Reform School Girls
Encyclopedia
Reform School Girls is a 1986
American
film directed by Tom DeSimone, starring Wendy O. Williams
, Pat Ast, and Sybil Danning
. It depicts a reform school for girls that is operated by a sadist
ic and evil warden, Sutter, and her henchwoman Edna.
of the women in prison film genre and deliberately implements many of the tropes commonly found in such films. Such scenes include nude shower scenes, fight scenes, and a suggested romantic relationship between one of the inmates and an administrator. The overall plot involves a new influx of girls coming to the school. They are immediately confronted with Charlie Chambliss (Wendy O. Williams
) who is the de facto leader of the school and has an exceedingly close relationship with the head of the ward, Edna (Pat Ast). Charlie and her circle are given special privileges by Edna and it is suggested that Charlie and Edna enjoy a more intimate relationship. Charlie runs a secret society of girls who are loyal to her and to whom she offers protection. The two main new girls break several of Edna's rules and are punished decisively for their infractions.
Jenny (Linda Carol) comes to the school after becoming mixed up in a shoot out
. She tries to break out after befriending a male driver with whom she has a romantic encounter in the back of his truck. She makes arrangements that he will drive her off the premises but is discovered by a guard and after a scuffle she is apprehended and immediately cast into isolation. Lisa (Sherri Stoner
) is a runaway who is captured and placed in the reform school. She suffers several losses while at the school including her stuffed bunny and a cat she tends to which was originally found while the girls were out performing hard labor. The cat is discovered by Edna in the dorms and she chases it until finally stomping it to death. Lisa is punished with isolation. After the death of her cat, Lisa attempts to climb to the top of the tower, followed closely by Edna. When she reaches the top she stumbles backward as Edna confronts her, breaks through the barriers and falls to her death. This causes Jenny to smash through a window which starts a riot which is only quelled when Warden Sutter (Sybil Danning) shoots a shotgun into the ceiling.
The film culminates in a protest scene after Dr. Norton (Charlotte McGinnis), a psychiatrist, forces a meeting of administrators over the conditions and treatment of inmates at the school. She intended to have Jenny testify but a doctor determines, despite all evidence to the contrary, that she is ill and will not be able to attend. Therefore, four other inmates are chosen and none of them has any complaints. During the meeting Jenny knocks out a guard and steals her keys which allows all the girls to march out into the main open area and voice their grudges. Edna, however, gets a hold of a gun and opens fire on them. Edna shoots Charlie and climbs up the tower from which Sutter has broadcast religious-oriented messages as the girls are going to sleep. Charlie climbs a fence and commandeers a school bus which she drives toward the tower with Edna standing at the top. Just before impact, Charlie leaps from the bus and it explodes as it hits the tower. The scorched body of Edna tumbles to the ground and many of the girls cheer. Charlie crawls and before she dies shouts out, "See you in hell!" to Edna. The final scene shows Jenny released and getting into a cab. She waves at Dr. Norton, who is implied to be in charge of the new, more benevolent order at the school, and three other girls who are still incarcerated.
1986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film directed by Tom DeSimone, starring Wendy O. Williams
Wendy O. Williams
Wendy Orlean Williams , better known as Wendy O. Williams, was the lead singer for the American punk band the Plasmatics, as well as a solo artist...
, Pat Ast, and Sybil Danning
Sybil Danning
Sybil Danning is an Austrian actress known for her many roles in B movies, science fiction films, and action films.-Early life:Danning was born in Ried im Innkreis, Austria as Sybille Johanna Danninger...
. It depicts a reform school for girls that is operated by a sadist
Sadism and masochism as medical terms
In psychiatry, the terms sadism and masochism describe a personality type characterized by the actor or actrix deriving pleasure and gratification from inflicting physical pain and humiliation ; and from suffering pain and humiliation upon the self ; such pleasure often is sexual, but not...
ic and evil warden, Sutter, and her henchwoman Edna.
Plot
The film is a satireSatire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
of the women in prison film genre and deliberately implements many of the tropes commonly found in such films. Such scenes include nude shower scenes, fight scenes, and a suggested romantic relationship between one of the inmates and an administrator. The overall plot involves a new influx of girls coming to the school. They are immediately confronted with Charlie Chambliss (Wendy O. Williams
Wendy O. Williams
Wendy Orlean Williams , better known as Wendy O. Williams, was the lead singer for the American punk band the Plasmatics, as well as a solo artist...
) who is the de facto leader of the school and has an exceedingly close relationship with the head of the ward, Edna (Pat Ast). Charlie and her circle are given special privileges by Edna and it is suggested that Charlie and Edna enjoy a more intimate relationship. Charlie runs a secret society of girls who are loyal to her and to whom she offers protection. The two main new girls break several of Edna's rules and are punished decisively for their infractions.
Jenny (Linda Carol) comes to the school after becoming mixed up in a shoot out
Shoot Out
Shoot Out is a 1971 western film directed by Henry Hathaway. It stars Gregory Peck and Patricia Quinn.This was the second-to-last of the 65 films directed by Hathaway.-Plot:Clay Lomax gets out of prison after serving nearly eight years...
