Mildred Horn
Encyclopedia
Mildred Horn was a film critic and screenwriter
, best known for her work on the Kroger Babb
exploitation film
Mom and Dad
.
Horn was born in Erie, Pennsylvania
and studied at Academy High School. She later moved to Indianapolis, Indiana
, where she became a film critic for a local paper.
When Horn was sent to review Kroger Babb
's production of Child Bride
, she was horrified that such a "cheap, crude, mislabeled morality play would be shown in a major Indiana family theater". In Horn's opinion the film was material for a shoddy sideshow tent at some backwoods county fair. Babb later met with Horn, instead of writing a scathing review, Horn and Babb entered into a personal and professional relationship that would last forty years until his death in 1983. They enjoyed a common-law marriage
after 1944, only making it official when Babb's first wife Toby consented to a divorce in the late 60s.
Together with Babb and Jack Jossey they formed "Hygienic Productions
" (later renamed "Hallmark Productions"), and she wrote the screenplay for their best known production, Mom and Dad
. The film was presented in a unique way, and included lectures and the sale of hygiene books that Horn wrote.
Horn also wrote the screenplays for Why Men Leave Home, a film about female beauty, and Prince of Peace, a passion play
. and now resides in Palm Springs.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, best known for her work on the Kroger Babb
Kroger Babb
Howard W. "Kroger" Babb was an American film and television producer and showman. His marketing techniques were similar to a travelling salesman's, with roots in the medicine-show tradition...
exploitation film
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad is a feature-length 1945 film directed by William Beaudine, and largely produced by the exploitation filmmaker and presenter Kroger Babb. Mom and Dad is considered the most successful film within its genre of "sex hygiene" films...
.
Horn was born in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
and studied at Academy High School. She later moved to Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, where she became a film critic for a local paper.
When Horn was sent to review Kroger Babb
Kroger Babb
Howard W. "Kroger" Babb was an American film and television producer and showman. His marketing techniques were similar to a travelling salesman's, with roots in the medicine-show tradition...
's production of Child Bride
Child Bride
Child Bride, also known as Child Brides , is a 1938 film directed by Harry Revier. Set in a remote town in the Ozarks, it claims to be an attempt to draw attention to the lack of laws banning child marriage in many states...
, she was horrified that such a "cheap, crude, mislabeled morality play would be shown in a major Indiana family theater". In Horn's opinion the film was material for a shoddy sideshow tent at some backwoods county fair. Babb later met with Horn, instead of writing a scathing review, Horn and Babb entered into a personal and professional relationship that would last forty years until his death in 1983. They enjoyed a common-law marriage
Common-law marriage
Common-law marriage, sometimes called sui juris marriage, informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute, is a form of interpersonal status that is legally recognized in limited jurisdictions as a marriage even though no legally recognized marriage ceremony is performed or civil marriage...
after 1944, only making it official when Babb's first wife Toby consented to a divorce in the late 60s.
Together with Babb and Jack Jossey they formed "Hygienic Productions
Hygienic Productions
Hygienic Productions was a film production company based out of Wilmington, Ohio. Formed by exploitation film producer Kroger Babb, the company was in charge of promotion and production for a number of Babb's films, including the infamous Mom and Dad....
" (later renamed "Hallmark Productions"), and she wrote the screenplay for their best known production, Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad is a feature-length 1945 film directed by William Beaudine, and largely produced by the exploitation filmmaker and presenter Kroger Babb. Mom and Dad is considered the most successful film within its genre of "sex hygiene" films...
. The film was presented in a unique way, and included lectures and the sale of hygiene books that Horn wrote.
Horn also wrote the screenplays for Why Men Leave Home, a film about female beauty, and Prince of Peace, a passion play
Passion play
A Passion play is a dramatic presentation depicting the Passion of Jesus Christ: his trial, suffering and death. It is a traditional part of Lent in several Christian denominations, particularly in Catholic tradition....
. and now resides in Palm Springs.
Films
- Mom and DadMom and DadMom and Dad is a feature-length 1945 film directed by William Beaudine, and largely produced by the exploitation filmmaker and presenter Kroger Babb. Mom and Dad is considered the most successful film within its genre of "sex hygiene" films...
, screenplay (1945) - The Prince of PeaceThe Prince of PeaceThe Prince of Peace, also known as The Lawton Story, was a film that later made the exploitation rounds under the production of Kroger Babb. The film was based on a passion play created in 1948 in Lawton, Oklahoma. Filmed in Cinecolor, it was presented in various forms in the years following its...
aka The Lawton Story, screenplay (1949) - Why Men Leave HomeWhy Men Leave HomeWhy Men Leave Home is a 1924 silent film comedy-drama produced by Louis B. Mayer and released through First National Pictures, then known as Associated First National. It is based on a 1922 Broadway play by Avery Hopwood. The film was released in Germany in 1925 by UFA. John M. Stahl directed and...
aka Secrets of Beauty, screenplay (1951)