blanche-2 "Girl 27" is a fascinating story of Hollywood history and the workings of the studios. The studios owned Hollywood: the police, the DA, all the way up. The movie magazines were studio organs. They had private hospitals, doctors on payroll. Anything could be hidden.Patricia Douglas was a young girl working in Hollywood as a dancer. "I moved like J.Lo" she tells the interviewer, David Stenn. One day she and some other women were asked to report to what they believed to be a film set, and they were sent to Western Costume to get costumes. When they arrived on the "set," it was a convention on a farm for MGM salespeople. Patricia Douglas was raped by one of them in a field. It was hushed up, and the doctor, under MGM's influence, put in her record that she had been treated for VD.Patricia attempted to sue but lost, so she took it to Federal Court. MGM bribed her mother and lawyer to make the case go away, and they did. The lawyer never showed up in court any time the case was called. Her mother got a liquor store out of it.At the time of the documentary, Patricia Douglas was 84, living alone in Las Vegas, when she was found by writer-producer Stenn. At first he spoke with her on the phone - she would say so much and then hang up abruptly. Finally she agreed to meet him and tell her story.There have been many complaints about Stenn's presence in this film. I used to work for David Stenn. When he says he loves Patricia Douglas, he's not playing nice to get the story at all. He's not that kind of person. As for his presence in the film, she would only talk to him, so he was stuck there - yes, he could have cut himself out. In the beginning, I think he had to lay the foundation as he did - he is a film historian, an expert on MGM and that era. Did he have to mention Jackie Onassis? Probably not, but I think it made his credentials all the more impressive.There's nothing uncommon in a documentary about looking at records and having someone go over them with you. So maybe in total, five minutes of Stenn could have been cut. I do not think he took away from this woman's agonizing story.Not only is this a searing documentary about the machinations of MGM and Mayer, it is such a sad commentary on the time during which Patricia Douglas was young. Families swept incidents such as rape under the rug. There was no place she could go for help. She was never able to move on. It ruined her life. She said she was frigid. She was married three times; she wanted a child desperately to love and be loved, yet she gave the child to someone else to raise. She couldn't get too close to anyone.Her beautiful daughter tells a sad story about their relationship or lack of it. Patricia never told anyone what had happened to her. When the story broke in Vanity Fair, she told her mother that she was so incredibly proud of her. And her mother said nothing.It's such a tragic account, it breaks your heart. An entire live ruined. Patricia could have tried to move on, but how does one do that when violated and no one acknowledges it? When everyone expects you to act as if nothing's wrong? The studio heads were sleazes. When I interviewed actress Rita Gam, an incredibly beautiful woman even today, she said she received many offers from Hollywood. But she smartly waited until she was offered a contract for $1250 a week. Why? Because if you made less than that, she said, you were part of the "visiting firemen" circuit, in other words, a prostitute. Starlets were expected to sleep with men for jobs, and at the behest of the studio. Even Rita Hayworth's husband tried to pimp her out to Harry Cohn.I think the story overrides David Stenn's presence in the film, which some find offensive. Personally I didn't mind it. I loved the film clips that were interjected. A nice touch to a horrible story.

chucknorrisfacts I just watched "Girl 27" on Netflix instant stream. It's a very sad movie, but I think it's worth checking out, particularly if you're a starry-eyed youth thinking of making a career in show business.The truth is, the world's a pretty nasty place, and you shouldn't trust people. Maybe that doesn't sound very nice to say, but it's the truth. It's just too bad no one ever told poor Pat Douglas that when she was growing up."Girl 27" tells the story of Pat Douglas, a young extra in the early days of Hollywood who gets raped at MGM and the subsequent cover-up that took place to protect the studio from the backlash after Douglas went public with her story.I know a lot of people have given this film negative reviews and I can't really understand why. It seems a common complaint is the director's mishandling of the material or his apparent need to put himself in front of the camera instead of the real "star".Well, first off, I'm in no way affiliated with the director, but I think if he's the one to uncover the story, he has the right to appear in his own documentary. Secondly, no one ever stopped to consider that maybe Pat Douglas wasn't comfortable talking on camera long enough to make a whole film out of it -- and that the director had to relay some information himself? I don't know...I guess I just think the people who voted this movie down because of the director missed the point of the whole documentary. It's about Pat Douglas and her tragic story, and I'm just glad the story got out and without the director that wouldn't have happened.Some may say he exploited her again for the purpose of a story, but I don't see that. I think he gave her the only vindication she received in her whole life. Otherwise, the story would never have been told, as I said before, and I think as tragic as the story is, it serves as a warning of the dangers of being young and naive and unaware of the dangers that exist in this world.I would recommend checking this movie out -- it's really sad, but I'm glad to have seen it -- because nothing like this should have to happen to anyone...and awareness is key to keeping stuff like this from happening to anyone else.

Jochen Lotke What does happen when an interesting story is ruined by a man who just cannot keep out of the shadows and must (simply MUST) always leap centre stage? Well it looks a bit like Girl 27.I think I am kinder than some other reviewers who give this film a one (but maybe not than those who think this is the best film of all time --- maybe the director or his friends eh?) this isn't terrible really, just fairly bad. The story, however, saves it from being awful - it is quite compelling blend of misogyny and studio politics with a victim who is left a ruin.Its his first film I think so maybe he will learn to focus more on the subject of a documentary and not to grab the attention so much for the next effort.Jochen L.

karie-5 David Stenn spent 10 years researching Patricia Douglas and her case and trying to uncover the truth. He presents rare archival footage, film clips and interviews that are compelling and at times even shocking when placed in the proper context. He gives the audience solid historical perspective on how secrets, lies and hypocrisy impacted Hollywood from the top stars on down.The title of the film derives its name from the roster of girls who were at the party. Patricia Douglas was "Girl 27" on the list.About half way through the film, we finally meet Patricia Douglas (which was great great timing since her survival comes as a bit of a surprise). She has a commanding voice and an arresting presence. She is surprisingly sharp and articulate. In spite of what Eddie Mannix claimed, she is alive and living as a recluse in an apartment in Las Vegas. The film tells two interwoven stories of both Patricia's terrible ordeal and of David Stenn's search for the truth about the events surrounding it. Even though she is reluctant, Patricia Douglas finally opens up and tales her story. In doing so, she seems set free and vindicated. Through it all, Patricia and David form a close bond that seems almost like an unconventional love story.Girl 27 is a haunting, compelling and powerful documentary that will stay with you long after the final credits.