. She tries to break out after befriending a male driver with whom she has a romantic encounter in the back of his truck. She makes arrangements that he will drive her off the premises but is discovered by a guard and after a scuffle she is apprehended and immediately cast into isolation. Lisa (Sherri Stoner
Sherri Stoner
Sherri Stoner is an American actress and writer. She was born July 16, 1965, in Santa Monica, California.She has worked extensively in animation. She was a writer and producer for such 1990s animated shows as Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs. She is probably best known for Animaniacs, for which...
) is a runaway who is captured and placed in the reform school. She suffers several losses while at the school including her stuffed bunny and a cat she tends to which was originally found while the girls were out performing hard labor. The cat is discovered by Edna in the dorms and she chases it until finally stomping it to death. Lisa is punished with isolation. After the death of her cat, Lisa attempts to climb to the top of the tower, followed closely by Edna. When she reaches the top she stumbles backward as Edna confronts her, breaks through the barriers and falls to her death. This causes Jenny to smash through a window which starts a riot which is only quelled when Warden Sutter (Sybil Danning) shoots a shotgun into the ceiling.
The film culminates in a protest scene after Dr. Norton (Charlotte McGinnis), a psychiatrist, forces a meeting of administrators over the conditions and treatment of inmates at the school. She intended to have Jenny testify but a doctor determines, despite all evidence to the contrary, that she is ill and will not be able to attend. Therefore, four other inmates are chosen and none of them has any complaints. During the meeting Jenny knocks out a guard and steals her keys which allows all the girls to march out into the main open area and voice their grudges. Edna, however, gets a hold of a gun and opens fire on them. Edna shoots Charlie and climbs up the tower from which Sutter has broadcast religious-oriented messages as the girls are going to sleep. Charlie climbs a fence and commandeers a school bus which she drives toward the tower with Edna standing at the top. Just before impact, Charlie leaps from the bus and it explodes as it hits the tower. The scorched body of Edna tumbles to the ground and many of the girls cheer. Charlie crawls and before she dies shouts out, "See you in hell!" to Edna. The final scene shows Jenny released and getting into a cab. She waves at Dr. Norton, who is implied to be in charge of the new, more benevolent order at the school, and three other girls who are still incarcerated.
Character elements
Jenny and Lisa both undergo a lot of the stereotypical forms of humiliation in the reform school. Such scenes include:- both having to go through a complete strip search and group shower in the beginning of the movie
- both being constantly physically beaten by Edna and in fights with Charlie
- Jenny being forced to do extra hard labor in the hard sun and being denied food and water
- both being locked in solitary confinement
- Lisa being branded by Charlie and her gang in the bathroom
- Jenny forced to strip completely naked so that Edna can spray extremely cold water on her from a fire hose
Cast
- Linda Carol as Jenny
- Wendy O. WilliamsWendy O. WilliamsWendy Orlean Williams , better known as Wendy O. Williams, was the lead singer for the American punk band the Plasmatics, as well as a solo artist...
as Charlie Chambliss - Pat Ast as Edna
- Sybil DanningSybil DanningSybil Danning is an Austrian actress known for her many roles in B movies, science fiction films, and action films.-Early life:Danning was born in Ried im Innkreis, Austria as Sybille Johanna Danninger...
as Warden Sutter - Charlotte McGinnis as Dr. Norton
- Sherri StonerSherri StonerSherri Stoner is an American actress and writer. She was born July 16, 1965, in Santa Monica, California.She has worked extensively in animation. She was a writer and producer for such 1990s animated shows as Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs. She is probably best known for Animaniacs, for which...
as Lisa - Denise Gordy as Claudie
- Laurie Schwartz as Nicky
- Tiffany HelmTiffany HelmTiffany Helm is an American film and television actress. Her best known role was in the 1985 horror film Friday the 13th: A New Beginning as Violet...
as Andrea "Fish" Eldridge - Darcy DeMossDarcy DeMossDarcy DeMoss is an American film and television actress whose credits include Eden, Erotic Confessions, Can't Buy Me Love and Vice Academy 3.-External links:...
as Karen "Knox" Charmin - Andrea Darnell as Paula
- Robin Watkins as Kelly
- Winifred Freedman as Terri
- James Staszkiel as Truck driver
- Fred D. Scott as Judge Carter
- Lorrie Marlow as Shelly
- Daniel Arthur Wray as Dr. Fisher
- Alicia Shonte as Stella
- Jon H. Epstein as Billy
- Terri Lynn as Bad Girl #1
- Sylvia Dohi as Bad Girl #2
- Victoria Fischer as Girl
- Lila Waters as Clerk
- Linda L. Rand as Guard
- Don Pugsley as Bus Driver
- Susan Cheng as Secretary
- Micki Varro as Nurse
- Leslie Rivers as Guard
- Dharvi Darrell as Shower Matron
- Archie Lang as Judge
- Justine Lenore as Matron
- Vance Valencia as Gate Guard
- Lavelle Roby as Guard
- Mary Brando as Paddywagon Girl #1
- Jennifer Sophia as Paddywagon Girl #2
- Kristi Hayden as Kate
- Katherine Hittleman as Night Nurse
- Lisa Sanderson as Guard
- Michelle Bauer as Shower Girl (Uncredited)
- Leslee Bremmer as Shower Girl (Uncredited)
- Brooke Morales as Shower Girl (Uncredited)
- Karen James as Dotty (Uncredited)
- Kathy Lee Kennedy as Guard (Uncredited)
- Sheila Lussier (Uncredited)
- Julia Parton as Inmate (Uncredited)