Dangerous Years

Dangerous Years is a 1947 American drama film produced by Sol M. Wurtzel, directed by Arthur Pierson, starring Billy Halop, Scotty Beckett and Ann E. Todd. Marilyn Monroe makes her first onscreen appearance as Evie, the waitress in the restaurant scenes. Plot The God-fearing residents of Middleton are worried that the Gopher Hole, a new roadhouse restaurant outside of town, will bring their teenage kids to ruin. Jeff Carter, a local teacher who also runs a youth club for the boys, takes a closer look at the place to see if the worries are justified. Jeff discovers that a group of boys from town, including Willy Miller, Gene Spooner and the tough Danny Jones, are robbing a warehouse in town. Jeff tries to stop them, but in the struggle is shot and killed by Danny. The boys flee, using Willy's father's delivery truck, but the truck is recognized by a witness working at the warehouse. The boys hide out at the Gopher Hole, joining a game of cards and acting as if they have been there all night. The police soon arrive at the Gopher Hole and arrest the boys. Danny is the only boy who isn't under age, and he is prosecuted for first degree murder by district attorney Edgar Burns. At the trial, Burns claims that Danny had planned to kill Jeff because of their previous encounters and the fact that Danny hated Jeff. Another boy, Leo Emerson, tells how Danny encouraged the boys at Jeff's youth club to visit the Gopher Hole, and then led them into other activities such as gambling and robbing gas stations. When Jeff tried to stop Danny's activities, and even offered Danny a job at the youth club, Danny refused and threatened to punch Jeff for interfering. Leo stopped his own involvement with Danny when Leo's absent father returned to the family home. Willy admits to taking his father's truck without permission and serving as lookout at the warehouse robbery, but in the process reveals that his father physically abuses him. Doris, a lonely teenage girl who is neglected by her parents and is in love with Danny, tries to lie on the stand to protect him, but breaks down when pressured by district attorney Burns.