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The Young Stranger

  • 1957
  • Approved
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
603
YOUR RATING
James MacArthur in The Young Stranger (1957)
Drama

When a 16-year-old, neglected by his movie producer father, gets in trouble, his father doesn't believe his claim of self-defense.When a 16-year-old, neglected by his movie producer father, gets in trouble, his father doesn't believe his claim of self-defense.When a 16-year-old, neglected by his movie producer father, gets in trouble, his father doesn't believe his claim of self-defense.

  • Director
    • John Frankenheimer
  • Writer
    • Robert Dozier
  • Stars
    • James MacArthur
    • Kim Hunter
    • James Daly
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    603
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writer
      • Robert Dozier
    • Stars
      • James MacArthur
      • Kim Hunter
      • James Daly
    • 26User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos6

    James MacArthur, Jack Mullaney, and Jeffrey Silver in The Young Stranger (1957)
    James MacArthur, Jack Mullaney, and Jeffrey Silver in The Young Stranger (1957)
    Jack Mullaney in The Young Stranger (1957)
    James MacArthur and Jeffrey Silver in The Young Stranger (1957)
    James MacArthur in The Young Stranger (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James MacArthur
    James MacArthur
    • Hal Ditmar
    Kim Hunter
    Kim Hunter
    • Helen Ditmar
    James Daly
    James Daly
    • Tom Ditmar
    James Gregory
    James Gregory
    • Police Sgt. Shipley
    Whit Bissell
    Whit Bissell
    • Grubbs
    Jeffrey Silver
    • Jerry Doyle
    • (as Jeff Silver)
    Jack Mullaney
    Jack Mullaney
    • Confused Boy
    Tom Pittman
    Tom Pittman
    • Lynn Spears
    Charles Davis
    • Detective
    Gary Vinson
    Gary Vinson
    • Boy in Courtroom
    • (scenes deleted)
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Peter Kalish
    • (uncredited)
    Roxanne Arlen
    Roxanne Arlen
    • Carhop
    • (uncredited)
    Mitzi Blake
    • Usherette
    • (uncredited)
    Noble 'Kid' Chissell
    Noble 'Kid' Chissell
    • Detective
    • (uncredited)
    Jean Corbett
    • Woman in Movie Theatre
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Couch
    • Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Oliver Cross
    • Man at Police Station
    • (uncredited)
    Edith Evanson
    Edith Evanson
    • Lottie
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writer
      • Robert Dozier(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First feature film directed by John Frankenheimer. He had worked in television prior to this. He reportedly did not like the experience and would not return to feature film until The Young Savages (1961).
    • Goofs
      After Harold gets up to leave after asking his father to borrow the car, the shadow of the boom mic can be seen moving in and out of frame in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
    • Quotes

      Helen Ditmar: [about their sixteen year old son, Hal] We've taught him to tell the truth. You and I, we've tried to teach him to be honest and fair, haven't we? Isn't that what we've tried to teach him? If he's telling the truth, you should be proud of him, but all he got from you is a lot of abuse. He's right about one thing: you don't know him. He's a stranger to you.

      Tom Ditmar: I... always thought I knew him pretty well. How do you talk to him? I don't know. I can't say three words to him without offending him some way.

      Helen Ditmar: The only time you see him is at the dinner table... or when you want to punish him for something. I remember once when you lectured him about charging too many things at the department store. He came to me later, very upset, and very confused. He was sorry about the money, but asked me, "why is it Dad always bawls me out for spending money, when money is the only thing he ever gives me?" I couldn't answer him. Maybe you can. I even had to tell him you loved him yesterday. He didn't know that. Your son didn't know you loved him.

    • Crazy credits
      opening title card "James MacArthur as The Young Stranger."
    • Connections
      Featured in Decoy: Ladies Man (1958)

    User reviews26

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Gets better as it goes along
    I usually get a kick out of teenspoitation movies made in the '50, mainly because the characters and their attitudes seem so dated when seen today. So when this movie came up on Turner Classic Movies, you can be sure I was careful to tape it. The beginning of the movie seems to promise that it will be pretty campy. The teenage protagonist upset that he has to drive his own crummy car since his father won't let him use his brand new car? The teenage protagonist venting his building angst by putting his feet up on the chair in front of him in a movie theater? But not long after all that, the movie gets pretty serious - and compelling. You'll start to sympathize with the teenage protagonist (even though the movie doesn't make him TOTALLY likable), and understand why he is so upset, and why he does the things he does. MacArthur is actually pretty good in the title role, even though he seems to be just a little too old to be a teenager. And Frankenheimer's direction is overall pretty solid. Today's teenagers may think this to be tame stuff, but older viewers in a nostalgic mood will probably find this to be a pleasant surprise.
    helpful•5
    2
    • Wizard-8
    • Dec 18, 2009

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1, 1957 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Deal a Blow
    • Filming locations
      • John Marshall High School - 3939 Tracy Street, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Stuart Miller Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $350,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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