gigi Perreau and Elinor Donohue, it appears that producer Albert Zugsmith just snagged people at random on the MGM lot and threw them into this monstrosity.

The film opens with Tormé making out with some chick. Meanwhile, another guy (Harold Lloyd, Jr. In a brief bit) is chasing after another chick, but he goes tumbling off a cliff. Tormé immediately suspects Mamie was responsible, and confronts her at a weenie roast. But Mamie claims she gave Lloyd the brush-off: "I got tired of you cats with the fast cars and slow heads. You give me a pain in the ear." Nevertheless, Mamie is railroaded and sent to Girls Town, which is run by Mother Veronica (Maggie Hays). Mamie is assigned to a room with Gigi Perreau, but immediately runs afoul of Gloria Talbott, who apparently likes to kick butts for the hell of it. In a confusing subplot, Perreau has an imaginary thing for a singer named Jimmy Parlow, played by Paul Anka. We get to hear Anka sing "Lonely Boy," but it gets even worse, trust me.

Every ten minutes it seems there is a rumble at Girls Town. In one scene, a fight breaks out at a dance when Perreau sees Anka dancing with another chick. In another sequence, it appears the girls are playing dodge ball, with Mamie as the ball.

But back to the plot. Tormé starts hanging around with Mamie's sister (Elinor Donohue, as a blonde). They have a drag race with Dick Contino, who apparently was famous at one time for playing the accordion. He certainly was not famous for acting. Contino goes belly up when his car crashes. Tormé and Donohue flee the scene, then Mel realizes that Donohue is the one who was on the cliff with Lloyd, so he decides to send her to Tijuana to shut her up. If you are getting confused, join the club.

In the exciting finale, Mamie busts out of Girls Town to rescue her sister. She is joined by Talbott, who is converted to Mamie's side. That's because Talbott sees Mamie praying to a statue of St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes. The director should have tried that. Mamie and Talbott accost Tormé and some musclehead in a hilarious brawl. Talbott uses karate moves on the big goon, while Mamie loads her stocking with a rock and proceeds to knock the crap out of Tormé. (There just happens to be a rock on the table in the cabin where Tormé is holed up.) Tormé attempts to fight back with a baseball bat, but Anka and Hayes arrive in the nick of time. Anka slugs Tormé and forces him to retract the lyrics to "The Christmas Song." Mamie leaves Girls Town reformed, and starts her own convent. Just kidding.

This film is really a mess. The Platters sing a tune, columnist Sheilah Graham plays a nun (Army Archerd failed his screen test), and bandleader Ray Anthony (Mamie's real-life hubby) appears as a private eye pretending to be a delivery man pretending to be an actor. Anka looks like Danny Thomas' and Dustin Hoffman's love child. The lowlight (and it was tough just finding one) is when Anka sings "Ave Maria" to Mamie in church, and she cries. I did too, but for different reasons. On the plus side, there are plenty of scenes where the cameraman manages to linger on Mamie just enough to make this somewhat watchable.

The dumbest line in the movie goes to the actor playing Lloyd's father, who glares at Mamie and says "I'll never understand what my son saw in you." Pops, get yourself a medical checkup.

Dang, there were a lot of these

[ericstevenson · 4/10 · 8 December 2016]

Movies from "Mystery Science Theater 3000" made at this time are so amazingly dated. They even talk about how obnoxious the slang is. This film features a woman falsely accused of murder going to a Catholic reform school. I guess I'll give the movie credit for having a concept that I have never seen before. Its main flaw is that it's still too boring! All cheesy 1950's movies are looking the same. The pacing is really bad. It isn't until the last ten minutes that something really important happens.

