BOY SLAVES

US, 1939, 72 minutes, Black and white.
Roger Daniel, James Mc Callion, Anne Shirley, Alan Baxter, Charles Lane.

Boy Slaves is a little seen film from RKO just prior to World War II. It was directed by P.J.Wolfson, the only film he directed, while being a prominent writer and producer.
This is a social-minded film, focusing on runaway boys, as well as physical abuse by parents. The central character is Jesse, abused at home, running away, attacked by a gang of boys but then becoming part of their life, hiding from authorities, stealing, finding accommodation, finding meals, and the camaraderie between them. (Interestingly for these times, one of the members of the gang is African- American.)

When they are called before the judge, an industrialist named Albee (Charles Lane) offers to take them on as workers in his turpentine plant. The film shows his oppressive regime, no respect for the boys, until two of them die.

When Albee is called into court, he is found guilty by the judge of treating the boys badly – and the judge delivers quite a patriotic speech about the United States, its vision, its justice, a speech full of hope and arousing of the audience.

A curiosity film, but with a sense of social justice in the aftermath of the Depression and concern about the welfare of children.