Sixteen (1972)
A raw hicksploitation drama from the early 1970s, blending Southern Gothic atmosphere with carnival seduction and lost innocence.
Sixteen - Movie Information
- Original Title: Sixteen
- Release Year: 1972
- Directed by: Lawrence Dobkin
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 36m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 3, 1972 (United States - R)
- Alternative Titles: Carnival Tramp (US)
- Production Companies: Futurama International
- Production Countries: United States of America
Sixteen - Plot
Hickspoiltation film from the early 1970s ostensibly starring Oscar nominee Mercedes McCambridge, but really more a film looking for an excuse to show off Simone Griffeth's beauty. She plays a daughter of a swamp family. The whole family goes to a carnival where she is seduced by an older male performer, while her teen brother is seduced by an older female performer.
Where to Watch Sixteen
Looking for where to watch Sixteen?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Sixteen - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Lawrence Dobkin
Main Cast
- Mercedes McCambridge
- Ford Rainey
- Simone Griffeth
- John Lozier
- Buddy Foster
- Beverly Powers
- Peter Greene
- Parley Baer
- Maidie Norman
- Mitchell Edmonds
Writers
- Curtis Brown Taylor
- Jim Lowe
Producers
- Curtis Brown Taylor
- Harvey Bernhard
Sixteen - FAQs
What is Sixteen (1972) about?
Sixteen follows a rural swamp family who visit a traveling carnival, where their teenage daughter Naomi and her younger brother are each seduced by older carnival performers. Nominally headlined by Oscar nominee Mercedes McCambridge, the film leans into hicksploitation territory, using its Southern Gothic setting to explore themes of innocence, temptation, and moral decay.
Is Sixteen (1972) a hicksploitation film?
Yes, Sixteen is a textbook example of early-1970s hicksploitation — a subgenre that exploits rural Southern settings, poverty, and transgressive behavior for shock value and titillation. While it features a credentialed cast led by Mercedes McCambridge, the film's real focus is on Simone Griffeth's screen presence and the carnival's atmosphere of seduction and danger.
Where can you stream Sixteen (1972)?
You can watch Sixteen on Tubi TV for free with ads, or rent and buy it through Amazon Video. It's a relatively accessible title for a film of its era and niche genre.
What role does Mercedes McCambridge play in Sixteen?
Mercedes McCambridge plays Ma Irtley, the matriarch of the swamp family at the center of the story. Despite receiving top billing, her role is largely overshadowed by the film's focus on Simone Griffeth as her daughter Naomi. McCambridge was an Oscar nominee known for All the King's Men and Giant.
Who are the main cast members in Sixteen?
The cast features Mercedes McCambridge as the mother, Ford Rainey as the father, and Simone Griffeth as Naomi, the teenage daughter at the heart of the story. Supporting roles include Buddy Foster, Beverly Powers as Carmelita, Parley Baer as the Reverend, and Maidie Norman as Aunt Ada.
Does Sixteen (1972) explore themes of loss of innocence?
Very much so. Loss of innocence is the film's central preoccupation — both Naomi and her teen brother are drawn into encounters with older carnival performers, framing the carnival as a space of dangerous temptation intruding on sheltered rural life. The Southern Gothic setting amplifies the sense of a world slipping beyond the family's grasp.
Who directed Sixteen and what else did he make?
Lawrence Dobkin directed Sixteen. Primarily known as a character actor with an extensive television career, his directorial output was limited. Sixteen stands as one of his more notable behind-the-camera efforts, a curious artifact within the early-1970s exploitation cycle.
What is the alternative title for Sixteen (1972)?
Sixteen was also released under the title Carnival Tramp in the United States. Alternative titles were common for exploitation films of this era, often used to remarket the film to different regional audiences or to give it a second theatrical run under a fresh name.
More About Sixteen
Explore further details and databases for Sixteen.