Because They’re Young (1960, U.S.A.)

Suddenly kids grow up! Only yesterday there were red-hot athletes and hot dates…Today they’re gripped by grownup desires

Featuring musical performances by Duane Eddy and Bobby Rydell!

Director Paul Wendkos (Gidget, The Burglar) addresses youth culture and the clash between one generation and another in a story of a sympathetic young teacher (Dick Clark, TV’s American Bandstand) and his high school students. Neil Hendry’s (Clark) class includes Buddy McCalla (Warren Berlinger), a popular member of the football team; Ricky Summers (Roberta Shore), a pretty young cheerleader; Anne Gregor (Tuesday Weld, Once Upon a Time in America and A Safe Place), a girl mature for her years as the result of a scarring experience; and Griff Rimer (Michael Callan, The Interns and Cat Ballou), a tough-as-nails transfer from Conway. Neil becomes romantically involved with the principal’s secretary (Victoria Shaw, The Eddy Duchin Story), but his involvement with his students is a cause of concern for the principal. Any respectable teen-flick from the ’60s should have musical guest appearances: here they’re by James Darren and Duane Eddy and the Rebels.