Main Cast: Linda Carol, Wendy O. Williams, Pat Ast, Sybil Danning, Charlotte McGinnis
Release Year: 1986
Country: US
Run Time: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A softcore, low-budget film with no pretentions to a viable plot or character development, Reform School Girls just proceeds along the foul-mouthed, suggestive lines of its genre without anything new to add. Charlie (Wendy O. Williams, who committed suicide in April of 1998, at the age of 48) runs a reform school along with fat Edna (Pat Ast) and the tough warden Sutter (Sybil Danning) whose quotes from the Bible have little effect on her co-workers. As new inmates are intimidated into sexual acts and everybody generally wanders around in as little as possible, it does not take a genius to figure out that sex is the main protagonist in this blue film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Review
Former gay porn director Tom DeSimone (aka "Lancer Brooks") tackled the women's prison movie with this campy but straight-faced spoof. Pat Ast steals the show as sinister matron Big Edna ("Some of the girls call me 'Eddie.' I like that.") while the late punk singer Wendy O. Williams is funny as the butch but sexy Charlie. Linda Carol plays the innocent victim to a T, and a favorite tongue-in-cheek moment has Edna burning Carol's beloved teddy bear and dragging her away screaming from the smoking toy. Lest more devoted viewers think that the film doesn't deliver the expected goods, there is a shower scene and the requisite lesbianism and cruelty, as DeSimone chooses to work within the genre rather than sweetening it up for the comedy crowd. Still, it's a big improvement over his more serious attempt at the form, 1982's The Concrete Jungle, and it has gained a cult following. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Sheri Stoner - Lisa; Denise Gordy - Claudie; Laurie Schwartz - Nicky; Tiffany Helm - Fish; Darcy de Moss - Knox; Michelle Bauer; Lorrie Marlow - Shelly; Leslie Rivers - Guard; Lavelle Roby - Guard; Vance Valencia - Gate Guard; Don Pugsley - Bus Driver; Winifred Freedman - Terri; Archie Lang - Judge; Terri Lynn - Bad Girl #1; Fred D. Scott - Judge Carter; Jim Staskel - Truck Driver
Credit
Kathleen Kennedy - Associate Producer, Charles Skouras III - Associate Producer, Tedra Gabriel - Casting, Katie Sparks - Costume Designer, Tom de Simone - Director, Michael Spence - Editor, Gregory Hinton - Executive Producer, Tedra Gabriel - Composer (Music Score), Martin Schwartz - Composer (Music Score), Becky Block - Production Designer, Howard Wexler - Cinematographer, Jack Cummins - Producer, Tom Talbert - Set Designer, Tom de Simone - Screenwriter
