Youth Runs Wild (1944)

The teens of a defense-plant town hop on the road to juvenile delinquency while their parents are busy with the war.

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

John Fante (screen play), Ardel Wray (additional dialogue)

Stars:

Bonita Granville, Kent Smith, Jean Brooks

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bonita Granville	...	Toddy Jones
Kent Smith	...	Danny Coates
Jean Brooks	...	Mary Coates
Glen Vernon	...	Frankie Hauser (as Glenn Vernon)
Vanessa Brown	...	Sarah Taylor (as Tessa Brind)
Ben Bard	...	Mr. Taylor
Mary Servoss	...	Cora Hauser
Arthur Shields	...	Mr. Dunlop
Lawrence Tierney	...	Larry Duncan
Dickie Moore	...	Georgie Dunlop
Johnny Walsh	...	Herb Vigero
Rod Rogers	...	Rocky (as Rod Rodgers)
Elizabeth Russell	...	Mabel Taylor

Storyline

During WWII, adults are either off fighting or busy in the factories, so juvenile delinquency becomes a major problem back home. Dan Coates, a wounded soldier, finds this out as he returns and three young boys are promptly placed in the care of him and his wife by the court after some hooliganism. How to keep them straight?

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | young boy | home front | war injury | war hero | 

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Taglines:

A STORY THAT FAIRLY EXPLODES IN YOUR FACE (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie did poorly at the box office and lost $45,000 according to studio records held at the UCLA Arts--Special Collections Library.

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Quotes

Frank 'Frankie' Hauser: Boy, if my folks would only let me work. Then I could do all the things I want to do. I could take you dancing, the way you like to go, places you like to go to. You know, they need welders. They need 'em worse than soldiers.
Sarah Taylor: But your mother wants you to go to school, Frankie.
Frank 'Frankie' Hauser: Yeah. That's the trouble.

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Connections

Referenced in This Movie Must Die!: Two in the Dark (1936) vs. Two O'Clock Courage (1945) (2021)

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Soundtracks

One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)
(1943)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Played on piano at Rocky's place

User Reviews

Ought to have been much better

I was confused early in this movie. The story seemed to jump around. Characters it was assumed we know were unclear. In the movies for which Val Lewton is famous, this would be unthinkable.

The point of view shifts, too. So we find it difficult to care about any of the characters: We don't really know them. They are types: They're cardboard cut-outs.

It's essentially a juvenile delinquent movie. The kids are not that delinquent, though. Neither do they really come across as kids.

Their parents are cold and uncaring. But on the other hand: The war is going on. One mother apparently works in a munitions plant or some other patriotic spot. So we can't fault them totally.

In some ways the biggest kick of the film comes from the casting of one relatively small role: Of all people, Lawrence Tierney plays a basically decent guy. He doesn't want to see the youth start to run wild. That soon changed, in terms of his casting.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 May 1945 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Dangerous Age

Filming Locations:

RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1