The Road to Ruin (1934): Cast & Plot
The Road to Ruin is a 1934 drama directed by Melville Shyer, starring Mae Busch as Mrs. Monroe (uncredited), Helen Foster and Virginia True Boardman. It runs 1 hour 2 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 2m (62 min)
- Director
- Melville Shyer
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Willis Kent Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Road to Ruin About?
The premise of The Road to Ruin without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A naïve young woman is drawn into a reckless crowd that uses marijuana, drinks heavily, and engages in casual sex. As she falls deeper into the lifestyle, she becomes an alcoholic and pregnant drug user, ultimately compelled to undergo an abortion while confronting the tragic collapse of her once‑innocent life.
The Road to Ruin Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- teenage girl
- corrupting an innocent young woman
- bend down exposing cleavage
- female nudity
- skinny dipping
- drugsploitation
- teenager
- platinum blonde
- ford model a coupe
- reference to the cotton club
- father daughter kiss
- adult actress plays a minor teenage girl
+38 more Show fewer
- teenage daughter
- father kisses daughter on the lips
- sleepover
- yellow cab
- suicide door
- racy novel
- teensploitation
- daughter spies on mother
- underage drinking
- bad influence
- underage smoking
- 1930s
- canoe
- couple making out
- man kisses a woman's shoulder
- kiss
- crying after sex
- implied sex
- musical number
- woman dancing
- getting drunk
- seduction
- jealous boyfriend
- kicked out of a bar
- man kisses a teenage girl
- female star appears in swimsuit
- asian servant
- man kisses a woman's hand
- craps game
- strip poker
- women undressing in public
- woman wears a black bra
- lingerie
- cleavage
- woman swims nude
- belly flop
- wild party
- running from police
The Road to Ruin Cast & Characters
Mae Busch leads the cast as Mrs. Monroe (uncredited), with Helen Foster as Ann Dixon and Virginia True Boardman as Martha Dixon. Directed by Melville Shyer; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Melville Shyer
- Mae Busch as Mrs. Monroe (uncredited)
- Helen Foster as Ann Dixon
- Virginia True Boardman as Martha Dixon
- Nell O'Day as Eve Monroe
Also Starring in The Road to Ruin
· 10 more- Glen Boles Tommy
- Paul Page Ralph Bennett
- Richard Hemingway Brad
- Donald Kerr Drunk shooting dice
- Dorothy Davenport Mrs. Merrill (uncredited)
- Richard Tucker Mr. Dixon
- Robert Quirk Ed
- Eleanor Thatcher Dancer
- Neal Pratt Evans
- Jimmy Tolson Club Singer Jimmy
More from Melville Shyer
More films directed by Melville Shyer: Mad Youth, The Murder in the Museum and Sucker Money.
The Road to Ruin Plot Summary
What happens in The Road to Ruin from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Ann Dixon and Eve Monroe are high school friends navigating the tangled social world of adolescence. Eve is more daring, introducing Ann to habits that feel new and forbidden—smoking, drinking, and a freer, more flirtatious set of expectations among their peers. When Ann timidly asks, > Do you let boys kiss you? <, the moment highlights a divide between curiosity and caution, hinting at the consequences that can come when boundaries blur and judgment wanes. This question sits at the heart of their evolving relationship and the choices that follow.
Full summary
The whole story of The Road to Ruin, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Road to Ruin?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main female protagonist who faces tragedy at the end of the film?
Cars in The Road to Ruin
5 cars on screen, including the 1929 Packard Deluxe Eight and the 1928 Ford Model A.
-
1929 Packard Deluxe Eight Important role -
1928 Ford Model A Minor role -
1925 Packard Six Minor role -
1926 Ford Model T Background role
The Road to Ruin Also Known As
Also known as “Vias da Ruína”.
- Also known as
-
- Vias da Ruína
Seen The Road to Ruin?
Movies Like The Road to Ruin
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Road to Ruin, The Road and The Hard Road.
The Road to Ruin FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Road to Ruin, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Road to Ruin?
The Road to Ruin runs 1 hour 2 minutes (62 minutes).
When was The Road to Ruin released?
The Road to Ruin was released on May 14, 1934.
Who directed The Road to Ruin?
The Road to Ruin was directed by Melville Shyer.
More films by Melville Shyer Who is in the cast of The Road to Ruin?
The Road to Ruin stars Mae Busch as Mrs. Monroe (uncredited), Helen Foster as Ann Dixon and Virginia True Boardman as Martha Dixon, among 14 credited actors.
Does The Road to Ruin have a post-credit scene?
No. The Road to Ruin has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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