Jail Bait (Hidden Face) poster & wallpaper
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Dolores Fuller, Lyle Talbot, Herbert Rawlinson, Steve Reeves, Clancy Malone ... see more see more... , Timothy Farrell , Tina Lynn , Mona McKinnon , Wade Nichols , Bud Osborne , Cotton & Chick Watts , John Avery

Jail Bait was the place where Edward D. Wood Jr.'s career as a director entered the mainstream. Having exposed the world of transvestism in Glen or Glenda, he now turned to less ambitious fare in an e... read more read more...ffort at commercial success. Loosely patterned after the television series Dragnet, Jail Bait tells the story of Don Gregor (Clancey Malone), the spoiled, arrogant son of a successful plastic surgeon (Herbert Rawlinson), who is out for some kicks and excitement and hooks up with Vic Brady (Timothy Farrell), a career criminal. Opening with Don's arrest for illegal possession of a pistol, the film tracks his interaction with a pair of detectives (Lyle Talbot, Steve Reeves); his deceiving of his sister (Dolores Fuller) and his father; the robbery that goes wrong and leads him to murder an ex-cop; and his attempt to go straight, which gets him killed. That action, and Brady's attempt to force Dr. Gregor to alter his face, leads to a bizarre revenge that makes up the final 15 minutes of the movie. Little of this plot is unfolded skillfully -- Wood was already out of his depth in directing actors -- but having access to Howco's finances (meager as they were) and facilities gives Jail Bait a slightly smoother, less emaciated look than most of Wood's later movies. Coupled with the fact that he was trying to do a straight crime film, and the resulting restraint he showed in the writing, Jail Bait can just about "pass" as a normal, albeit very low-budget film, although, as with all of Wood's movies, there is still an unintended laugh every minute or so. And just to show how close to the edge Wood was working even at the outset of his career, in terms of using marginal talent, neophyte performers, and one-time successful actors, Bela Lugosi was not the first leading actor in a Wood movie to die during production -- that distinction went to Herbert Rawlinson, who played Dr. Gregor here. The former silent-era leading man reportedly died the night after he finished shooting his role in Jail Bait. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

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25% liked it

1,077 ratings

Critics

29% liked it

7 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.

Directed by: Edward D. Wood Jr.

Release Date: January 1, 1954

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DVD Release Date: February 15, 2000

Stats: 69 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (69)

  • ajv2688
    November 9, 2010
    ajv2688
    This isn't a well known movie of Ed Wood's, but I thought it was very good, especially the story. It's exciting and dramatic, but of course low budget and sort of cheesy, which I kinda liked. Anyway, if you like Wood's movies you should see this one too.
  • mjgildea
    October 31, 2006
    mjgildea
    A sorry attempt at film noir, but since it's Ed Wood it's worth seeing.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
September 13, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Typical bad Ed Wood production, which is typically great to many.

Ken Hanke
October 22, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Better than some Wood films, but somehow less fun.

Nathan Rabin
August 19, 2003
Nathan Rabin, AV Club

The tale of a bad seed immersed in that most horrific of crimes, unregistered gun ownership. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This is Wood's attempt to be taken seriously, and he makes this the best film he has ever made. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 14, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Philip Martin
March 2, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Carol Cling
August 22, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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