''Sorority Girl'' (also known as ''Sorority House'' or ''The Bad One'') is a 1957

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

exploitation film An exploitation film is a film that tries to succeed financially by exploiting current trends, niche genres, or lurid content. Exploitation films are generally low-quality "B movies", though some set trends, attract critical attention, become hi ...

directed by

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works t ...

. It stars

Susan Cabot Susan Cabot (born Harriet Pearl Shapiro; July 9, 1927 – December 10, 1986) was an American film, stage, and television actress. She rose to prominence for her roles in a variety of Western films, including ''Tomahawk'' (1951), ''The Duel at Sil ...

as Sabra, a

sociopath Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have been u ...

who plays a very disruptive role in a

sorority Fraternities and sororities are social organizations at colleges and universities in North America. Generally, membership in a fraternity or sorority is obtained as an undergraduate student, but continues thereafter for life. Some accept gradua ...

, with

Barboura Morris Barboura Morris (born Barboura O'Neill; October 22, 1932 – October 23, 1975) was an American actress and writer. She is most remembered for her roles in American International Pictures productions. Early years Morris was born Barboura ...

as Rita, and

Dick Miller Richard Miller (December 25, 1928 – January 30, 2019) was an American character actor who appeared in more than 180 films, including many produced by Roger Corman. He later appeared in the films of directors who began their careers with Corm ...

and

June Kenney June Claire Sebastian ( Kenney; July 6, 1933 – June 25, 2021) was an American actress known for her work in B movies in the late 1950s. Early life June Claire Kenney was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the only child of Frederick Kenney, a buil ...

. It was released by

American International Pictures American International Pictures (AIP) is an American motion picture production label of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution company known for producing and releasing fi ...

as a

double feature The double feature is a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatres would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown. Opera use Opera ho ...

with ''

Motorcycle Gang An outlaw motorcycle club is a motorcycle subculture generally centered on the use of cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and choppers, and a set of ideals that purport to celebrate freedom, nonconformity to mainstream culture, a ...

''. In England it was known as ''The Bad One''. The film was remade in 1994 as ''

Confessions of a Sorority Girl ''Confessions of a Sorority Girl'' (also known as ''Confessions of Sorority Girls'') is a 1994 American television film that debuted on Showtime on July 29, 1994. Directed by Uli Edel, the stars include Alyssa Milano and Jamie Luner. The film is ...

''.

Plot

A spoiled rich girl named Sabra Tanner (who feels ignored by her rich mother) teases and harasses her college schoolmates even though she doesn't know why she wants to hurt all the people around her. Her sociopathic antics bring bad consequences for her when her actions drive one of her classmates to suicide. Realizing she is completely ostracized, Sabra walks into the ocean to drown herself.

Cast

* Susan Cabot as Sabra Tanner * Dick Miller as Mort * Barboura Morris (credited as Barboura O'Neill) as Rita Joyce * June Kenney as Tina * Fay Baker as Mrs. Tanner * Barbara Cowan (credited as Barbara Crane) as Ellie Marshall * Jeane Wood as Mrs. Fessenden, the housemother * Margaret Campbell * Beach Dickerson * Jean Lora * Jay Sayer

Production

Corman says that the script was developed by AIP. He did not like it and had some of it rewritten, although not as much as he liked.Ed. J. Philip di Franco, ''The Movie World of Roger Corman'', Chelsea House Publishers, 1979 p 10 Shooting started 15 July 1957 at Ziv Studios. Filming also took place at the mansion of Ruta Lee in Laurel Canyon. Susan Cabot later recalled working on Corman films:

We would have some sort of a script, but there was a lot of, “Who’s going to say what?” and “How ’bout I do this?’ ’ — plenty of ad-libbing and improvising. But Roger was really great in a way; he was very loose. If something didn’t work out, he changed it right away. He gave me a great amount of freedom , and also a chance to play parts that Universal would never have given me — oddball, wacko parts, like the very disturbed girl in Sorority Girl. I had a chance to do moments and scenes that I didn’t get before.

Corman says while filming he made Cabot do an emotional scene in medium shot first, then when it was time to do a close up, Cabot's performance was not as strong. Corman says this prompted him to learn more about acting, so he enrolled in acting classes given by Jeff Corey, where he would meet people like

Jack Nicholson John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American retired actor and filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. In many of his films, he played rebels against the social structure. He received numerous ...

and Robert Towne.

Release

The film was issued on a double bill with ''Motorcycle Gang''. The CSM said it had a "sad hodgepodge of a story".'Sorority Girl' At Paramount N.E.T. The Christian Science Monitor 12 Dec 1957: 8.

References

External links