Fascinated by an old crime from 1937 during Hollywood' era of glamour and glitz, David Stenn uses tenacity and determination to uncover more than one injustice and mystery in the files of an ancient rape case. Using old archival stills and film clips, Stenn carefully sets the stage and circumstances that led to young women being lured into studio parties without their knowledge, and the subsequent tragedies that occurred, affecting people for their entire lifetime. Stenn not only takes the viewer on a trip back through time, but also examines in his film the impact of old lies and coverups on the current lives and functioning that continues on for generation after generation. The powerful and earthy narratives of his interviews with those involved are the most significant aspect of his documentary, outlining both the times and the players in this decades-old tale.
Girl 27 is the Story of An Era of Hollywood Glamour and Power
On an old copy of a studio movie party list, one girl's name was underlined: Girl 27. Stenn found out that this female was the reclusive Patricia Douglas, a woman who lived most of her life in the shadows, alone and often misunderstood. But in 1937, Miss Douglas, then only a minor, came forward with a landmark case charging powerful movie executives with criminal implications regarding the loss of her innocence. Movie studios would occasionally offer gala parties to show appreciation to those who supported their industry, and utilized local talent for entertainment. But the young women who were to be that entertainment often knew only that it was a casting call, not that they were to attend a wild and open party that might put themselves at risk. Girl 27 was not the only young female to be preyed upon by guests of the movie studios. Notables profiled and interviewed in the film include Jennifer Lopez, Greta Von Sustern, Jacqueline Kennedy, Loretta Young, and Clark Gable. As Stenn digs deeper and deeper into the dark part of the Hollywood era of the 1930s, he uncovers more and more information about what lies beneath the public's view of the movie industry and how the power and glamour became a synchronous force that led men to believe they were beyond the letter of the law.
A Slowly Unfolding Tragedy and Injustice are Revealed in David Stenn's Film
Attitudes towards women, economic issues, vulnerability, youth and innocence intertwine into a drama that displays how one movie studio held a community within its powerful grip and choked the life out of a criminal case. The last vestiges of the former case filed by Miss Douglas are digested and carefully sifted through by Stenn to understand what happened to the young woman and the other principle players. The film is a fascinating look at a bygone era, at the ugly truths beneath the beautiful facades, and above all, the tremendous cost for other lives that a selfish and brutal act may extract for decade after decade. There is no happy ending to this type of story, there is only truth and the search for justice. What happens when an old case, swept under the carpet for half a century, sees the light of day? Whether justice was better served for David Stenn's look backwards is up to the viewer to decide.
- 80 minutes
- Movie Site
- A David Stenn Film
- 2007
- Available on Amazon
Barbara DeGrande - Barbara DeGrande is a writer, film critic, and blogger, with years of experience as a program developer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in ...
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