Shot in just seven days in April 1959, The Diary of a High School Bride was made by American International Pictures for a drive-in audience and was largely shown in the US on a double bill with Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow (1959).
Cute Los Angeles high school senior Judy (Anita Sands) dumps her hoodlum boyfriend Chuck (Chris Robinson) to elope to Vegas and marry 24-year-old law student Steve (Ron Foster).
Judy is only 17 and so, technically, her marriage to Steve isn’t legal, but when her parents find out, her father – with some objections from the mother – decides that the best thing to do is accept it.
Chuck, however, doesn’t take it well and – joined by his high school cronies – sets about harassing Judy and Steve in a series of increasingly more dangerous “pranks”. He eventually decides he’s going to have sex with Judy with or without her consent.
Although the premise may seem slightly off through a modern lens, getting married at the age of 17 wasn’t unusual back in 1959.
Judy
Anita Sands
Steve Redding
Ron Foster
Chuck
Chris Robinson
Gina
Wendy Wilde
Mrs Lewis
Louise Arthur
Mr Lewis
Frank Biro (as Barney Biro)
Richie
Dick Gering
Patty
Peggy Miller
Madge
Joan Connors
Lydia
Lili Rosson
Verna
Luree Holmes (as Luree Nicholson)
Jerry
Loretta Nicholson
Edie
Laura Nicholson
Director
Burt Topper