‘A perfect 666’
Satan’ School for Girls is a 1973 American supernatural horror film made-for-TV. It was directed by David Lowell Rich (The Horror at 37,000 Feet; Eye of the Cat) from a screenplay by Arthur A. Ross (Creature from the Black Lagoon; The Creature Walks Among Us). The Spelling-Goldberg production stars Pamela Franklin, Kate Jackson and Lloyd Bochner.
A mysterious person seems to be chasing student Martha Sayers (Terry Lumley), who drives to her sister’s lakeside house in Los Angeles. The same day, the police and Martha’s sister Elizabeth (Pamela Franklin) find her hanged in the living room. The police rule her death as an unmotivated suicide, but Elizabeth refuses to believe this and investigates further.
She decides to visit the exclusive academy that Martha attended, The Salem Academy for Women, despite warnings from Martha’s roommate, Lucy Dembrow (Gwynne Gilford). Under the assumed name of Elizabeth Morgan, she enrolls at the college, where she is welcomed by her classmates Roberta Lockhart (Kate Jackson), Debbie Jones (Jamie Smith Jackson) and Jody Keller (Cheryl Ladd)…
Reviews:
“The finale is actually fairly atmospheric and while the movie has ‘fad cash in’ written all over it, at least it does what it does well. A classic? No, not a classic, but if you like supernatural seventies horror and don’t necessarily need the more explicit content that this film’s R-rated theatrical counterparts bring to the screen, you can certainly have a good time at the movies with this one.” Ian Jane, Rock! Shock! Pop!
” …since the title gives it away, about the only mystery left is “Who is Satan?”, and practically every review I’ve read gives that away. It has a couple of good moments, in particular a scene in which a bevy of women with long poles prevent a professor from escaping from a pond and causing his death.” Dave Sindelar, Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings
“Given the film’s title, the big reveal at the climax doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The seventy-odd minutes preceding it, however, are a cavalcade of seventies centre-partings, moody lighting, mildly terrifying suspense, two-thirds of Charlie’s Angels and Luciferian evil.” Rich Flannagan, Are You in the House Alone?
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“If one were to seek it out, Satan’s School for Girls would provide some decent entertainment but it is not really one of those must-see films that would even warrant having been looked for. It is good yes, but worth only to catch if it were playing on T.V. or if one was a major fan of the actresses within.” The Telltale Mind
” …even with the lowly production values and implicit television censorship, it isn’t a bad little flick. The story is predictable, but not boring. There’s one satisfying murder (beware sorority sisters bearing poles, that’s all I’ll say), and either Roberta is given some reasonable dialog or Kate Jackson has talent (and I’m putting my money on the second).” The Film Atheist
“It’s alternately creepy and cheesy, and occasionally both at the same time, but the acting is generally fine. Jackson is perfectly eerie, and Ladd is game, but her part is very small.” Michael Karol, The ABC Movie of the Week Companion
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Cast and characters:
- Pamela Franklin as Elizabeth Sayers – The Food of the Gods; Thriller TV series; The Legend of Hell House; Night Gallery; Necromancy; And Soon the Darkness; Our Mother’s House; The Nanny; The Innocents
- Kate Jackson as Roberta Lockhart – Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; Satan’s School for Girls (2000); Death at Love House; Killer Bees; Night of Dark Shadows; Dark Shadows TV series
- Lloyd Bochner as Professor Delacroix – Legend of the Mummy; The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries: ‘The House on Possessed Hill’; Crowhaven Farm; The Dunwich Horror; The Night Walker
- Jamie Smith Jackson as Debbie Jones – Night Cries; Bug; House of Evil
- Roy Thinnes as Dr. Joseph Clampett – Dark Shadows TV series; Rush Week; The Norliss Tapes; The Horror at 37,000 Feet; The Invaders TV series
- Jo Van Fleet as Mrs. Jessica Williams
- Cheryl Stoppelmoor [Ladd] as Jody Keller
- Frank Marth as Detective – Kolchak: The Night Stalker
- Terry Lumley as Martha Sayers –
- Gwynne Gilford as Lucy Dembrow – Fade to Black; Beware! The Blob
- Bill Quinn as Gardener – Lucky Stiff; Dead & Buried; Psychic Killer; Night Gallery
- Ann Noland as Kris
- Bing Russell as Sheriff – A Taste of Evil; Billy the Kid vs. Dracula; The Munsters
Trivia:
In 2000, Satan’s School for Girls was remade with Shannon Doherty in the lead role. Kate Jackson returned but this time as the college dean.