Girls on Probation is a 1938 American crime film directed by William C. McGann and written by Crane Wilbur. The film stars Jane Bryan, Ronald Reagan, Anthony Averill, Sheila Bromley, Henry O'Neill and Elisabeth Risdon.[1] The film was released by Warner Bros. on August 22, 1938.

Girls on Probation
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilliam C. McGann
Written byCrane Wilbur
Produced byBryan Foy
StarringJane Bryan
Ronald Reagan
Anthony Averill
Sheila Bromley
Henry O'Neill
Elisabeth Risdon
CinematographyArthur L. Todd
Edited byFrederick Richards
Music byHoward Jackson
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • August 22, 1938 (1938-08-22)
Running time
63 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Innocent young Connie Heath is persuaded to borrow a party dress from her friend, "fast girl" Hilda Engstrom, who has actually misappropriated it from the dry cleaner where she works. After the real owner of the dress, witchy Gloria Adams, spots Connie out in the dress (which is subsequently torn in a car door), Connie is falsely accused of theft and prosecuted as Hilda flees town and leaves her to take the blame. Though Gloria withdraws her charge, the insurance company continues to persecute poor Connie, resulting in a charge of grand larceny. Championing her cause is crusading attorney Neil Dillon - coincidentally, also Connie's date on the evening in question- who gets Connie off with probation.

Connie leaves town after being mistreated by her unsympathetic father and gets a job in order to pay for the damaged dress. One day she spots Hilda waiting in a parked car on the street and begins to argue with her in the car when Hilda's boyfriend emerges from a bank he has just robbed, fleeing the scene with Connie in tow. She is arrested and convicted while refusing to give her real name or full story for fear of humiliating her family.

Eventually the truth begins to emerge, and Connie is given probation, returns home, and becomes engaged to Dillon. When Hilda is given probation, she returns to town as well, to make even more trouble for Connie, especially after her boyfriend escapes prison.[2]

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ Hal Erickson. "Girls on Probation". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  2. ^ "Girls on Probation (1938) - William McGann, Harry Seymour - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
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