Where the Boys Are (1960)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Henry Levin

Writers:

Glendon Swarthout (novel)
George Wells (writer)

Release Date:

28 December 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The hilarious inside story of those rip-roaring spring vacations!

Plot:

Four very different college girls drive to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for spring break and seek out various adventures and romance for themselves.

Plot Keywords:

College | Florida | Vacation | Spring Break | Jazz Music

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Dolores Hart	...	Merritt Andrews
George Hamilton	...	Ryder Smith
Yvette Mimieux	...	Melanie Tolman
Jim Hutton	...	TV Thompson
Barbara Nichols	...	Lola Fandango
Paula Prentiss	...	Tuggle Carpenter
Chill Wills	...	Police Captain
Frank Gorshin	...	Basil
Rory Harrity	...	Franklin
Ted Berger	...	Stout Man on Beach
John Brennan	...	Dill
Connie Francis	...	Angie

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Approved (PCA #19704) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Company:

Euterpe

Trivia:

Natalie Wood originally sought for lead role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the kids are first introduced to Basil's jazz band, hundreds of kids rush to the bar, with the main characters in the rear. Yet, the main characters somehow manage to find one of the few tables in the bar.

Quotes:

Merritt Andrews: Do you love me Ryder?
Ryder Smith: I think so.
Merritt Andrews: Do I love you Ryder?
Ryder Smith: I hope so.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "China Beach: Where the Boys Are (#2.11)" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Turn On the Sunshine

Beach Movie Rides Along On The Crest Of A Wave

While listening to a Connie Francis CD yesterday, I read the liner notes and found that she had made a few appearances in films. This morning, in one of those all too rare spooky coincidences, I found that Where The Boys Are was on TCM.

I watched with anticipation and smiled from start to finish - except of course when the comedy turned to drama, a transition that was expertly handled by the director.

A fun film in the tradition of Muscle Beach and Muscle Beach Party, with good performances all round and an excellent turn from Frank Gorshin. I shall never be able to listen to jazz in the same way again! It's a shame that Connie Francis did not appear on screen more often, as judging by this, her debut, she could easily have enjoyed as much success as an actress as she did a singer.

Not as camp as the two aforementioned Frankie Avalon classics, though I'm sure "Have You Met Miss Fandango?" had drag queens squealing with delight.

If you are ever in need of cheering up, you could do worse than to watch this.