Like Father, Like Son (1965)

The story of a small-town football star, Chris Wotan, who defies society, morals and his God and gets into so much trouble that he is expelled from school. Told in flashbacks, usually in ... See full summary »

Director:

Tom Laughlin

Writer:

Tom Laughlin

Stars:

Tom Laughlin, Stefanie Powers, William Wellman Jr.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Laughlin	...	Chris Wotan
Stefanie Powers	...	Ginny Miller
William Wellman Jr.	...	John
Robert Fuca	...	Priest (as Robert Angelo)
Linda March	...	Tury Martin
James Stacy	...	Art
Chris Robinson	...	Bobby
Dennis O'Flaherty	...	Marty
Bob Collona	...	Harry
Bob Colonna	...	Harry
Roxanne Heard	...	Joan Meyers
Jack Starrett	...	Football Coach Jennings
John Burns	...	Head Coach Ferguson
Ed Cook	...	Assistant Coach Webster
Jane Taylor	...	Tury's Friend

Storyline

The story of a small-town football star, Chris Wotan, who defies society, morals and his God and gets into so much trouble that he is expelled from school. Told in flashbacks, usually in confession to the priest, Chris sets the tone early in the opening scene where he screams oaths before the altar and smashes a religious statue in a blind rage. Whether this is before or after a 14-year-old sexpot, Joan Meyers, corners him in the church choir-loft or when the parents of a pleasure-seeking rich girl, Tury by name, catch him in bed with Tury. And his father is the town sot and has to be bailed out of jail about once a week. Like that.

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Plot Keywords:

confession | father | told in flashback | church | oath | 

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Taglines:

It's happening today and every day in YOUR town in YOUR school on YOUR block!.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Young Sinner

Filming Locations:

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

T.C. Frank

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally shot in 1960

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Soundtracks

"No Name Musical Score"
Written by Shelly Manne
Played by Shelly Manne

User Reviews

ahead-of-its-time sexuality

By most accounts, the film was shot as early as 1959. Given that, the film seems quite ahead of its time in the depiction of "teenage" sexuality. Stefanie Powers plays the standard "good girl" role, but there is a bit of dialog that suggests that she, too has already had sex. The Tom Laughlin character is sexually assaulted by a girl who is described as being only 17 or 18 (two characters differ as to her age). I'm old enough to have attended the various "teen" films from the late 1950's and early-mid 1960's, and this material is comparatively far ahead of its time. No Disney or Robert Radnitz films of the era dealt with youthful sexuality with such frankness. I found THE YOUNG SINNER to be quite interesting in that regard.

The Tom Laughlin character seems to be a bit of a template for the later Billy Jack persona.