All language subtitles for The Violent Years (William Morgan, 1956)

[theme music]

NARRATOR: This is a story of
violence, of violence born

of the uncontrolled
passions of adolescent youth

and nurtured by this generation
of parents, those who

in their own smug little
world of selfish interests

and confused ideas of
parental supervision

refuse to believe today's
glaring headlines,

but it has happened.

Only the people and places
have been given other names.

[gavel banging]

Remain seated
and come to order.

Court is now in session.

The Honorable Raymond
Clara, judge presiding.

Will you approach
the bench, please?

It's always difficult for an
old friend who sit in judgment

of an old friend, but law is
law and it must be administered

to one as to another.

It now comes to light the both
of you over the past 18 years

have proven yourselves utterly
incompetent in the most

important responsibility
given to a man and his wife.

I refer to the bringing up
children in your own home.

In all fairness to the society
which you so miserably failed

and in justice to this child,
I must deny your request.

JANE [VOICEOVER]:
How am I to blame?

Where could I have failed?

I remember I gave her
everything she ever wanted.

Everything.

Hi, Mom.

Got time to talk a minute?

It's rather important.

Good gracious, no.

I'm an hour late already.

Charity first and all that
sort of thing, you know.

Besides, what can be so
important in your young life

as to warrant my
attention so drastically?

Well, it's been a
long time since we've

had a heart-to-heart talk.
-There.

There.

It can wait.

Besides, what can be more
important than our charities,

so many children
and needy families.

We're so busy this
time of the year

and it's very, very important.

I guess you're right, mother.

Of course, I am.

Thank you, darling.

Tell you a secret.

I think I like it
down at the club

so much because I keep
getting such nice flattery.

The girls are always
saying, my, my.

How young and pretty
you look and you

with an 18-year-old daughter.

But you are pretty, Mother.

Oh, go along, will you?

But it does sound good.

Got a date tonight?

Well, sort of.

Oh, you pretty one,
of course, you do.

But then what night
lately haven't you?

If you come in as
late as you have been,

do be careful and
not make any noise.

Dad?

Oh, don't get me wrong.

He hasn't complained
or said anything.

But the poor man works so hard.

That newspaper will
be the death of him.

Do be a dear and take
care when you come in.

He needs what little
rest he can get.

Thank goodness you're not
one of those character types

that your father's paper
is always printing about.

Need some mad money
or is he a gentleman?

I have enough, Mother.

Don't be silly.

There's never enough.

You left the
amount blank again.

I could be mean and fill
it in for a fortune.

You could, but you won't.

Let me know how much
you make it out for so

that I can keep my
bank balance straight.

All right, Mother.

Will you be using my
car again tonight?

If you don't mind, dear.

You can use mine.

Now, I'll tell you a secret.

There are times I
like yours better.

Tonight is one of those times.

Phil, this is Paula.

Is everything ready?

Good.

George and Gerry show yet?

Stop worrying.

They'll get to you.

I'll be along as
soon as I can dress.

Mother just this minute left.

Will he pull through, Doc?

He hasn't regained
consciousness

and it's top heavy
odds he ever will.

Pretty bad, huh?

Pretty bad.

These fool kids,
when will they learn?

These aren't kids,
these are morons.

Hi, Barney,
Lieutenant, Tom, Doctor.

Another one, huh?

Pretty bad one this time.

How about it, Doc?

Pretty bad.

I'll get back to you later
if there's any change.

Anything I can pint?

You heard the doctor.

Nothing.

Suppose it's the same gang?

Chances are.

If only he comes
to, then we'll be--

Well, if it is the same gang,
it brings their record to 17.

And the last seven of them
have been gas stations.

Looks like they'll
make a specialty of gas

stations for a while now.

If they do, we may
be ready for them.

How do you mean?

All gas stations open after
10:00 PM will be warned to have

two men on duty at all times.

One of those men
could be a policeman.

Lieutenant?

I left Dr. Ryan in charge.

The man was lucky.

He'll pull through.

Hi, chief.

Oh, hello, Barney.

You look tired.

Oh, I'm tired, but
no more than you.

Yeah, I am tired.

