A bit of social realism from The Seventh Veil team of Sydney and Muriel Box, with Ted Willis contributing to the script and David MacDonald directing. Jean Kent graduates from supporting roles in melodramas to the lead – a 16 year old who goes through a series of misadventures: sacked by a lecherous boss, getting a job as a hat check girl, being pursued by a dodgy bloke who gets her busted for fencing stolen goods, working under a crook (Herbert Lom), falling for a married men (Dennis Price), winding up in a reform school for three years (courtesy of Flora Robson), getting involved in cat fights, falling of the rails when she gets out, being involved in a drink driving accident, joining up with some American deserters (including Bonar Colleano who played Americans in British films for years), inadvertently causing the death of Price (in a ridiculous scene). It’s partly the fault of society, her family (dad hits her) and herself (she has a lot of attitude).
The treatment is far too serious and sombre to be camp fun a la The Big Doll House, and far too melodramatic and silly to be taken seriously. Kent does all that's asked for her, although maybe she doesn't have the charisma of Margaret Lockwood, or even Diana Dors (who has a small role as a potential delinquent being told this cautionary tale by Robson). The excellent cast also includes future director Peter Glenville.
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