'Jail Bait' is somewhat lesser known Ed Wood 's movie. Probably because it is slightly better than his most famous works. The dialogue is ridiculously written and actors chewing themselves through the silly lines thus destroying acting with every scene. Weird jump cuts in an inappropriate moments that doesn't add anything to scene but just demolishing the flow of it. 'Jail Bait' has much more coherent story line and consistent script than we are used from Ed Wood movie. That can be associated to co-writer Alex Gordon (who also produced couple of Roger Corman's movies). Thanks to tight writing 'Jail Bait' is more serious in tone and offers less unintentional comedy and as that it just stays a badly made film-noir, but stands as 'best' film directed by infamous Ed Wood.The film's score with its pseudo flamenco guitar and obnoxious piano pounding takes off lot of tension from several scenes and adds some weird atmosphere to the movie. The mood of otherworldly is enhanced by that, that all the action takes place at night time and we see California without sunshine - dark and murky place instead of bright scenery we are used to.'Jail Bait' has its charm and it is entertaining to watch wooden actors sleepwalking through bad dialogue and unbelievable procedures (plastic surgery done on the living room sofa without almost no medical equipment). The viewer also gets awarded with nice ending twist. Not quite Ed Wood at his best, but more at his 'best'.

First off I have to say that Jail Bait wasn't what I expected. Given its title I thought Jail Bait would be about the evils of having sex with minors. It certainly would have been in the Ed Wood tradition. But the Jail Bait here is the weapon that our protagonist Clancy Malone was carrying. Malone is an irresponsible young punk, son of Dr. Herbert Rawlinson who likes hanging out with hoods like Timothy Farrell. He's already been picked up for gun possession and he's the cause of grief for Rawlinson and sister Dolores Fuller.But one night Malone and Farrell pull a stickup at a theater and retired cop Bud Osborne is killed who is employed as a night watchman. The police in the people of Lyle Talbot and Steve Reeves investigate this one like Osborne was still on active duty.This is as far as I go, the film takes some bizarre twists that only the mind of an Ed Wood could conceive.When I say Steve Reeves that is indeed the original Hercules. And of course Ed Wood had him take his shirt off. He bulked up a bit in the 4 years since for the Hercules role. As usual Wood shoots a most economical film. Players like Lyle Talbot, Herbert Rawlinson, and Bud Osborne who've got an impressive list of credits looked pained beyond belief. I'd love to know how Talbot got associated with Wood. Rawlinson died right after completing his part. He looks very ill in his scenes. Jail Bait is an Ed Wood project through and through.

Yes. 1954's "Jail Bait" (with its cardboard sets, its poverty-row production values, its cheap atmosphere, etc., etc.) is a perfect example of cinematic ineptitude like no other - But, hey, that's because it's an Ed Wood picture (which, pretty much, explains everything). And being an Ed Wood production, I don't think that it could (or should) be any other way.Apparently inspired by the TV show "Dragnet", within the first 10 minutes of Jail Bait's dry and clumsy story of murder, robbery and plastic surgery miracles, you'll be glad to know that this film's running time is only a mere 70 minutes. So having to endure the unbearable is over soon enough.One notable detail about Jail Bait is that it co-starred the 28-year-old "Mr. Universe", bodybuilder Steve Reeves, as Lt. Bob Lawrence, in one of his first screen-roles. 4 years later Reeves would go on to star as Hercules and instantly become one of filmdom's most famous bronzed gods.All-in-all - Regardless of this film's low, 3-star rating (which is all it deserves), I still think it's worth a view purely from a nostalgic standpoint.

Ed Wood Jr. tries Film-Noir with this little crime drama. Lyle Talbot plays Inspector Johns and Steve Reeves as Lt. Bob Lawrence close in on a young man(Clancy Malone), the son of a prominent plastic surgeon(Herbert Rawlinson), who after hanging with a small time criminal(Timothy Farrell)is wanted for murder. His sister(Dolores Fuller)has been his best support for so long and now there is nothing she can do. His father wants to protect him and does have the last say-so in the finale. Wood's lack of talent shows all over JAIL BAIT. By the way, the title is not about a young girl...but a gun. Talbot does the best with what is offered him. And yes, Reeves is the future Hercules. Fuller would would later have small parts in movies, but her biggest claim to any fame is for writing a handful of songs for Elvis Presley.