Wild in the Streets (1968)

A young man gains significant political influence as the leader of a counterculture rock band with his rallying cry of voting rights for teenagers.

Director:

Barry Shear

Writer:

Robert Thom

Stars:

Christopher Jones, Shelley Winters, Diane Varsi

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shelley Winters	...	Daphne Flatow
Christopher Jones	...	Max Frost
Diane Varsi	...	Sally LeRoy
Hal Holbrook	...	Senator Johnny Fergus
Millie Perkins	...	Mary Fergus
Richard Pryor	...	Stanley X
Bert Freed	...	Max Jacob Flatow, Sr.
Kevin Coughlin	...	Billy Cage
Larry Bishop	...	The Hook
May Ishihara	...	Fuji Elly
Salli Sachse	...	Hippie Mother
Kellie Flanagan	...	Mary Fergus
Don Wyndham	...	Joseph Fergus
Michael Margotta	...	Jimmy Fergus
Ed Begley	...	Senator Amos Allbright

Storyline

Wealthy twenty-two year old Max Frost - born Max Jacob Flatow, Jr. - is a rock music superstar, he a rock music franchise unto himself. He has cut ties with his parents, especially due to the control wielded by his overbearing mother, Daphne Flatow, that control against which he rebelled and is still rebelling in the form of having an entourage solely of young people, who he believes knows better than people even a few years older than them. Age-wise, the senior member of his entourage is his acid-dropping girlfriend, former child star Sally LeRoy, age twenty-four, the junior member being fifteen year old Yale law graduate Billy Cage, his business advisor and his band's guitarist. Max decides to endorse thirty-seven year old Congressman Johnny Fergus, running on the Democratic ticket for a California senate seat, as one of Johnny's platform policies is to lower the voting age to eighteen. Johnny happily accepts that endorsement because of Max's power over young people, whose votes ...

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Plot Keywords:

right hand man | hook handed trumpeter | trumpeter | attorney | drummer | 

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Taglines:

This is the story of Max Frost, 24 years old...President of the United States...who created the world in his own image. To him, 30 is over the hill. 52% of the nation is under 25...and they've got the power. That's how he became President...it's perhaps the most unusual motion picture you will ever see!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug content

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 May 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

De unge ta'r magten

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Ryder Sound Services)

Color:

Color (Pathecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film takes place from 1968 to 1969.

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Goofs

When Jimmy Fergus meets his Senator father, he states "and when that special water comes in...". The decision to put LSD in the water supply is made in the scene following during Max's War Council so Jimmy's scene with his father was edited out of sync.

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Quotes

Sally Leroy: America's greatest contribution has been to teach the world that getting old is such a drag.

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Connections

Referenced in Jobriath A.D. (2012)

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Soundtracks

Listen To the Music
Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
Performed by The Second Time

User Reviews

Really radically far-out!!!!

Very much in and of its time. But outrageously good nonetheless. I truly enjoyed the acting by everybody involved--particularly Christopher Jones, Shelley Winters, Diane Varsi, Ed Begley, Sr., Hal Holbrook AND Richard Pryor.

Also a significant key to the film was the music of the legendary songwriting duo of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, featuring what was, in my estimation, very unsung (excuse the pun) gems which rank right up with ALL their

classics. Just as the recent political satire, "Bulworth", spoke to its times (which are still very much current, by the way), this movie does exactly the same thing.

The clear-cut divisions of generationalism are clearly conspicuous in this film. This movie captured the spirited groove of the late '60s when youth was roaring loudly and taking a stand against the establishment.

For anyone looking for a outrageous take of some of the events of the time, coupled with a hard, aching, laugh-out-loud reaction, this is as great a place as any to go.