On The Road

I just read that a guy named Martin Nallan died on Jan. 14th at the age of 78. He was Key Grip on the classic film THE HUSTLER. He was also the Key Grip on a classic film of another kind, SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS! RIP...





THE ROAD TO RUIN-1934-Innocent Ann Dixon (Helen Foster) is introduced to the wild world of smoking, drinking, staying out late, strip poker and sex in this mortality tale co-directed by Mrs. Wallace Reid.

Ann winds up “getting in trouble” with a married older guy after having sex with her boyfriend Tommy. The older guy takes her for an abortion and she dies.

This is a remake of a 1928 silent film that also starred Foster. Mrs. Wallace Reid was actress Dorothy Davenport, the widow of silent film star Reid who died of morphine addiction in 1923. After his death she co-produced HUMAN WRECKAGE about the dangers of drug addiction. She later directed several other exploitive films like THE RED KIMONO, LINDA and THIS WOMAN CONDEMNED.

It’s pretty racy for the time although the characters never mention the words pregnancy and abortion!

Thanks for reading!