Released by Bullfrog Films in 1993, the Academy Award-nominated short film When Abortion Was Illegal: Untold Stories is unfortunately timely once more.

Produced and directed by Dorothy Fadiman, When Abortion Was Illegal is a poignant oral history that weaves together the untold stories of women who underwent dangerous back-alley procedures and struggled with the lingering trauma, providing viewers with a window onto a past that is now an impending reality.

For a limited time, purchase this important film for just $39 on DVD with public performance rights.
The era of illegal abortion—roughly the period between the turn of the 19th century and the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973—has been a sealed chapter in women's history. When Abortion Was Illegal illuminates this largely undocumented era and reveals the physical, emotional and legal consequences of having an abortion when it was a criminal act.

The profound aura of shame and fear surrounding unwanted pregnancies and abortions before Roe v. Wade kept most women from ever admitting that they had had illegal abortions. Women suffering complications from back alley or self-induced abortions risked arrest if they admitted what they had done. As a result, many women died from untreated infections; some hemorrhaged to death.

Through candid interviews and personal stories, When Abortion Was Illegal reveals the tragedies, the courage, and the heroism of a shrouded time in our history.
When Abortion Was Illegal is available on DVD with public performance rights for school and library purchase or rental. Academic streaming can be licensed from Docuseek. Campus and community groups interested in hosting a community screening can book now through Bullfrog Communities.
“With riveting detail... eschewing the inflammatory rhetoric that often colors the abortion debate, Untold Stories nonetheless delivers a powerful argument.”
—The San Francisco Chronicle

“A 'must see' for health professionals who want to truly understand the effects of turning back the clock.”
—Amy Levine, UCSF Center for Gender Equality

"Affectingly related stories...etch the climate of fear, pain, reprisal, and sometimes death that permeated a society outlawing abortion."
—Booklist
To order When Abortion Was Illegal on DVD with public performance rights for educational use, visit the Bullfrog Films online catalog.
Order by phone at (610) 779-8226
or email us at info@bullfrogfilms.com
Bullfrog Films is the oldest and largest publisher of documentary films about the environment and social justice issues in the United States. We define "environment" broadly, and our catalog includes programs on ecology, energy, agriculture, indigenous peoples, women's studies, public health, international relations, law and legal studies, anthropology, economics, political science, and conflict resolution.