Where the Boys Are (1960)

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

Director:

Henry Levin

Writers:

George Wells (screen play), Glendon Swarthout (novel)

Stars:

Dolores Hart, George Hamilton, Yvette Mimieux

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

Merritt, Melanie, Tuggle and Angie are four Midwestern college co-eds who travel to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for their spring vacation and we follow the episodic series of adventures and romance they all get into with some college guys they meet.

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Plot Keywords:

spring break | florida | vacation | beach | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

When 20,000 GIRLS meet 20,000 BOYS SOMETHING'S bound to happen!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. WB Shop / Warner Archive

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 December 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bastam Dois para Amar

Filming Locations:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Euterpe

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 34511 delivered on 12 April 1961.

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Goofs

In the beginning, when Merritt is proving her point to the college professor, the audio doesn't match her words.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: For fifty weeks of the year, Fort Lauderdale, Florida is a small corner of tropical heaven, basking contentedly in the warm sun. During the other two weeks, as colleges all over the country disgorge their students for Easter vacation, a change comes over the scene. The students swarm to these peaceful shores in droves, twenty thousand strong. They turn night into day, and a small corner of heaven into a sizeable chunk of bedlam. The boys come to soak up the sun, and a few carloads ...

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Crazy Credits

"and introducing Connie Francis"

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) (2000)

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Soundtracks

Where the Boys Are
Words by Howard Greenfield
Music by Neil Sedaka
Performed by Connie Francis (uncredited)
Courtesy of Nevins - Kirshner

User Reviews

A Cult Classic & Time Capsule...

Unlike it's remake "Where The Boys Are '84", which starred over-the-hill actors as college kids, "Where The Boys Are" cast young, college-aged stars. One interesting thing about this film is that it could have spawned a big, money-making blockbuster soundtrack album, but it didn't. Aside from the theme song, plus 2 others sung during the film, music is not a big part of this movie, story is. Another interesting thing about this movie is the outdoor location shots. Unlike Elvis' "Girl Happy", 5 years later, which was very obviously shot on a studio backlot. Most movies of this time & especially this genre were not shot on location, that's why this movie had a larger budget for it's time ($4 million). It's refreshing to see the stars on Las Olas Blvd. headed for the beach, & at the famous Elbo Room bar in 1960. Location shooting became common & taken for granted years later. The story revolves around 4 college girls on their way to Ft. Lauderdale for Spring Break. The movie is ahead of it's time because it shows young woman, on their own, furthering their education. It's also very dated because getting married seems to be the main thing on their minds. Connie Francis is fun to watch, but I feel she was miscast as someone who was supposed to be unattractive. No one pays attention to her & it's not very believable (she's not a big fan of this movie & I can understand why!) Dolores Hart had a Grace Kelly vibe going. She later left acting to become a cloistered nun. This was Paula Prentiss' film debut & she has an endearing, goofy persona/quality. Yvette Mimieux is cast as the dimbulb who sleeps around hoping each guy who beds her will fall in love with her (ugh!!). George Hamilton, Jim Hutton, & Frank Gorshin portray the "boys". Unfortunately, there isn't a really good looking dude among the main males (but there are some hot "extras" in the background scenes). The movie starts off frothy but ends on a serious note.