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The 1950s focused considerable attention on "the youth problem" (i.e., middle-class kids, bored with their lives, who turned to various forms of "delinquency," including drug use). High School Confidential was one of many teen exploitation pics of the period that supposedly dealt "seriously" with the issue, but really existed just to make a quick return on a low investment. Seen today, many of these films are tremendously entertaining -- the kind of film one laughs at rather than with. Confidential is definitely in this category, a pretty bad movie that is so deliciously dated that it's fun. The dialogue is classic '50s teen lingo as filtered through a Hollywood screenwriter's sensibility -- "I'm looking to graze on grass" and "Why don't we cut out, go to your pad, and live it up?" And John Drew Barrymore's totally hep retelling of the Christopher Columbus story has to be heard to be believed. Under the circumstances, the cast acquits itself rather admirably. Russ Tamblyn brings real commitment to his role and delivers the ludicrous dialogue as if it made sense, and Mamie van Doren is a perfect hoot as his sex-obsessed aunt. The "cool" soundtrack, including contributions by Jerry Lee Lewis, is a definite plus. Tamblyn would have much better luck with West Side Story a few years later.
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
Product Details
Actors: Michael Landon, Jackie Coogan, Russ Tamblyn
Directors: Jack Arnold
Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Olive Films
DVD Release Date: August 26, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes
Cast & Crew
Russ Tamblyn Tony Baker
Jan Sterling Arlene Williams
John Drew Barrymore J.I. Coleridge
Mamie Van Doren Gwen Dulaine
Diane Jergens Joan Staples
Ray Anthony Bix
Jackie Coogan Mr. A
Michael Landon Steve Bentley
Jerry Lee Lewis Himself
Charles Chaplin Jr. Quinn
Burt Douglas Jukey Judlow
Jody Fair Doris
Phillipa Fallon Poetess
Robin Raymond Kitty
James Todd Jack Staples
Lyle Talbot William Remington Kane
William Wellman Jr. Wheeler-Dealer
Diana Darrin Gloria
Carl Thayler Petey
Irwin Berke Morino
Gil Perkins Police Sergeant
Pierre Watkin David Wingate
Ernst R. von Theumer
Technical Credits
Jack Arnold Director
Robert Blees Original Story, Screenwriter
Albert Glasser Score Composer
Henry W. Grace Set Decoration/Design
Ron Hargrave Songwriter
William Horning Art Director
Arthur Krams Set Decoration/Design
Ben Lewis Editor
Jerry Lee Lewis Songwriter
Harold J. Marzorati Cinematographer
Lewis Meltzer Screenwriter
Hans Peters Art Director
William J. Tuttle Makeup
Albert Zugsmith Producer
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