Reefer Madness
30 11 2008I think this one was of the most entertaining and historically interesting movies that we’ve watched all semester. Most of the movies that we’ve studied have focused on events rather than ideas. It’s important to remember that the movie is hilarious to us because we’ve come so far as a culture — though not quite far enough. Anyone remember the anti-marijuana commercial from just a few years back, where a high girl runs down someone in her car? Recently, they’ve gotten more humorous, and try to portray drugs as silly and stupid. The way this stuff is advertised to us has changed, but I think that is mostly because of the extensive advertising research done into what teenagers are receptive to.
But back to the film. It was over the top, as all propaganda is. I can’t imagine that it would have prevented too many young kids from smoking pot (and I never thought it was all that common in the 1930s), but it unfortunately would have put overprotective parents on high alert. The film itself is not poorly made for its time, but I have to say that I think it’s for the best that it disappeared until the 1970s. We all go through the D.A.R.E. program, and are generally more informed about sex and drugs.
Besides, as the movie shows, if a teenager is going to get high and have sex, the law isn’t going to stop them. It’ll just be there to punish them when they finish. And can we comment on the fact that while the film was originally aimed at parents, we see adults acting irresponsible and cruel, while the teenagers are just thoughtlessly stupid? Were they Communists or something?
I thought this movie was great! It had a totally different style than the past movies we have seen. It is hard for our generation to take this movie seriously because we have all learned about marijuana and the effects it has on you; these effects are completely different compared to the effects they showed in the film. The film’s perspective of what marijuana does to teenagers is laugh uncontrollably, dance wildly, and indulge in promiscuous sexual behavior. Parents during the time the film was made were very concerned about this dangerous drug their children were trying. The movie is similar to other movies in relating to characters. You have the bad guys, which is the couple who lures teenagers to their apartment to smoke marijuana who then become addicted. Then you have the good guys, which is the brother and sister who are the teenagers that are lured into trying this evil drug. I thought what was interesting was how Reefer Madness was made in 1938. I didn’t realize that marijuana was a problem that society was concerned about then, which prompted them to make the film. I have heard of public announcements produced in the 1950’s to have parents talk to their children about the dangers of marijuana, but not in the late 1930’s. Also, it is interesting how “Reefer Madness” was re-released in the 1970’s when weed smoking was still a popular drug choice. I think society has done better in explaining the dangers of marijuana or any drug with the program D.A.R.E. This seems to get across to children better, because the D.A.R.E program is taught at an early age. I learned about the program when I was ten years old. Health classes in middle schools and high schools also reiterate the dangers of drug usage. –Ashley Scutari