There are just so many pointless scenes. We have nothing going on with the girls just talking and cleaning the house and everything. I don't know if this is how actual reform schools like this work. Well, it gave a somewhat positive image of religion. I don't think that people pray through Saint Jude to God. Well, maybe that was just how they did it back then. Well, I finally got done writing eight reviews on this website in one day! I am never doing this again. *1/2

A Little Corny but Okay for the Time Spent

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 3 November 2015]

This movie begins with a young woman trying to run away from a man who is trying to rape her. A fight ensues and the man accidentally falls off a cliff to his death. Not long afterward a young woman named "Silver Morgan" (Mamie Van Doren) is linked to the man's death and is remanded to a Catholic school for girls pending sufficient evidence needed for a murder conviction. Although Silver protests her innocence her wild behavior and rebellious attitude prove to be a negative factor against her and soon she begins to get in even more trouble. Meanwhile, her little sister, "Mary Lee Morgan" (Elinor Donahue) discovers that life without Silver to protect her is quite difficult as well. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that although this film was more than a little corny it still wasn't too bad for the most part with the gorgeous Mamie Van Doren clearly dominating each and every scene she was in. That said, even though this movie was clearly dated I still thought it was okay for the time spent and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Although the cast may have been assembled from somebody's nightmare, it's still one of the great ensemble casts in film history.

[meeker-1 · 10/10 · 3 August 2004]

Although the cast may have been assembled from somebody's nightmare, it's still one of the great ensemble casts in film history.

Mamie Van Doren's name heading ANY cast means a good time will be had by all -- well maybe not ALL, but at least by those discerning cineastes who knew after the 1960 Academy Awards were handed out that 1959's "Girls Town" was robbed by "Ben-Hur." After all, what's a silly chariot race compared to Mamie chewing gum and talking back to nuns? And in "Girls Town" you get so much more: Gloria Talbott, Elinor "Princess" Donahue, Gigi Perreau, Paul Anka, Maggie Hayes, Sheilah Graham, The Platters, Cathy Crosby, Ray Anthony, Charles Chaplin Jr., Harold Lloyd Jr., and so help us, Mel Torme . . . Mel Torme!!!??? Oh yeah, you also get this plot, which has something or other to do with 30-year-old high school kids (like Mamie) getting in trouble with the law and getting sent to the title institution. There's also a nifty drag race -- in a cement riverbed! This film showed up 20 years after "Gone With the Wind" and features just as much excitement and talent. It helps if you've had a lobotomy prior to viewing the film.

My goodness but Mamie sure could fill-up an outfit!

[bensonmum2 · 6/10 · 15 July 2007]

Already on probation for a series of petty crimes, Silver Morgan (Mamie Van Doren) is facing time in juvenile detention after being accused by a witness of pushing her boyfriend off a cliff. Fortunately for Silver, Mother Veronica offers to take her in at Girls Town - a Catholic home for troubled young women. Silver doesn't want to fit in and has trouble with the other girls from the moment she arrives. But when her kid sister gets into trouble, it's these very same people she turns to for help. Can Girls Town save Silver - and her sister?

If Silver Morgan is 16 years old, then I'm a teenager myself. My goodness but Mamie sure could fill-up an outfit! Curves galore! And what kind of name is "Silver"? Sounds like a stripper name to me! But even though this is low-budget 50s-style exploitation, Mamie gives a surprisingly decent performance. It's not award worthy or anything, but I enjoyed it.

Beyond Mamie, another "highlight" of the movie has to be the fight scene between those two imposing specimens of masculinity, Paul Anka and Mel Torme. That's right - Paul Anka and Mel Torme in a fight! It's one of the absolute funniest things I've seen in a long time. I mean Mamie's bra is tougher than these two. Still, it's a moment that made the movie for me.

Realistically, Girls Town isn't anywhere near as good as my rating would indicate. But as I've said before, my ratings are based on the entertainment value I find in movies regardless of a lot of other factors. If I watch a movie and enjoy it and have fun with it, it gets a good rating. And unlike a lot of other reviewers, I had a blast with Girls Town.

I watched the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version of Girls Town and loved it. The riffs were dead-on and hysterical. I've got no problems rating episode #601 a 4/5 on my MST3K rating scale. This is one any fan of the show should seek out.