Too much to
newspapers these days.

Haven't seen my daughter,
Paula, in a week.

I ran into her up in
school earlier this week.

Gee, she gets more
beautiful every day.

Like I said, I wouldn't know.

One of these days I'm
going to take a day off,

maybe get to know her again.

What happened down
at the hospital?

Well, the gas station
attendant pulled through.

Going to spend a couple weeks
in the hospital, but he'll live.

How much could you tell?

It's the same
gang, four of them.

Wore masks, Levi's,
leather jackets, and gloves

with a handful of guns.

Same bunch.

Probably the same clues, none.

No fingerprints, '55
Sedan, license unknown,

masks, caps covering their
hair, same old routine.

Well, our little gang has
one thing in their favor.

Yeah?

What's that?

They haven't
killed anyone, yet.

That's not their fault. They
haven't tried hard enough.

Just give you a
little more time.

It's too bad we can't
do anything about giving

them a little more time.

However, they happen to be news.

You stick with the
police department.

See this thing through.

You're the boss, Chief.

Ain't love something.

Well, what is this?

Johnny who are they?

Don't ask so many questions.

You might find the answers.

Gerry, be careful.

That's a beautiful sweater.

Take it off.

What you talking about?

You ain't got
stuffing in your ears.

Take that sweater off.

By what right do you think--

Shut up and do like she says.

Do what they say, Shirley.

They've got guns.

Yeah, Shirley, we've got guns.

You're very observant
for a pretty boy.

For god's sake, Shirl,
take the sweater off.

Give it to her.

Now, buster, it's your turn.

Step out.

Turn around.

Put your hands out
in front of you.

Lean forward and put your
hands on the car door.

Come on.

Come on.

We haven't got all night.

You've seen this done before.

A lousy 11 bucks.

You characters ought to
learn to carry more to dough.

You can stand up now.

Well, maybe he's got more
to offer than his money.

What are you getting at?

Big.

Strong.

A little pretty maybe, but--

Yeah.

Under conventional
circumstances,

he could be very interesting.

Why wait for conventional
circumstances?

You've got a point there.

What about her?

Oh, tie her up and toss her
in the back of this heap.

Tie her up?

You heard me.

Sure I heard you, but
maybe you'd like to tell me

what I use to tie her up with.

Use her skirt.

That looks strong enough.

Tear it up and use it.

You heard her, girl.

Get a move on.

Now, back to you, handsome.

Look, you have my
money, You have my watch.

You have my ring.

What more do you want?

Toss her in the
back of the seat.

OK.

But do you mind telling
me where we're going?

Someplace where it's safe.

Just follow us.

[screaming]

Good morning, dear.

Good morning, darling.

Don't tell me that's all you're
going to have breakfast again.

I'll get something else later.

You won't forget about
the party tonight.

What party?

See, I knew you wouldn't
remember when I told you.

It's Paula's birthday party.

Oh, I did forget.

Well, it's impossible for me.

I've got a newspaper to get out.

With these young
hoodlums running rampage

through the town, I'm kept
pretty much on the go,

especially at night.

That's when they work.

Who knows when or where
they'll strike again.

Sometimes you sound more like a
policeman than a newspaper man.

Sometimes there
isn't much difference.

Oh, that is too bad.

I can't be here either.

She's having a pajama
party this year.

What in the world
is a pajama party?

Oh, they all sit around, play
games dressed in their pajamas.

The boys too?

Of course, not, silly.

No boys invited.

Oh.

I see.

We're having our
charity bazaar tonight

and I'm the duly
elected chairman

of the sales committee.

I've just got to be there.

Well, Paul is old enough
to take care of herself now.

I'll get a little
gift this afternoon

and have one of the boys from
the office drop by with it

tonight.
-Oh, she'll like that.

Paula is such an
understanding child.

See you when I can.

Happy birthday, darling.

Thanks, Mom.

You were out late
again last night.

A little.

I can tell.

Your eyes don't sparkle
the way they should.

Do you feel ill?

No, just a little tired.

A good breakfast
will fix you up.

What would like to
have this morning?

Please don't bother.

I'm just not hungry.

Now.

