Because They're Young

At the time this movie came out, the generation emerging from the late Fifty's into the early Sixty's, didn't have any desires different than the previous generation. Since the turn of the 19th century parents became more and more lax or permissive you might say (for whatever reasons). The main difference, to me, was the way in which those teens behaved & expressed themselves. More and more, kids wanted to have fun but found that "Fun", doing different things. My formative years experienced dire warnings of "bad associations, trouble making rebels, leather jacket kids were no good, combing your hair with in a jelly roll style was for delinquents and so on." So I tended to be careful but respectful of others. "Because They're Young" was a successful attempt to capture the "atmosphere" the "Ambiance" of the era. Being Hollywood, over dramatization was and is not uncommon. Yet the sense of being "young" (after all these years) isn't a lost cause. It will always be very much alive and well. All it will ever really need is for older folks to empathize, sympathize and not forget that "Because They're Young" was them too, once upon a time.

Dick Clark strays too far from the Bandstand in this misguided youth flick, which is one-half benign high school opus and the other half a "Rebel Without a Cause"-type drama. Based on John Farris' novel "Harrison High", the plot has been reworked in schoolteacher Clark's favor, turning the teenagers of the piece into 'problems' this sensitive adult can solve. The newest teacher at a high school primarily home to the wealthier teen set gets involved with the principal's secretary while straightening out entangled young lives. Worse off seems to be Michael Callan as a working-class boy who doesn't fit in; his love-hate relationship with a touchy-feely butcher who wields a mean cleaver has to be seen to be believed! Tuesday Weld, suffering under the thumb of her harping, bed-ridden mother, is anxious to shed her trampy reputation, crossing paths with bad-boy Callan for the second time. Clark has problems of his own, nursing a wounded ego after a car accident has left him unable to play football--oh, and the wreck killed his brother and sister-in-law, too! The stilted dialogue throughout, courtesy screenwriter James Gunn, renders the teen conversations utterly false, while the only animated thing about Dick Clark is his eyebrows (and when he jiggles them around, his forehead becomes lined with curious criss-cross wrinkles). The film's third act becomes intentionally mired in juvenile delinquent melodramatics, with moody lighting and mad bongos on the soundtrack; however, since none of the characters have managed to elicit our sympathies, one is inclined not to care who makes out all right and who doesn't. *1/2 from ****

Another movie I'd love to see released on video/DVD that's been too long neglected is "BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG" (Columbia, 1960) starring Dick Clark of American Bandstand with Duane Eddy and his Rockin' Rebels, and Bobby Rydell on the soundtrack. Oh yes, that cool blonde hottie Tuesday Weld was in there too. Too bad it was in black & white, but they were doing a retake on "BLACKBOARD JUNGLE" (MGM, 1955) so it had to be, and look like a B-movie. I know I'm dating myself, but I did see this movie in the theaters when it was released in May-June 1960. It was the coolest, man. I mean like I really dug it the most, at age 13. I was into Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes' jive talk, rock'n'roll, and hip beatnik jazz so Maynard G. Krebs was my buddy on TV. And DIck Clark was a swingin' hipster on American Bandstand, WFIL-TV in Philly, broadcast on ABC-TV network nationwide. I watched it every afternoon after coming home from school, along with reruns of "Adventures of SUPERMAN", "Topper", and "Ramar of the Jungle"! Dick Clark really clicked for teens and kids in this movie, I remember everyone thought he did a great job with his first acting role. In retrospect, not having seen this movie since the early '70s when it was shown on TV one Saturday afternoon, I can't really judge it as an adult, but I fondly remember it being kind of a dark, melodramatic sort of "American Graffiti" movie experience. I would love to see it again after all these years! Please, Sony Pictures, put this one on your DVD-to-do list!!! I'd love to see an interview with Dick Clark about this movie. I wonder if he's up to that challenge now?

I'm not sure what the producers were aiming for here. On the face of it, it would seem a Dick Clark showcase, taking his TV fame and segueing to movies. But the cast is much too large and the storyline too sprawling to showcase one individual. As a dedicated teacher, Clark keeps his TV role as shepherd of struggling teens, and despite his thoroughly white-bread presence, does pretty well in the acting department. Anyway, as a teen angst film, the film's okay; as a juvenile delinquency movie, it lacks bite until the end; as a R&R showcase (Duane Eddy, et.al.), it's lame and tame with only two bland selections. What it does have that's noteworthy is the gay context surrounding the older man, Chris. It's subtle, but pretty daring for 1960 and especially for a film introducing Clark. (Thanks reviewer fordraff for your extended discussion.) Taken as a whole, however, the movie's too sprawling with too many sub-texts to achieve anything like focused impact. And except for cult figure Tuesday Weld, the array of featured youngsters has largely faded into obscurity. But not Clark, who went on to a stellar TV and producing career.

Amazingly a couple of the teens are teens brither wearing her bra? Quick throwaway line ex-football player dick clark as the actor==first time. One previous film played a DJ why suspend teacher??

"Because They're Young" is a movie that is worth seeing...much of it because it was Dick Clark's first chance to show his acting talents. This was his second movie appearance as an actor, but his first was playing a DJ...which is hardly a stretch from his job as the emcee on "American Bandstand"...a TV show featuring various hot musical acts of the day.

Clark plays Mr. Hendry, a new teacher at a local high school. His principal is a tough guy and expects his teachers to be disciplinarians first...though Clark thinks it's more important he understand the students instead of just labeling them as delinquents. Most of his kids seem like good kids, but he'll have trouble with Griff (Michael Callan)...a budding sociopath. What's next? Watch the movie.

This is a nice film though the story is occasionally uneven. As for Clark he's quite good and handsome...but he generally stuck to playing himself and never was a big movie star despite this performance.

By the way, if you're interested Duane Eddy and James Darren make appearances in the film as themselves.