For Those Who Think Young (film)

For Those Who Think Young is a 1964 beach party film shot in Techniscope, directed by Leslie H. Martinson and featuring James Darren, Pamela Tiffin, Paul Lynde, Tina Louise, Bob Denver, Nancy Sinatra, Robert Middleton, Ellen Burstyn (billed as Ellen McRae), Claudia Martin and Woody Woodbury.

For Those Who Think Young
Directed byLeslie H. Martinson
Produced byHugh Benson
executive
Howard W. Koch
Written byJames O'Hanlon
George O'Hanlon
Dan Beaumont
Story byDan Beaumont
StarringJames Darren
Pamela Tiffin
Paul Lynde
Tina Louise
Bob Denver
Nancy Sinatra
Robert Middleton
Woody Woodbury
Music byJerry Fielding
CinematographyHarold E. Stine
Edited byFrank P. Keller
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • June 1964 (1964-06)
Running time
96 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,600,000 (US/ Canada)[1]

Plot

Rich kid and party animal Gardner Pruitt III (James Darren), known as "Ding" to his friends, is on the prowl for a new conquest in the form of teenager Sandy Palmer (Pamela Tiffin). In the meantime, Ding's influential grandfather, B.S. Cronin (Robert Middleton) wants to curtail the romance and shut down a popular local college teen hangout.

Sandy's guardians Sid Hoyt (Paul Lynde) and Woody Woodbury (playing himself) get mixed up in the proceedings, with Woody becoming the college kid's hero at the hangout. That sends up a red flag to the college administration, which sends in Dr. Pauline Swenson to investigate allegations of underage drinking.

When the clever kids discover that ex-gangster Grandpa Cronin used to be a bootlegger, they blackmail him into keeping the club open.

Cast

Production

"For Those Who Think Young"

In 1961 Pepsi Cola decided to change their slogan from "Be Sociable" (which had been used since 1958) to "Now It's Pepsi For Those Who Think Young". They did the launch as part of a $34 million campaign.[2]

Production

The film began as a script called A Young Man's Fancy. The rights were bought by Frank Sinatra's Essex Productions. Dolores Hart was going to star.[3] Then James Darren and Ann-Margret were going to star.[4] Pamela Tiffin replaced Ann Margret.

The title was changed to For Those Who Think Young in order to tie it in with Pepsi. Finance was obtained from United Artists.

Director Leslie H. Martinson was chosen for his fast-paced work on Warner Bros. Television as the film's production was just 18 days.

It featured the film debuts of Nancy Sinatra and Claudia Martin (daughter of Dean Martin) as well as a leading role for nightclub comedian Woody Woodbury, then the host of television's Who Do You Trust?. Ellen Burstyn, who plays the part of Dr. Pauline Swenson, is listed in the credits as Ellen McRae, and famous surfer Mickey Dora is a college boy extra.

It was George Raft's first movie in four years.[5][6]

Filming started August 14, 1963 at Paramount Studios.[7]

All the beach scenes were shot at Mailbu Beach in one day.[8]

The white semi-convertible that James Darren's character drives is a radically restyled stock $18,000 1963 Buick Riviera, designed by Burbank customizer George Barris originally to be his personal car.[9]

The film was notable for extensive product placement for Pepsi Cola and several other companies, including Jax Clothing, Baskin-Robbins, Peter Pan swimswear, Buick and Honda.[10][11]

Sam Arkoff of AIP later called the use of the title "the most ridiculous, hidebound, stupid concept I can think of. To put a midde aged slogan on a youth picture. What kid would go to see a film called For Those Who Think Young?"[12]

Music

Jerry Fielding, later famous for his television themes, composed the score for the film.

Mack David and Jerry Livingston wrote "For Those Who Think Love", sung by James Darren over the opening credits.

Bob Denver sings "Ho Daddy, Surf's Up" and "Ho Daddy, Surf's Up (Reprise)."

Jimmy Griffin (later founder member of the 1970s band Bread), performs the song "I'm Gonna Walk All Over This Land", accompanied by Paul Johnson (of The Bel-Airs), Glen Grey and Richard Delvy (both of The Challengers).[13]

References
  1. "Big Rental Pictures of 1964", Variety, January 6, 1965 p 39. Please note this figure is rentals accruing to distributors not total gross.
  2. R. A. (February 8, 1961). "Advertising: Epitaph for 'makin' whoopee'". New York Times. ProQuest 115359324.
  3. Dorothy Kilgallen (November 3, 1962). "Film bid may defeat carroll's play". The Washington Post, Times Herald. ProQuest 141520312.
  4. Scheuer, P. K. (March 7, 1963). "Kubrick's sellers takes four parts". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 168347895.
  5. "'TOM JONES' FILM OPENS HERE OCT. 7". New York Times. September 17, 1963.
  6. Vagg, Stephen (February 9, 2020). "Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft". Filmink.
  7. H. T. (July 6, 1963). "5-day seminar on film editing scheduled to open here oct. 7". New York Times. ProQuest 116608352.
  8. Lisanti, Thomas Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959–1969 McFarland August 24, 2012
  9. Barris TV and Movie Cars by George Barris, David Fetherston, pages 76–81. ISBN 0-7603-0198-0
  10. Everett Aaker, The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013 p 174
  11. Seidenbaum, A. (October 25, 1963). "'For those who think young' going all out with tie-ins". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 168469513.
  12. Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd, eds. (1975). "Interview with Sam Arkoff". Kings of the Bs : working within the Hollywood system : an anthology of film history and criticism. E. P. Dutton. p. 265.
  13. It's Party Time: A Musical Appreciation of the Beach Party Genre; by Stephen J. McParland; page 72. ISSN 0810-3461
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.