The Violators (1957) On DVD

Solomon Baumgarden is a parole officer specializing in juvenile delinquency cases, often criticized by his superiors for showing too much sympathy for the "violators". He is also a single father, trying to raise a teenage daughter, Debbie, after the death of his wife. But Solomon's commitment to his job keeps him away from home. He learns that Debbie has fallen for a fast-talking swindler on the run from the law.The once-sympathetic parole officer is forced to rethink his stance on juvenile delinquency when he finds that his own daughter has also become a "violator".

The Violators was the first film in a four-picture deal radio producer Himan Brown made with RKO. Brown, the creator of popular programs such as Inner Sanctum (1941-1952) and the later CBS Radio Mystery Theater (1974-1982), tapped former character actor John Newland to direct. Newland had started his directing career earlier that year with the acclaimed drama That Night (1957). Two years later, he would have his greatest success when he was chosen to host the television anthology series One Step Beyond (1959-1961). Star Arthur O'Connell also began in radio as a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre. His association with Welles led to a small part in Citizen Kane (1941) and subsequent memorable roles in classics like Bus Stop (1956), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), and The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964). Actor Norman Fell makes his screen debut under his original name, Norman Feld. In two decades' time, he would become instantly recognizable to television audiences for his role as landlord Stanley Roper on Three's Company (1977-1979) and its spin-off The Ropers (1979-1980).