Now.

Mother knows best.

You're a growing girl.

You need your
vitamins, strength.

Now you just sit there and
I'll get you something.

It will only take a minute.

It's all ready.

You have plenty of
time before school.

Paula.

What in the world
brings you down here?

Hi, Dad.

It's been so long
since I've seen you

I thought I'd drop in today.

It's my birthday, you know.

Happy birthday.

Gee, honey, I'm sorry I can't
be at your party tonight.

But you know how busy I am.

I understand, Dad.

Then you wouldn't look good
in an all-girl pajama party,

now would you?

Well, this certainly
is a surprise.

I thought it would be.

Why aren't you in school?

No classes till 1:30 and
extra-long lunch hour.

Oh, I see.

Ah, have they got a line on
the girls that did this yet?

Now, don't you
bother your pretty

little head about such things.

That's your dad's department.

It could be very
important to me.

How do you mean?

Well, I'm up for president
of the student body this year

and this type of thing you
call juvenile delinquency

could help me if I knew more
about it and how to prevent it.

If you knew how to
prevent it, you'll

go down in history as the
greatest person of our time.

But your interest
is commendable.

I figure it this way,
Dad, you're on the inside.

You know the real low down
almost as soon as it happens.

Guess you're right about
that, but what is it

you want me to do?

That's easy.

As soon as anything
happens, you tell me.

Everything?

Everything.

That's a large order.

So what.

It's not too big for you.

I hardly catch you
at home anymore

so I'll have to see you here.

Well, if it'll help you to
be president, I'll do it.

Dad, you're a peach.

Now, anything new on
last night's bunch?

Have you read the paper?

Yes.

Then you have the story.

Honest?

Honest.

What are the police doing
about this whole thing?

Either the girls have
no previous record

or they're from out of town.

It's Lieutenant Holmes'
theory that they

were from out of town.

The boy couldn't
identify any of them

from the police picture
files and there it will stay

until something else turns up.

What about the gas
station affairs.

Is there anything new on that?

Nothing you could call new.

Four young boys.

Holmes is putting a policeman
in mechanics clothes

with each gas station staying
open after 10:00 at night.

If the gang tries another
gas station heist,

they'll be all through.

Well, that's interesting
enough for a starter.

Bye.

I'm calling off the
gas station jobs.

Oh, we can't call
off Clanton's.

We already have.

But why?

We could have more of
a ball at Clanton's

than all the rest put together.

Maybe it'd be a little too
much excitement even for us.

The cops have pulled a sneak.

They'll be waiting for us.

So what?

How can the cops know
we picked Clanton's?

I'll explain later.

The main thing is they know.

Puts an end to our gas
station jobs for a while.

We'll have to think
up something else.

I'd I think to
think up something

to get back at Principal Bates.

She have you on
the carpet again?

Yeah.

The old witch.

What you do this time?

Practically nothing.

Nothing for them to
get so hep up about.

Just that math.

Teacher flunked me
again, so I told her off.

I'd like to get
even with all them.

Maybe you'll get
the chance some time.

We'll have to go over
to Sheila's tomorrow

and get last week's loot.

Hey, how come we don't
use your car on our jobs?

How come your
mother's all the time?

My car would be
spotted a mile away.

Let's get in.

[door buzzer rings]

You kids have been lucky.

So what?

Maybe we're just a little smart.

Just be careful you don't get
too smart for your own good.

Help yourselves if you want any.

I'll get them.

What have you got
this time, more junk?

We've never brought
you junk yet.

Couldn't get back half of what
I paid you for that last mess.

Yeah?

Losing your money get
you a setup like this?

Just as I thought, junk.

Those are real diamonds.

I them appraised.

Appraised?

Well, that was kind
of foolish, wasn't it?

You could be caught
if they were traced.

What do you take
me for, a stoop?

Jimmy the fence
looked them over.

He offered me $200 for
the bracelet alone.

$500 for the lot.

I think we'll take
our business to Jimmy.

Go ahead.

Come on, gang.

Sheila doesn't want to be
bothered with us anymore.

I've got enough on all of
you to hang you a dozen times.

That goes double.

