Season 1: Episode 13 - 2 FOR ONE: Reefer Madness (1936)/Reefer Madness The Movie Musical (2004)

Reefer Madness, 1936 American propaganda film revolving around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try marijuana—from a hit and run accident, to manslaughter, suicide, attempted rape, hallucinations, and descent into madness due to marijuana addiction. The film was directed by Louis Gasnier and featured a cast of mainly little-known actors.

Originally financed by a church group, the film was bought and shown on the exploitation circuit between 1938 – 39.  The copyright fell by the wayside until 1970 when the film was rediscovered as an unintentional satire about marijuana use.  Since then, the film is shown on the midnight madness circuit with even a colorized version made available which helps camp up the original film to another degree.   It is known as one of the worst films every made and holds its crown up there with Plan 9 from Outer Space.

Reefer Madness The Musical started life in Los Angeles and moved to Off Broadway where it closed shortly after due to 9/11.  The show was then filmed for Showtime in 2008 to critical acclaim.  Filmed using three of the original Broadway cast which includes Kristen Bell, Christian Campbell and Robert Torti, it added Steven Weber, Neve Campbell, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Cummings and Amy Spanger.  The film went on to win numerous awards and even a Emmy for best original song.  It has since went on to be a cult favour and in turn, has given the stage show a new lease on life where it has premiered around the world to critical acclaim and earning multiple awards.

Opening Credits (.20); Introduction (3.18); Forming the Plot (9.18); Commercial (14.20) Reefer Madness 1936 Trailer (14.53); Prologue (16.47); Scene by Scene (17.44); Commercial (34.56); Reefer Madness The Musical 2004 Trailer (35.29); Lights, Camera, Action (37.29); Critics Choice (38.29); Epilogue (1:03.59); End Credits (1:10.42)

Opening Credits – Reefer Madness End Credits – from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Reefer Madness the Musical.

Closing Credits – Marahuana by Bette Midler from the album Songs For A New Depression

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Music and films are available through Amazon.