The Explosive Generation (1961)

High school teacher gets in trouble when he tries to teach a class in sex education.

Director:

Buzz Kulik

Writer:

Joseph Landon

Stars:

William Shatner, Patty McCormack, Lee Kinsolving

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Shatner	...	Peter Gifford
Patty McCormack	...	Janet Sommers
Lee Kinsolving	...	Dan Carlyle
Virginia Field	...	Mrs. Katie Sommers
Stephen Dunne	...	Bobby Herman Sr. (as Steve Dunne)
Phillip Terry	...	Mr. Carlyle
Arch Johnson	...	Mr. George Sommers
Edward Platt	...	Mr. Morton
Suzi Carnell	...	Marge Ryker
Jan Norris	...	Terry
Beau Bridges	...	Mark
Peter Virgo	...	Fred - Dean of Boys
Stafford Repp	...	Police Captain
Bruce Kerner	...	Mark
Peter Virgo Jr.	...	George

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

student | sex | teacher | high school | teacher student relationship | 

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Taglines:

Never has youth gone on such a rampage... never has a motion picture gone so far in telling their raging story!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Frühreife Generation

Filming Locations:

Mesa High School, Mesa, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vega Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Buzz Kulik's first feature film.

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Goofs

The first time William Shatner enters the classroom, a microphone is visible at the top of the frame for a full ten seconds.

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Quotes

Mr. Morton: [refering to handbill about protest rally] In our own printshop! On our own presses! How could this happen?
Printing Teacher: Well like I said, we're understaffed. Not a bad little job, but the spacing could be a little better here...
Mr. Morton: You may go!

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Connections

Referenced in Mommy's Day (1997)

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Soundtracks

Wait for Me
By Hal Borne
Sung by Kim Charney (as Kimm Charney)

User Reviews

A less learned reaction

A previous comment wondered whether 21st century sarcasm should be applied to this film...I believe there's genuine enjoyment to watching this vintage film in that manner - the soundtrack alone is truly priceless.

And you should walk into this story with 21st century cynicism, sneer at the plastic performances and ridiculousness of the script, the scenarios it portrays...because it's only then that the real power of the film - I'm not kidding - comes through. When you're absolutely convinced that this generation and movie couldn't be further from "explosive" you are, with all the others, focused on the moment when our protagonist Janet reveals that which started all the fuss.

Then, even in this century, could a truth be more plainly and easily revealed to all. I danced to its music (for kicks) and ended astounded at its simple honesty. A great catalyst for discussion, if you can convince folks to relish, then release, their cynicism...