Because They're Young (1960)

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

Director:

Paul Wendkos

Writers:

John Farris (novel), James Gunn

Stars:

Dick Clark, Victoria Shaw, Michael Callan

Won 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dick Clark	...	Neil Hendry
Victoria Shaw	...	Joan Dietrich
Michael Callan	...	Griff Rimer
Tuesday Weld	...	Anne Gregor
Warren Berlinger	...	Buddy McCalla
Roberta Shore	...	Richelle 'Ricky' Summers
Doug McClure	...	Jim Trent
Duane Eddy	...	Self - Guitarist (also as Duane Eddy and the Rebels)
James Darren	...	Self - Singer
Linda Watkins	...	Frances McCalla
Chris Robinson	...	Patcher
Rudy Bond	...	Chris
Wendell Holmes	...	Principal Donlan
Philip Coolidge	...	Mr. Rimer
Bart Patton	...	Michael Kramer

Storyline

Neil Hendry is the new high school teacher in town, but he is still haunted by a tragic event in his past. However, his friendly, casual style wins the hearts of some of the school's more troubled teens, as well as the principal's secretary. He is able to positively help them both in and out of school. But these same attributes make him an enemy of the principal, who discourages such close relationships between teachers and students.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | psychotronic film | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The title song was not written by John Williams but Don Costa, with lyrics by Aaron Schröder and Wally Gold. The song "Because They're Young" was released by Duane Eddy and became one of the rare all-instrumental hits of the era, going to #4 on the American charts in the summer of 1960. The combination of Duane Eddy's "twang" guitar style and string orchestration was a different one for Eddy and it ironically became the biggest hit of his career. His version of the title song was not the version used in the movie; an anonymous orchestra played the instrumental version over the opening credits, and James Darren sang the vocal version. Duane Eddy and the Rebels performed "Shazam" in the movie. Darren didn't hit it big as a singer until a year and a half after this movie came out, when he hit the top 10 with "Goodbye Cruel World."

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Goofs

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

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Connections

Featured in Heavy Petting (1989)

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Soundtracks

Shazam
Written by Duane Eddy and Lee Hazlewood (as Lee Hazelwood)
Performed by Duane Eddy

User Reviews

Dick Clark is there for the kids.

On his first teaching assignment, Dick Clark has a problem: He cares too much. That's not what we want, says his stern principle. Just teach your classes and send all the discipline problems to me. Not surprisingly, Clark can't stay uninvolved. Who would want it any other way?

Clark is no seasoned pro in this film, but he's basically playing himself, or his public image, anyway, and he can do that well enough. He's there to try to straighten out all types of kids including the insecure newcomer (Warren Berlinger) and the incipient juvenile delinquent (Michael Callen.) This movie doesn't have anything close to the grit of 'Blackboard Jungle' or the lurid laughability of 'High School Confidential' but a big fan of the movies will likely find it worth the time. Admirers of Tuesday Weld will want to check her out, too. Victoria Shaw plays a school secretary who serves as a love interest for Clark.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Porque son jóvenes

Filming Locations:

Hoover High School - 651 Glenwood Road, Glendale, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Bresler Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1