Too Young, Too Immoral!

N.p. Rialto International Film Releasing, 1962. Vintage studio still photograph of Brenda Denaut from the 1962 film. With a subhead reading "Starring the City of New York and a cast of New Faces from its stages." Notable for starring a young Taylor Mead.

Director, screenwriter, and star, Raymond Phelan, best known as cinematographer for sexploitation impresario Doris Wishman, originally began making "Too Young, Too Immoral!" in 1957, about a brother reflecting on the tragically short life of his murdered addict brother. This early version was titled "Rebels Die Young."

Unable to find distribution, Phelan added what turned out to be some of the earliest known sexploitation scenes filmed in the US. It starred Brenda Denaut (subject of this photograph), the mother of Roseanne, Patricia, David, and Alexis Arquette. as well as Andy Warhol mainstay Taylor Mead in his first film role.

It wouldn't be until five years later, after sexploitation films began to gain traction with US distributors, that Phelan was able to get the film booked at the Rialto Theatre on Broadway. It played for four months there before getting limited US distribution. It re-emerged in 2017 when it was screened at the Anthology Film Archives in New York. Featuring some of the most striking footage of New York City found in the late 1950s.

Shot on location in New York.

8 x 10 inches. Near Fine.

[Book #162514]