You are here:

Reform School

Name: Reform School
Director: Leo C. Popkin
Released: 1939
Duration: 82 min

Representation Score

3.5/10

Limited

1939

Approved

Director

Leo C. Popkin

Runtime

82 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Reform School offers a localized subversion of gendered power dynamics by placing a woman in a position of institutional authority. However, the film remains confined by the social norms of its time, lacking broader demographic diversity. While the protagonist's ability to drive the story is progressive, the film adheres to the conventions of its era, reflecting narrow social structures.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Reform School have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any characters with LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.

How does Reform School portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on a female warden who demonstrates strong leadership and competence in a state institution. This portrayal provides a meaningful depiction of female authority.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Reform School?

Limited

The film likely reflects the homogeneous demographics of the late 1930s. There is no evidence of a racially diverse cast.

How does Reform School represent religion and culture?

Fair

The plot examines the conflict between institutional authority and individual reform within the moral frameworks of its era.

Does Reform School include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the film's narrative or historical records.

Present on Screen

The film features a female protagonist in a position of significant institutional authority.
The narrative highlights female competence and ability to act within a state bureaucracy.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.
There is a notable absence of racial and ethnic diversity in the casting.
The narrative does not include characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

A female warden takes over at a state reform school and attempts to bring about needed changes. Restored in 2020 by the Academy Film Archive with additional funding from the National Endowment for the Arts from a 16mm print donated by Giancarlo Esposito and Laurence Fishburne.

How are these scores produced? →