Priceless Cast and Very Amusing Dialogue

[mrb1980 · 5/10 · 13 January 2018]

Take a look a this film's cast: Mamie Van Doren, Mel Torme, Paul Anka, Gigi Perreau, Gloria Talbott, Elinor Donahue, Ray Anthony, James Mitchum, and other late 1950s luminaries. Add some of the most ridiculous dialogue ever, numerous Paul Anka songs, and a laughably dumb script, and you have the delicious and campy "Girls Town".

Silver Morgan (Van Doren) is framed for a death and railroaded into a disciplinary place called Girls Town, which is inhabited by orphans and problem girls and run by nuns(!). She is immediately put in her place by dorm boss Vida (a very tough Gloria Talbott), resulting in all kinds of problems when Morgan misbehaves and breaks the rules. Along the way we see a laughable gang rumble, teen idol Jimmy Parlow (a very young Paul Anka) sings innumerable songs, bad-guy Fred (Mel Torme) abducts Silver's innocent kid sister Mary Lee (Donahue) and tries to sell her for profit in Mexico, there's a wild drag race and a drug overdose, and eventually Jimmy, Vida, Silver, and the nuns triumph over Fred. Silver has learned her lesson and emerges from Girls Town as a fine young woman, and also as a woman in her late 20s playing a high school senior.

Van Doren's dialogue is unintentionally ludicrous. She says "daddy-o" more times than I could count, she calls the head nun's phone an "Alexander Graham", she refers to another girl as a "baby chick", and...well, you get the idea. I found myself laughing out loud at the ridiculous words that came out of her mouth. Still, "Girls Town" has a certain weird appeal to it. It's hokey, but it's a lot more innocent than anything you'll see today, and it's a chance to see Paul Anka at the beginning of his stardom (strangely, Torme doesn't sing at all). It's over an hour of silly entertainment, and the music's not bad, either.

Incredible 50s schlock-o-rama that borders on brilliance

[Casey-52 · 10/10 · 11 November 2000]

Brilliance? Yes! GIRLS TOWN is one of several ultimate 1950's epics by producer/director Albert Zugsmith. Combining some of the best psychotronic personalities of the decade with awesome rock music and outlandish plots, Zugsmith created essential viewing for film fans. GIRLS TOWN is one of his lesser films, but still packs a hell of a punch today. Many will recognize it from MST3K, but it is much better than it looks.

Mamie van Doren (the sexy blonde who competed with Marilyn and Jayne the whole decade) is Silver, a sexy juvenile delinquent accused of pushing her boyfriend over a cliff. She is committed to a reform school run by nuns, where she encounters nice girl Gigi Perreau and bitchy Gloria Talbott. Meanwhile, sleazy drag racer Mel Torme (!!!!!) tries to blackmail Silver's sister Elinor Donahue (the real murderess) into being his drag partner! Also figuring into the mix are Paul Anka, Ray Anthony, The Platters, Dick Contino, Maggie Hayes, Jim Mitchum, Charles Chaplin, Jr., Harold Lloyd, Jr., and Norman Grabowski!

Besides having a cast to die for (all have style and presence, if not excellent), GIRLS TOWN has fantastic music, creative camerawork, a drag race, many musical numbers, several catfights, Mamie in many revealing, sexy outfits, a hilarious gang brawl, and a judo-chopping Gloria Talbott! Mamie van Doren has always been a favorite of mine and, like Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe, is an underrated actress. Here, she is at her best: sexy, vulnerable, tough, and overall, very likable. If you're not a hardcore Mamie fan by the end of this movie, you need to check your pulse and your pants, 'cause you may be dead on both ends!

GIRLS TOWN is a fabulous time capsule of a film that doesn't age that well, but is unique and entertaining the whole way through. By the way, MST3K cut about 15 minutes out of the movie to fit into their time slot, the whole movie has many more fun scenes! Highly recommended, you will not be disappointed and it will be an experience you will never forget!

Mamie chomps gum, kicks rump and swings hips

[mls4182 · 7/10 · 27 November 2021]

Mamie Van Doren was more than a face, figure and cotton head. She had a ton of charm, could sing, and was a competent comedic actress. Unfortunately, she rarely got to show anything but her curves.

