Small-town innocence collides with big city betrayals in this 1958 cautionary tale.
UNWED MOTHER
Over twenty thousand girls every year live this bitter story!
A young, sweet girl from the country moves to Los Angeles with her mother and meets a young man who she thinks is just perfect. That is until she gets pregnant and he's on his way to jail.
Quick Answer
Unwed Mother is a 1958 American drama film directed by Walter Doniger about a shy country girl who moves to Los Angeles, falls for a con man, becomes pregnant, and navigates the hardships that follow.
Programmer's Pick
Unwed Mother puts the 'caution' in cautionary tale, with a cocktail of small-town dreams, big city swindlers, and the rough road to independence. Norma Moore brings tenderness and grit to Betty’s journey, while Robert Vaughn is all slick menace as the too-good-to-be-true Don. If you like your melodrama with swimsuits, getaway cars, and a seedy strip club for good measure, this one delivers.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Walter Doniger
- Writers
- Anson Bond, Alden Nash
- Release
- 1958
- Runtime
- 1h 14m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Drama
Cast & Crew
View all →
Why Cult
Betty’s journey from farm life to Los Angeles exposes her to city dangers, seedy characters, and the difficult realities faced by unwed mothers in the 1950s.
Catch Robert Vaughn as Don Bigelow, the slippery con man whose charm leads Betty astray—well before he became a household name.
The film doesn’t shy away from subjects like illegal abortion, unwed pregnancy, and women’s limited choices—rare for its era.
From strip clubs to shady doctors and cameo jewelry, the film’s pulpy elements paint a vivid picture of 1950s L.A. underbelly.
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
When was Unwed Mother released? +
Unwed Mother was released in 1958.
Who directed Unwed Mother? +
Unwed Mother was directed by Walter Doniger.
How long is Unwed Mother? +
Unwed Mother has a runtime of 74 minutes.
What genre is Unwed Mother? +
Unwed Mother is a drama.
Where can I watch Unwed Mother? +
You can watch Unwed Mother on SassyFlix.
