Rebellious Daughters (1938)
Directed by Jean Yarbrough and produced by Ben Judell for Progressive Pictures, Rebellious Daughters is a provocative crime drama typical of the Poverty Row exploitation cycle of the late 1930s. With a title designed to attract attention, the film explores themes of youth rebellion, parental neglect, and urban corruption, all wrapped in a cautionary tale aimed at Depression-era audiences.
Plot Summary
Claire Elliott (Marjorie Reynolds) and her friend Barbara “Babe” Webster (Verna Hillie) are young women frustrated by their home lives—Claire’s father is overbearing, and Babe’s parents are indifferent. Seeking independence and excitement, they move to New York City and accept modeling jobs at a glamorous dress shop run by Joe Gilman (George Douglas).
But the shop is a front for a blackmail and call-girl racket, and the girls soon find themselves entangled in a dangerous world of dirty pictures, coercion, and criminal manipulation. As the stakes rise, Claire must find a way to escape and expose the operation before it’s too late.
Cast Highlights
- Marjorie Reynolds as Claire Elliott
- Verna Hillie as Barbara “Babe” Webster
- Sheila Bromley as Flo Russell
- George Douglas as Joe Gilman
- Oscar O’Shea, Dennis Moore, and Monte Blue in supporting roles
Production Notes
- First feature film directed by Jean Yarbrough, who would go on to a prolific career in B-movies and television
- Produced by Progressive Pictures, known for low-budget exploitation films with sensational titles like Delinquent Parents and Slander House
- Shot in black-and-white, with minimal sets and a focus on dialogue and urban atmosphere
- Sometimes retitled or marketed as Wayward Daughters in alternate releases
