Tough college student Tod Palmer patiently suffers increasingly severe hazing at the hands of sadistic Ky Walker while pledging a fraternity at Wake College. Attempting to bring the ritual initiation abuses to the authorities' attention, Tod accidentally dies after fleeing from the angry fraternity brothers. Medical professor Dr. Stephen Brice then tries to end the practice of hazing, determined to obtain justice for one of his best students.
Paul Henreid set up the project with Edward Nassour. They established HN Productions -
for Henreid and Nassour.[3] In March 1951 they arranged finance through Robert L. Lippert.[4] Henreid and Lippert were secretive about the subject matter, describing it as "topical and controversial."[5] Henreid admitted he later kept the topic secret so no other produces would beat them to the screens with a similar story.[2]
Filming started 5 September 1951 at the General Service Studio.[6][7] There had been a week's rehearsal beforehand. Filming took 16 days, and was completed two days ahead of schedule.[2]
Henreid said getting the script and finance and making the film took him a year.[2][8] He says he originally wanted to call the film Hell Night but the distributors came up with For Men Only.[9]
Henreid wanted to make The Spanish Grandee and Ring around Saturn for Nassour but these were never made.[2]
Reception
Henreid later said the film was "very successful" and credited it with launching his directing career.[10]
References
^HELEN, G. H. (Jul 15, 1951). "COAST'S STARS SUCCUMB TO THE DIRECTING URGE". New York Times. ProQuest111950013.