Watch The Road to Ruin

The Road to Ruin is a silent film from 1928 that tackles the controversial topic of teenage pregnancy and promiscuity. Directed by Norton S. Parker, the movie stars Helen Foster as Ann, a naive and innocent high school girl who falls in with a group of older, wilder girls. The film opens with Ann getting into trouble at school for smoking, only to be saved from punishment by a handsome young man named Bob (Grant Withers). Bob takes a liking to Ann and they begin to date, but their relationship is soon overshadowed by the influence of Ann's new friends. Led by the seductive and rebellious Bee (Florence Turner), the group encourages Ann to drink, smoke and engage in promiscuous behavior.

As Ann falls deeper into this world of vice, her relationship with Bob suffers and she eventually becomes pregnant. In a desperate attempt to hide her shame, Ann gets an illegal abortion, leading to tragic consequences.

The Road to Ruin is a stark and uncompromising portrait of the dangers of teenage rebellion and sexual experimentation. The film caused controversy upon its release and was banned in many areas. Despite this, it was a commercial success and has since become a cult classic.

One of the most striking things about the movie is its frankness and willingness to tackle taboo subjects. The idea of teenage pregnancy and abortion was almost unheard of in mainstream cinema at the time, and the film's unflinching portrayal of these issues was nothing short of groundbreaking.

The performances in the film are uniformly excellent, with Helen Foster in particular giving a standout performance as the naive and vulnerable Ann. Grant Withers is also impressive as Bob, portraying a sensitive and caring young man despite his rough exterior.

Despite its serious subject matter, The Road to Ruin is not without its moments of humor and levity. The scenes of the girls smoking, drinking and getting into mischief are played with a light touch, making the eventual tragedy all the more impactful.

One of the film's most memorable sequences is the dream sequence in which Ann envisions her future as a destitute and ostracized single mother. The sequence is both visually stunning and emotionally powerful, serving as a warning to the audience of the dangers of temptation and recklessness.

Overall, The Road to Ruin is a film that is still relevant today, nearly a century after its release. Its message about the importance of responsible behavior and the dangers of peer pressure is as important now as it was then. The film's frankness and willingness to tackle taboo subjects was ahead of its time and paved the way for future filmmakers to explore controversial topics on screen.