14

TUESDAY

The Aaron Spelling of his generation, director Charles Haas made films that crawled along at a pace so slow it was difficult to catch on to the often predictable plots, poor dialogue, and extremely bad casting. And much like Spelling’s melodramatic TV series, Haas’ films still prove undeniably, addictively entertaining. Girls Town, a subversive cult fave, stars the great Mamie Van Doren (the poor man’s Jayne Mansfield, who was herself the poor man’s Marilyn Monroe) as a hardass, slang-talkin’ bad girl sent to reform school for a crime she didn’t commit. The film also features appearances by the Platters, Ray Anthony, and a 30-something Mel Torme in the role of a vicious gang leader. And as if that weren’t enough, there’s a debatably sacrilegious rendition of “Ave Maria” by a seemingly prepubescent Paul Anka. Though it may not leave you with the heartwarming morality lesson or the Oscar-worthy performances of its likely muse, Boys Town, it’s one hell of a ride. And at the very least, you’ll get to enjoy Mamie as she shifts her ample booty about like a horse ambling out to pasture. Girls Town screens at 7 p.m. at the Library of Congress’ Pickford Theater, 101 Independence Ave. SE. Free. (202) 707-5677. (Kelly Manion)