COCAINE FIENDS-1935-In this crude low budget drug exploitation film Nick (Noel Madison) pushes drugs, sometimes at a drive-in diner where Fanny and Eddie work. When Fanny (Sheila Bromley) wants to "make woopie" at a nightclub Eddie (Dean Benton) says he's too tired so Fanny gives him some cocaine to wake him up. It works and they go to "The Dead Rat Cafe" to watch a famous actress dance. Nick is there with his wife who is Eddie's sister but she pretends not to know him. Fanny and Eddie wind up moving in together but Eddie becomes a hopeless addict (the landlady calls him a "hophead"). "I need a shot!" he implores Fanny who becomes a prostitute to help feed his habit. Fanny eventually becomes an addict too and gets pregnant to boot. Another character the well to do Dorothy (Lois Lindsey) frequents the drive-in, Her boyfriend Dan is an undercover cop. Eddie says a lot of hateful things to Franny who commits suicide. Nick winds up kidnapping Dorothy but his wife shoots and kills him. The police arrive just in time to arrest the big boss: Dorothy's prominent father! The Eddie character is totally forgotten about.
COCAINE FIENDS is filled with preachy dialogue without much action. Characters say "swell" a lot and there are some terrible musical numbers that take up time. Also known as THE PACE THAT KILLS, the print I saw was terrible. Director William A. O'Connor was an assistant director on many low budget westerns. I couldn't find a date for his death but if he is still alive he's be 113!!!
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