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The Explosive Generation

  • 19611961
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
391
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Explosive Generation (1961)
  • Drama
High school teacher gets in trouble when he tries to teach a class in sex education.High school teacher gets in trouble when he tries to teach a class in sex education.High school teacher gets in trouble when he tries to teach a class in sex education.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
391
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Buzz Kulik
  • Writer
    • Joseph Landon
  • Stars
    • William Shatner
    • Patty McCormack
    • Lee Kinsolving
Top credits
  • Director
    • Buzz Kulik
  • Writer
    • Joseph Landon
  • Stars
    • William Shatner
    • Patty McCormack
    • Lee Kinsolving
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos86

    Lee Kinsolving and Patty McCormack in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    William Shatner and Edward Platt in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    Edward Platt in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    Beau Bridges, Patty McCormack, and Judee Morton in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    Lee Kinsolving in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    William Shatner in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    Lee Kinsolving and Patty McCormack in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    Virginia Field and Edward Platt in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    Virginia Field and Patty McCormack in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    Edward Platt in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    Lee Kinsolving in The Explosive Generation (1961)
    The Explosive Generation (1961)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Shatner
    William Shatner
    • Peter Giffordas Peter Gifford
    Patty McCormack
    Patty McCormack
    • Janet Sommersas Janet Sommers
    Lee Kinsolving
    Lee Kinsolving
    • Dan Carlyleas Dan Carlyle
    Virginia Field
    Virginia Field
    • Mrs. Katie Sommersas Mrs. Katie Sommers
    Stephen Dunne
    Stephen Dunne
    • Bobby Herman Sr.as Bobby Herman Sr.
    • (as Steve Dunne)
    Phillip Terry
    Phillip Terry
    • Mr. Carlyleas Mr. Carlyle
    Arch Johnson
    Arch Johnson
    • Mr. George Sommersas Mr. George Sommers
    Edward Platt
    Edward Platt
    • Mr. Mortonas Mr. Morton
    Suzi Carnell
    • Marge Rykeras Marge Ryker
    Jan Norris
    Jan Norris
    • Terryas Terry
    Beau Bridges
    Beau Bridges
    • Markas Mark
    Peter Virgo
    • Fred - Dean of Boysas Fred - Dean of Boys
    Stafford Repp
    Stafford Repp
    • Police Captainas Police Captain
    Bruce Kerner
    • Markas Mark
    Peter Virgo Jr.
    • Georgeas George
    Judee Morton
    • Charleneas Charlene
    • (as Judy Morton)
    Vito Scotti
    Vito Scotti
    • H.S. - Custodianas H.S. - Custodian
    Michael Quinn
    Michael Quinn
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writer
      • Joseph Landon
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Peter Gifford is a likable, dedicated schoolteacher that teaches a senior life skills class. When student Janet Sommers brings up the topic of sex and dating, he asks students to write questions on the topic, and will cover them in the next class. The parents get wind of what Gifford is about to do, notify the principal, and he warns Peter not to read the questions in class. Gifford decides to go against this and is suspended. The whole student body protests, and the administration gets worried on what to do. —Pat McCurry
    • psychotronic film
    • student
    • sex
    • teacher
    • high school
    • 7 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • They look like kids -- but they want love like adults!
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to the Arizona Republic newspaper of August 22, 2014, two days of filming occurred at Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona. About 350 students got to play extras in the film. Making his Hollywood debut as an extra was a 17-year-old David Geffen, the future music and film producer.
    • Goofs
      The first time William Shatner enters the classroom, a microphone is visible at the top of the frame for a full ten seconds.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Katie Sommers: What do you mean "prove" your love?

      Janet Sommers: Well if you don't know, maybe you'd better ask DAD!

    • Connections
      Referenced in Mommy's Day (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Wait for Me
      By Hal Borne

      Sung by Kim Charney (as Kimm Charney)

    User reviews19

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A Surprisingly Well-Done Look At Sex in the 1960s
    A high school teacher (Wiliam Shatner) gets in trouble when he tries to teach a class in sex education.

    This was the directing debut of Buzz Kulik, who went on to make the cult classic "Bad Ronald" as well as several episodes of "Twilight Zone" (though not, oddly, the ones with William Shatner).

    I had low expectations for this film and only watched it because today was Shatner's 82nd birthday. Seemed like a good time to check out career highlights. And this one is a bit of a stunner.

    For being 1961, which is really more the 1950s than the 1960s, it has a very honest look at sex and the idea that high school teenagers engage in sexual activity. While times have changed and kids today are certainly more "free" than fifty years ago, it is nice to see a film that actually addressed the subject rather than pretending it did not exist.
    helpful•3
    0
    • gavin6942
    • Mar 22, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Frühreife Generation
    • Filming locations
      • Mesa High School, Mesa, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • Vega Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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