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Because They're Young
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Wikipedia article
'Because They're Young' is a 1960 American drama film directed by Paul Wendkos and starring Dick Clark as Neil Hendry, an American high-school teacher who tries to make a difference in the lives of his students. The film co-stars Tuesday Weld, Michael Callan, Warren Berlinger, Roberta Shore, Doug McClure and Victoria Shaw. The screenplay was based on 'Harrison High', a 1959 novel by John Farris.
Musicians Duane Eddy and James Darren appear in cameo roles, and the film's title song became the biggest hit record of Eddy's career. Bobby Rydell's "Swingin' School" is featured prominently in the film's soundtrack, though Rydell does not appear in the film.
Plot
A crusading high school teacher tries to help his troubled students.
Cast
* Dick Clark Neil Hendry
* Michael Callan Griff Rimer
* Tuesday Weld Ann Gregor
* Victoria Shaw Joan Dietrich
* Roberta Shore Ricky Summers
* Warren Berlinger Buddy McCalla
* Doug McClure Jim
* Linda Watkins Frances McCalla
* Chris Robinson Patcher
* Rudy Bond Chris
* Wendell Holmes Principal Donlan
* Philip Coolidge Mr. Rimer
* Bart Patton Kramer
* Stephen Talbot Eric
* James Darren Himself
* Shirley Mitchell Mrs. Summers
* Duane Eddy and the Rebels Themselves
Production
Original novel
The novel 'Harrison High' was published in 1959 when its author John Farris was 22. He wrote it at the age of 20 while a student at the University of Missouri, and it was based on his high-school experiences in Memphis, though Harrison High is fictional.The 'New York Times' likened the book to "an interminable adolescent bull session."
Development
Film rights were bought by the Drexel Film Corporation in April 1959, and Drexel arranged to make the film through Columbia. Dick Clark, host of 'American Bandstand', signed to play the lead.Jerry Bresler, who had a multi-picture deal with Columbia, was assigned to produce and he hired James Gunn to write a script. Paul Wendkos signed to direct in June.
"Most pictures about teenagers are wrong," said Clark, "They are older people's concepts of how teenagers act... I doubt if there ever can be a truly honest portrayal in films. Not all girls are beautiful and all boys handsome, as they are in films... [But] the script is fairly true to life. Most teenagers are normal."
The cast included several young actors under contract to Columbia, including Michael Callan. Warren Berlinger, who played Buddy McCalla, had just recently appeared in 'Blue Denim'.
Shooting
Filming started on August 12, 1959. The campus and classroom scenes were shot at Hoover High School in Glendale, California.Clark later wrote in his memoirs that making the film was "an extraordinary experience. Columbia really laid it on; they rented a house in Bel-Air owned by Mercedes McCambridge, provided a maid, a butler and a chauffeur, and gave me a hundred dollars a day in expenses."
Reception
The 'Los Angeles Times' called the film "an agreeable surprise."
The film did not make 'Variety's list of top earners for 1960.
References
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