Jail Bait, Two Thugs and a Plastic Surgeon

Not a particularly good film, but interesting nonetheless. See, it is by the same guy who made "Plan 9 from Outer Space." It also has the guy from all those Hercules films. The acting is sensational...okay, not really.  But!  There are no strings holding up UFOs in this one.  Our feature today is the 1954 "Jail Bait," directed by Edward J. Wood, Jr.

The beautiful Marilyn (Dolores Fuller) bails her brother Don (Clancy Malone) out of jail as the film begins. He possessed a gun without a license.  We are told the unlicensed gun is mere "jail bait." Okay, not what we were hoping.  Marilyn is disappointed in her brother who is headed for a serious life of crime.  The two cops on the case, Inspector Johns (Lyle Talbot) and the hunk he-man Lt. Bob Lawrence (Steve Reeves) let Don know that more serious days are ahead as long as he hangs out with the known criminal, Vic Brady (Timothy Farrell). Also disappointed in Don is his dad, the plastic surgeon, Dr. Gregor (Herbert Rawlinson). He's a skilled plastic surgeon and loves his son. Though Hercules and Insp. Johns kept the unlicensed gun, Don finds a new one and rejoins Vic for a big job.

The big job? Vic and Don knock off a theater after closing.  The security guard resists and Don shoots him.  Vic shoots a fleeing, sultry dame (Mona McKinnon) in the back, but she lives and will be able to identify Vic and also Don as the murderer. The duo go to Loretta's (Tedi Thurman) apartment.  She is a sultry dame who always looks stylish, holds a gun nicely, and will don a really alluring evening gown. What happens next will be shocking, if not well acted, and provide for a Rod Serling type of ending. You'll see.

Will Hercules take the evening gown-clad Loretta in his arms and kiss her like a girl has never been kissed before?  Will Marilyn and Dr. Gregor be doubly disappointed in Don after he murders the security guard? Will Vic double-cross Don and turn him in for the murder in exchange for leniency for himself?  The dames in this one are dangerous, the cops are huge (at least the Hercules one is), and the irony is biting.  Enjoy the Ed Wood Film Noir film and compare it to the timeless and campy "Plan 9 from Outer Space."