I remember this movie like it was just released yesterday. I saw this movie on TV back in the 70’s at the time of its release. When I watched this shower scene it sent chills up my spine it was so graphic. After Linda Blair’s brilliant performance in ’’The Exorcist’’ I expected to see more great performances by this young, and gifted actor. Her performance in this movie ’’Born Innocent’’ is exactly what I anticipated it to be...excellent. The message to this movie is a very good one to young children who face the harsh realities of reformatory school.
This movie directs our focus, and attention to a young girl 14 years of age who comes from a middle-class home. She’s sent to a reformatory school for juvenile delinquent girls. This movie is directed by Donald Wrye, and written by Gerald Di Pego, the running time for this movie is 98 minutes. ’’Burn Innocent’’ was released in 1974, and aired for television.
The Story
Chris Parker (Linda Blair, The Exorcist) is a young girl 14 years of age, she comes from a middle-class home. Her relationship with her mother is not good, they are always arguing, and Chris runs away. One day Mrs. Parker (Kim Hunter, The Planet of the Apes) believes her money is missing, and accuses her daughter of stealing it. Chris runs away from home, and is sent to a reformatory school for juvenile delinquent girls, she’s declared an ’’incorrigible run away.’’ When Chris arrives at the school she meets, and befriends Moco (Nora Heflin, Love Field 1992), and her friends. Chris is promised a boyfriend by Moco, and her friends. Later Chris goes for a shower, and there she meets Moco, and her mean-spirited friends Chris is than brutally raped in the shower. Life for Chris at school is now emotionally disturbing, she goes to class depressed, and doesn’t trust anyone. Chris attempts to run away from the school to no avail.
With the intervention of he school Counselor Barbara Clark (Joanna Miles, Monte Walsh 2003 TV) Chris begins to feel much better, and begins to blend in with the other girls until she gets into a fight, and she’s sent to isolation. While in isolation she tells the counselor of being raped. The counselor becomes sadden and arranges weekend home visit for Chris, she also gives Chris high hopes of her future of becoming an Air Line Stewardess.
Meanwhile, it’s visiting day for the girls, and this day is dreadful for some of the girls especially Moco; she gets no visitors. Many of these girls are unloved, and unwanted, some are pregnant. Chris’s weekend visits doesn’t go over to well with her mother, Mrs. Parker there is more arguing, and insecurity from Mrs. Parker of Chris being home.
Chris runs away from home again, and calls her older brother who she hopes will save her from ever going back to the reformatory school. Chris hopes her brother will let her live with him, but that doesn’t work when her brother tells her he now has his own life, and turns her in to the Police. When Chris returns to school things change, her attitude is different, she begins lying to her counselor, and the hopes that her counselor has for her future is now mute.
Chris doesn’t care anymore; she’s now corrupt, she gets into another fight, she’s returned to isolation. While in
isolation another girl loses her baby because her cries for help is heard to late. What happens to chris Parker, and the other girls at the school? Is there hope for Chris, and the other girls? you’ll find out when you purchase this outstanding movie. The ending will shock you.
Final thoughts on Born Innocent
As you can see this is indeed an outstanding movie. I enjoyed this movie because of its strong, and realistic reflection, and projection of a reformatory school, along with the tragic events that happened. This story ends with an incomplete ending, I would have like to have seen a positive ending for these troubled girls. The director, and writer of this movie offers the viewer no wonderful conclusion instead the viewer is left hanging. The story’s concept is excellent as it directs our attention to a group of troubled youth, and a reformatory school. The movie’s pacing, and sequence is also excellent. After watching this movie it left me with a negative feeling of the reformatory school’s ability to rehabilitate children in trouble with the law.
As for the casting, and direction the on location scenes were perfect for this movie. As for the acting I thought every actor in this move made excellent contributions in their projected roles. I especially thought Linda Blair, and Nora Helflin were superb in their projected roles. Overall ’’Born Innocent’’ is an outstanding movie, and a must see.