Sit back, enjoy the visuals of Mamie and laugh at the camp.

P. S. You won't recognize Elinor Donahue.

.

The campiest of the campy

[billy-7 · 10/10 · 13 September 1998]

A careful perusal of the cast should lead any connoisseur of trash to check this gem out immediately. You haven't lived until you've seen Mel Torme as the leader of a motorcycle gang, Elinor ("Father Knows Best") Donahue as Mamie Van Doren's kid sister, and Sheilah Graham as a nun. The piece de resistance, however, is Paul Anka's rendition of "Ave Maria." This one, in my opinion, has it all over "Plan 9 from Outer Space."

Girls Town is an enjoyable juvenile delinquent flick

[tavm · 7/10 · 30 March 2017]

With this, I've now seen all the movies The Platters appeared in-Rock Around the Clock, The Girl Can't Help It, Rock All Night, Carnival Rock, and now this one. Another singer that appears is Paul Anka-in fact, this movie has an "Introducing" credit for him but his real first film appearance was in Let's Rock the previous year though this was his first in which he also acts. Unlike The Platters, Anka does not have any dialogue going on during any of his numbers which included his hit "Lonely Boy". He also sang a nice rendition of "Ave Maria". The star is Mamie Van Doren as a woman who's blamed for her ex-boyfriend's murder but she says she wasn't there. Also appearing are Elinor Donahue as her younger sister, Mel Torme as the one who saw the actual murder, and a couple of sons of famous silent comedians-Harold Lloyd Jr. as the one who pays for what he tries to do to whichever woman he was with and Charles Chaplin Jr. as a guy named Joe who announces the rules of a chicken run later in the movie. This is another of Albert Zugsmith's sensationalist movies but it's quite fun to watch and a little touching in spots. So on that note, I recommend Girls Town.

Another Zugsmith classic

[jameselliot-1 · 8/10 · 14 December 2022]

Go ahead and throw out your money on another boring Spielberg piece of worthless, egotistical garbage. Or you can watch this American masterpiece of exploitation story telling with a fantastic cast topped by the spectacular sweater stretching Mamie Van Doren who is backed up by Gloria Talbot, Elinor Donahue, Gigi Perreau and other 20-somethings playing teens. The only very serious problem is Paul Anka. He comes close to destroying the film singlehandedly. A barf bag might be required for some viewers. Mel Torme is ok as a hot-rodding thug who wants to quote ship Mamie's sister Elinor to Tijuana unquote. He doesn't get to sing.

DECENT TEEN EXPLOITATION WITH SPLENDID MAMIE VAN DOREN!

[shepardjessica-1 · 7/10 · 8 November 2004]

This later 60's teen "drama" is not bad. Thank God for the presence of the gorgeous and sassy Mamie Van Doren (as Silver Morgan - what a name). This is the perfect role for her charms and attitude. A very young Paul Anka (his debut) seems like he's 5 years old. Gloria Talbott fine as judo girl. Gigi Perreaux is fresh and naive as Serafina. Mel Torme is a joke has hot-rod punk who drinks milk and bosses women around.

A 5 out of 10. Best performance = Ms. Van Doren. A. Zugsmith also produced HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL with Mamie. Some good dialogue and Elinor Donahue (FATHER KNOWS BEST) as heart-felt emotion as kid sister. The Anka character is a bit much with his good intentions, but you could tell where the film was going.

Celluloid proof that Arch Hall Jr. should have been a contender

[bux · 1 May 2002]

How do you get so much talent together and have something so awful? Just look at the cast...Mel Torme, the "Velvet Fog" in leather and corduroy...Paul Anka and two sons of the greatest comedians ever...how could they go so wrong here? The paper thin plot is hoked up with a lot of the not-so-great 50s songs, a bad driving scene that is supposed to hold us breathless, and a lot of views of the L.A. River. Is it any wonder that Arch Hall Jr. thought he had a future in the business after seeing stuff like this cranked out by a MAJOR STUDIO?