Why Girls Leave Home (1945): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1945, Why Girls Leave Home is a drama, crime and music film directed by William Berke, running about 69 minutes. “The VIOLENT, UNVARNISHED TRUTH about the scores of thousands of young girls who recklessly toss away home ties for a life of dangerous thrills!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. In this crime drama, a young woman leaves her unhappy life at home to become a sophisticated night club singer. Her first job is nearly fatal when she entangles herself with the mobsters who own the joint and learns too much about their operation. Her boss decides to kill her and make it look like suicide. An intrepid reporter disbelieves the report and exposes the truth to the public.

Who’s in it. Why Girls Leave Home stars Lola Lane as Irene Mitchell, Sheldon Leonard as Chris Williams, Pamela Blake as Diana Leslie and Elisha Cook Jr. as Jimmy Lobo, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, Why Girls Leave Home has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Why Girls Leave Home page.

If you liked it. Fans of Why Girls Leave Home tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.