$750.

That's a deal.

You're a bunch of blackmailers.

Oh, not that big yet,
but give us a chance.

We're still growing.

Did you really see
Jimmy this time?

What difference does it make?

We got what we wanted.

I'm not interested in the money.

There's plenty of that at home.

It's the principle of the thing.

I don't want anyone
getting the idea they

can put something over on me.

Sheila will take our eye teeth
and then try to steal the rest.

It's the thrill that gets me,
the thrill of the chase maybe.

$750.

You think you're pretty
smart, don't you?

I don't think, I know.

That's why I'm
leader of this pack.

You're a punk or
you wouldn't be

tied up in this small-time,
penny-ante business.

You got better ideas?

Maybe.

Speak your piece.

You girls take the bottle
into the bedroom for a while.

I want to talk to
Paula privately.

And close the door.

Start talking.

What do you think about school?

What are you driving at?

I've got a connection
that doesn't like schools.

Most kids don't.

We're not talking kid talk.

It's worth a lot of money
to a certain organization

if certain damages are reported.

I don't get it.

You don't have to.

All you have to know is, if you
can wreck a few school rooms,

you can make yourself and
your pack a loaded of dough.

How much dough?

More than you could use.

Besides you've always said the
money means nothing to you.

Why would anyone pay just
to have schools wrecked?

That's none of your
business or mine.

I have the connection
and besides

they'll be a great
thrill behind this move.

And don't worry if a few flags
get destroyed in the process.

Let's just say it's part of
a well-organized forum plan.

I don't understand.

You don't have to.

All you have to do
is what you're told.

How soon do we move?

Just as soon as you can.

But be careful
you're not caught.

You're no good to
me in the clink.

We won't get caught.

I don't know how
you can be so sure.

It's easy.

Sheila talks too much.

Well, all she did was say
that you're the right guy

and that I should meet you
and as pretty as you are,

I'm glad I came.

I don't need her to
pick my friends for me.

I'm sure you don't.

I'm pretty particular.

Well, I'm sure you are.

I've played it
alone for a long time

and that's how I
plan to keep it.

Maybe I should look for
my new company elsewhere.

No.

You're here now.

You might as well stay.

OK.

Since I'm now an invited
guest, you don't won't mind

my giving you a birthday gift.

Hm.

[knock on door]

Yeah?

I'd like to speak
to Miss Parkins.

Paula?

Yes.

What about?

I don't think that's
any of your affair.

Why you--

It's all right, Manny.

He's from my dad's office.

Fine way to greet a guest
who bears gifts, a mud butler.

Don't pay Manny
a second thought.

He's seen to many
gangster movies.

He's really very nice
once you get know him.

That brings up the point.

Do many people stick
around long enough

to get to know him that well?

May I come in?

Sure, if you want to.

I see the party's formal dress.

It's a pajama party.

Yeah, I can see that,
but mixed crowd, huh?

Well, gang, I want
you to meet my father's

star reporter, Barney Stetson.

Hi, gang.

Look, don't let me
interrupt anything.

Birthdays are just
like Christmas.

They only come once a year.

Got kinda cold in
here all of a sudden.

Don't let it worry you.

That's a cute pair.

They have their points.

Oh, almost forgot the
reason for my visit.

Your father is going
to be very late tonight

and asked me to drop
this off for you.

Poor Dad.

Works so hard.

Thanks for bringing it.

Aren't you going to open it?

Later.

I know what it is.

Dad gets me the same present
every birthday, a new watch.

And Mom, come look.

Oh, never mind, Paula.

I saw the new convertible
when I came in.

It never changes.

Mom and Dad haven't been to
my birthday parties in years,

but always the same presents.

Mom sneaks out and
takes my old car

in for a trade then has a
new one delivered secretly

and takes a cab to her club.

Funny, a like her sedan better.

Let's have some more music.

Ain't you seen
enough, sob sister?

Maybe you've seen enough
to know you ain't wanted.

Knock it off, Manny.

I don't like this guy's looks.

Then why don't you
change them, Manny.

Maybe that's a good idea.

What about I should change
your looks, sob sister?

Maybe you'd like that, huh?

