Girls Town was a 1959 film produced by MGM, starring Paul Anka and Mel Tormé. A juvenile delinquent is sent to a girls school run by nuns, where she finds herself unable to help her sister. The film capitalizes on the 1950s rebellious teen exploitation films, full of catfights, races, Paul Anka and Platters music, and sexy outfits. Unfortunately the plot and acting are subpar. A shower scene was said to cause a rash of complaints from the Catholic church and was supposedly removed before release. 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... For alternate meanings of MGM, see MGM (disambiguation). ...

Girls Town was lampooned in 1994 by Mystery Science Theater 3000. About 15 minutes of the actual film was cut from this version. From left to right, Crow T. Robot, Joel Robinson, and Tom Servo (the latter dressed as a candy striper). ...

Plot

The movie opens as a young woman, fending off her grabby date, watches him accidentally fall over a cliff to his death. Circumstantial evidence places juvenile delinquent Silver (Mamie Van Doren) at the scene and she is sent to Girls Town, a rehabilitation village run by a group of nuns. There she lives with Serafina (Gigi Perreau) and two Romulan-looking tough chicks. Trouble and misunderstandings ensue. Troublemaker Fred (Mel Torme) saw the cliff incident from a distance and realizes it was Silver's sister who was there: Mary Lee (Elinor Donahue, from Father Knows Best). Fred blackmails Mary Lee into being his partner in deadly "hands-off drag racing," then prepares to take her to Tijuana to sell her into the slave trade (nice guy). Silver finally wins the respect of her Girls Town friends, but can they rescue Mary Lee? Mamie Van Doren (born February 6, 1931) is a American actress and sex symbol. ... The Romulans, a fictional race in the Star Trek universe, are descended from Vulcans and are characterized as being deceitful, cunning, and treacherous. ... Mel Tormé (September 13, 1925 - June 5, 1999) was a jazz singer with a light, velvety, high-tenor voice. ... Elinor Donahue (born April 19, 1937 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American actress. ... Father Knows Best was an American TV and radio sitcom of the 1950s and 1960s. ...

A side plot involves Serafina swooning over famous singer Jimmy (Paul Anka). While visiting town, as well as Girls Town, he sings Lonely Boy, It's Time to Cry, Girls Town Blues, and Ave Maria. A scene set in a night club features The Platters singing Wish It Were Me. Paul Anka OC (born July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian-born American singer and songwriter. ... Hail Mary or in Latin Ave Maria is a traditional Christian prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus. ... The Platters were a very successful doo wop group, formed in 1953. ...

Trivia

• There is a climactic drag race scene filmed in the Los Angeles River, reminiscent of the film Grease.
• In the drive-in restaurant scene, reflections of the camera crew can be spotted.
• Van Doren was 27 when this film was produced, and she played a 16-year old.