Movie spotlight
Child Bride
Jennie is a twelve-year-old girl living with her parents in extremely rural mountain country. Her schoolteacher, Miss Carol, though a mountain girl herself, has gone off to be educated and returned in hopes of stopping the tradition of child marriage which permeates the culture. Jennie's father Ira is a good man who tries to protect Miss Carol from the men who threaten her if she doesn't call off her crusade. One of these men, Jake Bolby, has his eye on little Jennie and plots to make her his bride.
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Plot Summary
In the poverty-stricken Appalachian region, 12-year-old Sandra Hope is being forced into marriage with a wealthy, much older landowner to save her family from destitution. Despite her young age, Sandra understands the gravity of her situation and attempts to resist her fate. Her struggle highlights the harsh realities of child marriage and the desperate measures people would take during the Great Depression.
Critical Reception
Child Bride is a stark and often disturbing portrayal of child marriage, a practice prevalent in certain isolated areas of the United States during the Great Depression. While its social commentary was considered important at the time, its melodramatic tone and earnest performances are characteristic of exploitation films of the era. It succeeded commercially due to its sensational subject matter.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its bold tackling of a controversial social issue.
Criticized for its heavy-handed melodrama and exploitation elements.
Recognized as a film with a significant, albeit troubling, historical context.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for 'Child Bride' is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The film was made independently and gained notoriety for its controversial subject matter, contributing to a public discussion about child labor and marriage laws in the United States.
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