Because They're Young (1960)

Director:

Paul Wendkos

Writers:

John Farris (novel)
James Gunn (writer)

Release Date:

April 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Whoever you are, you're in this picture! Because this tells of youth's challenge to grown-ups who can't understand!

Plot:

New high school teacher tries to help troubled students and falls in love with the principal's secretary.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Based On Novel

Cast

Dick Clark	...	Neil Hendry
Victoria Shaw	...	Joanne Dietrich
Michael Callan	...	Griff Rimer
Tuesday Weld	...	Anne Gregor
Warren Berlinger	...	Buddy McCalla
Roberta Shore	...	Richelle 'Ricky' Summers
Doug McClure	...	Jim Trent
Duane Eddy	...	Cameo appearance
James Darren	...	Cameo appearance
Linda Watkins	...	Frances McCalla
Chris Robinson	...	Patcher
Rudy Bond	...	Chris
Wendell Holmes	...	Principal Donlan
Philip Coolidge	...	Mr. Rimer
Bart Patton	...	Michael Kramer

Runtime:

USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Drexel Productions

Trivia:

Based on an early review of the movie in the September, 1959 issue of Stardust Magazine (Vol. 1, No. 1) ...apparently the working title was the same as the John Farris novel, HARRISON HIGH, on which it was based (no mention of BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG). The review also mentioned that Dick Clark's character was that of the principal, not a teacher.

Goofs:

Continuity: Eddy's guitar is amplified even though it is not connected to an amplifier.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Heavy Petting (1989)

"It's not easy for a teacher to be objective if he digs kids at all..."

Dick Clark strays too far from the Bandstand in this misguided youth flick, which is one-half benign high school opus and the other half a "Rebel Without a Cause"-type drama. Based on John Farris' novel "Harrison High", the plot has been reworked in schoolteacher Clark's favor, turning the teenagers of the piece into 'problems' this sensitive adult can solve. The newest teacher at a high school primarily home to the wealthier teen set gets involved with the principal's secretary while straightening out entangled young lives. Worse off seems to be Michael Callan as a working-class boy who doesn't fit in; his love-hate relationship with a touchy-feely butcher who wields a mean cleaver has to be seen to be believed! Tuesday Weld, suffering under the thumb of her harping, bed-ridden mother, is anxious to shed her trampy reputation, crossing paths with bad-boy Callan for the second time. Clark has problems of his own, nursing a wounded ego after a car accident has left him unable to play football--oh, and the wreck killed his brother and sister-in-law, too! The stilted dialogue throughout, courtesy screenwriter James Gunn, renders the teen conversations utterly false, while the only animated thing about Dick Clark is his eyebrows (and when he jiggles them around, his forehead becomes lined with curious criss-cross wrinkles). The film's third act becomes intentionally mired in juvenile delinquent melodramatics, with moody lighting and mad bongos on the soundtrack; however, since none of the characters have managed to elicit our sympathies, one is inclined not to care who makes out all right and who doesn't. *1/2 from ****