How old are you, punk?

Over 21.

Well, that's old enough.

He asked for that.

You're in bad company, Paula.

But I don't want to sound like
I'm telling you your business.

Then don't try.

Oh.

M-m, what hit me?

The train?

Why that dirty sob sister.

I'll take care of him.

Haven't you had
enough for one night?

Good night, boys.

The party's over.

But the night's just beginning.

This is something
I've been waiting

for for a long, long time.

We'll get it done as
quickly as possible.

We'll get in, get the
job done, and get out.

I'm going to smash
everything in this joint.

Let's do it quick
and get out of here.

I hate you.

I wish this was
your scrawny neck.

I'll hate you till
the day I die.

You've all got guns.

Get them into action.

They're shooting back.

What did you expect them
to do, throw powder puffs?

Our ammunition
can't last forever.

How many have you all got?

All I have is what's in my gun.

All I've got left
is in my guns.

I got 10 shells in
my pocket, then puff.

We'll have to
beat it to the car.

I've got a dozen boxes
under the back seat.

Lay it into them fast,
then we'll beat it.

Look at them jump
just like rabbits.

It-- it ain't supposed
to be this way.

Dirty-- Got him.

Now, save the rest of your
ammo and let's get out of here.

Where do we go from here?

Sheila's.

She got us into this message
and she can get us out.

From now on, we've got
to keep on the move.

[knock on door]

[door buzzer rings]

-Who is it?
-Paula.

What do you want?

Stop talking so much
and open the door.

What's up?

The cops are after us.

Get out of here.

You're in this
as deep as we are.

Who you think you're kidding?

Get out of here.

We're staying.

What kind of jerks
are you anyway

leading the cops to my door?

We lost them.

Now, come on.

We want that payoff.

For what?

We wrecked the school
like you wanted.

Job completed and job
to be paid for by you.

You're out of your minds.

Are we?

Well, how do I know
you wrecked the school?

How?

Take our word for it tonight,
then read about in the papers

tomorrow.

Oh, it'll be in the
papers all right.

Headlines this time.

Now we want our money.

Yeah, we want some clothes too.

These things are
a dead giveaway.

You'll get nothing from me.

OK.

Let's see how long you
stay after I call the cops.

Keep away from that phone.

I killed a policeman tonight.

A cop?

Yeah, a cop.

Well, I may have
been bluffing before,

but I'm not bluffing now.

I'm calling the police.

Gotta move fast.

Get a change of clothes.

See what Sheila's got.

She's awfully young.

Do you know her?

No, but I've seen
dozens like her.

Lieutenant, there's
another one upstairs.

What's wrong?

Just a cramp, I guess.

Now, what will we do?

We can't use mother's car.

We'll have to get another.

But gee, when the
cops find your car,

they're going to trace it to
your mother and then to you.

There's nothing we
can do about it now.

We'll just have to clear
out, out of the country.

Sheila kept quite a stack
of bills in her place.

More cramps?

Yeah.

Seems to be getting worse.

Maybe something you
ate at the party.

Or drank.

Hey, pull up, you two.

Kids with guns.

Yeah.

One of them was
killed instantly.

The other one is
pretty badly shaken up.

Has her father been informed?

Yeah.

Right after the accident.

Oh, here he comes now.

I wouldn't go in there just
now if I were you, Carl.

Paula, is she--

She's all right.

Can't say the same for
her girlfriend though.

That plate glass window
made quite a mess.

Have you reached
the verdict yet?

We have your honor.

What is that verdict?

We the jury find
the defendant guilty.

Will the defendant please rise.

You have been found
guilty of murder

in the first degree as charged.

[bangs gavel]

Paula Parkins, you have had
all that money can give you,

but that wasn't enough.

You became a thrill seeker
with an overinflated ego.

This thrill seeking became the
one great thing in your life,

piling one thrill on another
until with every increasing

intensity, you became
much like the drug addict

with his continual
increases of dosage,

until the climax, a murder.

To kill for the love of killing.

To kill for a thrill.

The thrill seeker comes from
all walks of life, the rich

as well as the poor.

