HIGH SCHOOL HELLCATS

Yvonne Lime and Brett Halsey

HIGH SCHOOL HELLCATS (1958). Director: Edward L. Bernds. 

Joyce Martin (Yvonne Lime) is the new girl in town, and she's a decent kid, even if her father (Don Shelton) thinks she wears too much lipstick. On her first day in high school she meets Connie Harris (Jana Lund), who tells her in no uncertain terms that she's the head of an all-female gang called the Hellcats, and if Joyce doesn't pass the initiation, she might as well just kill herself. Trying to fit in, she complies with what Connie and her friends wish, while also dating the soda jerk Mike (Brett Halsey, his name misspelled "Bret" in the credits). Mike worries that his girlfriend is getting in with the wrong crowd, but she goes to a party and after the lights go out, someone dies ... 

A moment of teenage angst

High School Hellcats is an entertaining teen movie with effective enough performances from the leads. However, the best acting comes from Jana Lund as the incredibly bitchy Connie, and especially from Susanne Sidney as her chubby, conspiratorial pal, Dolly, who has some sterling moments at the climax. Rhoda Williams is fine as a sympathetic teacher, Miss Davis; she had more credits than the other ladies combined. The executive producer for this film was Charles "Buddy" Rogers, husband of Mary Pickford and an actor himself. 

Verdict: Fun if you're in the mood for a silly fifties teen flick. **1/4,