Archive Watch
Poster for Name Unknown (1951)

Name Unknown (1951)

1951 · Ephemeral film · 10 min · dir. Sid Davis

  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Short
Watch now On the Internet Archive

Synopsis

A Juvenile Court judge relates to Edie--a young girl who is appearing before him because she ran away from home with a boy who promised to marry her--the things that happen to teenagers who don't listen to their parents or other authority figures. He shows her cases where young girls have been assaulted, raped and murdered because their parents were too permissive and let them have jobs outside the home, or the girls were too defiant and thought they were "too sophisticated" for their own good. Then, to show his compassion and concern for Edie--who by this time has been reduced to a bawling, quivering wreck--he throws her in a juvenile detention hellhole for three months so she can think about "whether showing off is worth a lifetime of regrets!"

Synopsis from OMDb

Details

Director
Sid Davis
Released
1951-01-01
Running time
10 minutes
Language
English
Collection
Prelinger Archives

Cast & crew

Reviews on the Internet Archive

★★★★ · Don't do ANYTHING and you won't get into trouble · Scott Bot · 2004-09-29

A rather disturbing cautionary tale of what happens to girls who break what are considered the rules. What's most disturbing about the film is that the man who needs a babysitter and the two guys who pick up the girls are seen as very nice, friendly, and safe. I would assume that back in the early fifties, there wasn't the natural wariness that we have had instilled in us today. How were these girls supposed to know they were going to be vicitimized? Basically, the film is telling us to stay home and stay safe. The lovely Phyllis from "The Terrible Truth" is back as the parking girl…

★★★★ · Go ahead, Laugh! · Spuzz · 2005-05-28

Judge Mckesson, the amazing star of 'The Terrible Truth' is back at it again in the highly strange 'Name Unknown' where he explores cases of loose teenage women! In all of these, their fates are quite obvious, based on the scum they choose to pick up rides with. (If only their friends would have gotten the license plate!!) Again, Mckesson talks onscreen differently then the narration, which is highly strange. And the best moment of the film comes when you think Mckesson is surprising a couple making out in a car, then he draws a gun! (you then realize it's NOT him LOL) Reccomended!

★★★ · Name Unknown dated · ERD. · 2009-12-31

Girls were more naive when this film was made.It probably served a purpose then, but now it is dated.

More like this