Dangerous Years (1947) - Juvenile Delinquency Drama with an early appearance by Marilyn Monroe

A gritty post-war drama that delves into the world of juvenile delinquency, focusing on a group of teenagers who fall under the sway of a hoodlum and the legal system that tries to determine their fate.

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📖 STORY
After being brought to court for a manslaughter charge,a group of teenagers faces a judge who tries to understand the roots of their criminal behavior. The story unfolds of how a young man, Danny Jones, fell under the influence of a vicious gangster and led his friends into a robbery that ended in tragedy. The film explores the social causes of crime and the question of who is truly responsible: the teens themselves or the society that failed them.

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⭐ HIGHLIGHTS
•The iconic screen debut of Marilyn Monroe in a tiny role as a waitress named Evie
•William Halop, star of the "Dead End Kids" series, in the lead role
•A stark, cautionary tale typical of the era
•An early example of post-war anxiety about "wayward youth"
•Exploration of juvenile crime and rehabilitation

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🎬 PRODUCTION DETAILS
•Genre: Drama, Crime, Juvenile Delinquency
•Director: Arthur Pierson
•Screenplay: Arnold Belgard
•Runtime: 62 minutes
•Cast: William Halop, Scotty Beckett, Richard Gaines, Ann E. Todd, Jerome Cowan, Anabel Shaw, Marilyn Monroe
•Country: United States
•Studio: 20th Century Fox

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🎪 BEHIND THE SCENES
•One of 20th Century Fox's first post-war films to tackle the issue of teenage crime.
•Shot quickly and on a low budget.
•For Marilyn Monroe (then still Norma Jeane Dougherty), this was one of her very first, almost uncredited contract jobs for the studio. Her name does not appear in the opening credits.
•Considered a standard example of the "message picture" of its time.

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🏛️ CULTURAL LEGACY
Today,"Dangerous Years" (1947) is primarily known and noteworthy for featuring the cinematic debut of Marilyn Monroe. The film stands as a fascinating artifact of its era, reflecting the social fears of post-war America and a cinematic trend of exploiting the juvenile delinquency theme. It serves as the starting point for Monroe's legendary career and an example of the later roles of the "Dead End Kids" actors.

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💬 DISCUSSION
How does this film reflect the post-war mood in America?How effective is its "cautionary tale" message? What is the irony that a film warning about bad influence is now remembered only because of a tiny role by a future icon?

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