It comes from the home, a
home where the parents are too

busy in their own affairs
to take time to teach

their children the importance
of self restraint, self

discipline,
politeness, courtesy,

the love for the
mother and the father,

the church, and their country.

It all adds up to that one
great essential of living,

self respect and
regard for the property

and feelings of others.

Through this utter disregard
for life itself that the thrill

seeker finds his eventual
end, a prisoner of the State,

standing in a
courtroom, convicted

of murder in the first degree.

Because of your youth, Paula
Parkins, it's impossible for me

to give you the sentence
you so rightly deserve.

You are hereby remanded
to the proper institution

until you become
21 years of age.

At which time, you will be
transferred to the State

penitentiary for women
where you will spend

the rest of your natural life.

I don't think I could
drink another cup.

It passes the time.

It's all my fault.
If only I hadn't

thought more of my outside
interests than I did of Paula.

It's a strong, hard
lesson we've been taught.

It's no more your
fault than it is mine.

We're certainly a
fine pair of parents.

We still have each other.

That's some comfort.

It all seems like
such a bad dream.

Ever since I can remember,
we've given Paula everything,

everything but real love.

A new dress instead
of a caress, a new car

instead of a heart-to-heart
talk, a new watch.

It does no good to look back.

It can only be more of a hurt.

We must now look forward using
the past only as a pattern

of judgment for the future.

Paula's lesson to us was strong.

Her child will profit
by our mistakes.

How do you feel, darling?

I don't want my baby
in a place like this.

I don't.

I don't feel so well.

Everything keeps going around.

We'll see Judge Clara.

We'll take care of everything,
if only we knew who--

Everything will be all right.

That's all now.

It's time you were leaving.

Rest easy, now.

It'll be all right.

We'll see you
when it's all over.

So what?

The baby, a girl,
is well and healthy.

My daughter, how is she?

She died.

Some people think newspapers
exaggerate juvenile crime

or that it's confined
mostly to large cities.

This is far from being the case.

From coast to coast
in small communities

as well as the larger
cities, juvenile delinquency

is on the rise.

No child is inherently bad.

He's made what he
is by his upbringing

and the surroundings.

Thus apparent that
something has gone wrong

with the environment, a
great many of these children

or we wouldn't have this
present delinquency problem.

Adults create the world children
live in and in this process,

parents play the key role.

When children grow up among
adults who refuse to recognize

anything that is fine and
good or worthy of respect,

it's no wonder that
many of these children

fail to develop
high moral standards

or to distinguish
right from wrong.

Their attitude is summed up
in two callous words, so what.

Juvenile delinquency is always
rooted in adult delinquency.

And only through
general acceptance

of higher moral values can
we hope to solve the problem.

The easiest way to
bring this about

is through a return to religion.

If all people would join
this back-to-God movement

and train their children to
respect the Ten Commandments

or other moral laws laid down
by all the great religions,

we would soon bring
delinquency under control.

But the time has come that we
must impose sterner penalties

and restrictions against
the young law breakers,

to protect the law abiding.

His mere youth is no excuse for
letting him remain at large.

Some young criminals are just as
vicious and dangerous as older

criminals and law breakers.

No young offenders should
be released in the custody

of his parents unless
an investigation

show the parents are capable
of controlling his behavior.

If they are not, a supervision
should be entrusted

to a more responsible agency.

And in making parents
financially liable for property

damage caused by their
children could be especially

helpful against the wave
of vandalism which has been

sweeping across our country.

With this responsibility, we're
sure that parents would keep

a closer eye on the kind of fun
their children are having and

that the old-fashioned
woodshed would receive more use

and vandalism would decline.

Some parents refuse to
recognize the moral obligation

to the child they
bring into the world.

When that is the
case, we must take

stronger measures to make them
realize their responsibilities.

So you see I cannot
possibly grant

your request for the adoption
of the child of your daughter.

The child must remain a ward
of the State until such time

as a suitable
family can be found.

At that time, the child will be
granted to this worthy family,

to be brought up in the world
as it should know the world.

For you, Jane Parkins,
and for you, Carl Parkins,

I can only feel the
deepest of sorrow.

[baby crying]