This 1940 black and white film directed by David H. Lion and scripted by Robert T. Furman Jr. for Willard Pictures, Inc. for the National Probation Association takes a look at juvenile court, following the case of a young man, “Johnny,” charged with auto theft. The film advocates for a probation system by showing Johnny’s reform as he considers a career in aviation (TRT: 10:24).
Opening titles: “Boy in Court, A Presentation of the National Probation Association” (10:46).Two young men loiter near a lamppost. Two others join, and they begin plotting the heist of an automobile (11:26). The gang breaks into a car. The headlights turn on and the car drives off, then quickly crashes. A police whistle blows. Three boys escape, but one is caught by a police officer (11:45). The police officer places a call on a telephone with the boy in his grip (12:31). Johnny in closeup, with double exposure of prison bars. A montage of police lineups, fingerprinting, sentencing, a prison block. A question mark appears (12:46). A Juvenile Court office door. A local courthouse (13:31). Johnny is taken to a detention home for children. He puts on clean pajamas and sleeps (13:51). Johnny eats a bowl of soup, visits a probation officer. A caseworker is assigned (14:26). The probation officer visits Johnny’s run-down home, his beleaguered single mother (15:00). Next, a visit with the neighborhood gang members, Johnny’s school teacher (15:38). Johnny is weighed on a scale by a doctor in a clinic. He takes an aptitude test (15:59). Johnny and his mother meet with his probation officer and a judge, who offers probation (16:26). The probation case officer and Johnny take a walk. They sit together on a park bench (17:50). A welfare agent assists Johnny’s mother at home. Johnny swims, plays basketball. A church congregation. Johnny unloads groceries at home (18:18). Johnny and his caseworker meet with an airplane pilot. Johnny peruses books on aviation in a library. Building a model airplane. Flying it with his caseworker, who tousles his hair (19:00). Johnny, reformed, meets again with the judge, who extends a handshake (19:53). Johnny and his probation officer shake hands and part ways on the courthouse steps (20:18). Title card: “The End” (20:44).
This film was shot by Thomas W. Willard and narrated by Niles Welch. It exemplifies “New Deal” ideology surrounding the issue of juvenile reform in its favoring of direct intervention over carceral justice.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
