“ Name Unknown ” Social Guidance Film for Female Teens Dangers of Trusting Strangers Xd4666 (1951)
1951 · Short film · 10 min
Synopsis
Made by prolific filmmaker Sid Davis, whose cautionary films for young people were shown in classrooms around the USA, “Name Unknown” (0:12), is a movie that sternly warns teenage women against the dangers of trusting strangers that may turn out to be sexual predators. This is a black and white version of the film; it was also released in color. Plot summary: Juvenile court judge William B. McKesson speaks to a young runaway named Edie and her parents about the fate that often awaits girls like her -- human trafficked, sold into white slavery, assaulted and even murdered. The Judge also rails against the parents, who he believes are too permissive and trusting. The Judge places Edie into juvenile detention hellhole for her own good so she can think about "whether showing off is worth a lifetime of regrets."The title card at 0:18 acknowledges the cooperation and assistance of real-life Judge William B. McKesson of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court for appearing in the film. Judge McKesson speaks with Edie Adams and her parents (0:42). Just one in the hundreds of cases he’s handled as judge of the Juvenile Court. Edie ran off with a stranger that promised to marry her, but he has robbed the building and the loan office.Carnival music is heard at a fair (1:11); a low angle shot of a Ferris wheel (1:17). A carnival pitchman plays the old shell game with a gullible man (1:22), who falls prey to the con (1:33). Judge McKesson, in a voiceover, tells the family that teenagers can be…
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Running time
- 10 minutes
- Collection
- Ephemeral Films
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- Judge Mc
- Sid Davis
- Name Unknown
- Judge William
- Los Angeles Juvenile Court
- Edie Adams
- Juvenile Court
- Mary Hansen
- Hollywood Tribune
- Ethel Ryan
