ENDEARING, FUNNY & THOUGHT-PROVOKING FILMS about TEENS

And some unusual responses, for what is generally perceived as a "fun" film. I was quite surprised to find this one, about the class implications of "Ferris", written from a Marxist point of view:

http://members.aol.com/toomuchjoy/ferris.html

A Summer Place- A light hearted piece of fluff, but I loved it.

Where the Boys Are- Also lighthearted, but touched on some serious issues.

Splendor in the Grass- Beautifully crafted film about love and madness. Warren Beatty was wonderful to look at in 1961!

Ebert on "Ferris":

http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/1986/06/62975.html

Phoenix

My memory of the ones you mentioned is a little hazy. Let's see .. A Summer Place. Was that Sandra Dee?
I never Saw Where The Boys Are, but I DO remember the hit single on the radio!

I just LOVED What's Eating Gilbert Grape?


http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/1986/06/62975.html

Great story, terrific acting & beautiful visually.
So sad in parts & wickedly funny in others. ( I Loved the Mrs Carver character! She almost stole the show.)
And I was so pleased that Gilbert was able, finally, to escape from the confines of all that heavy family responsibility & all that small town angst at the end!

Msolga- Yup. It WAS Sandra Dee. Here is a link to "Where the Boys Are"

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0054469

Phoenix

Very interesting link. Thank you.
I had no idea that the film dealt with such serious "feminist" concerns, at that early stage. I must see if I can find it in video.

Msolga- Yes it did have a theme that we might consider as feminist, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the producers did not realize it. It actually was a carryover from the 1950's when women defined themselves in terms of their ability to catch a man!

Phoenix

It still sounds an interesting "period piece", though.

Msolga- It is definitely a fun movie- Sun and surf and all that great stuff.

Dolores Hart, One of the stars of this movie, became a nun:

Link to Dolores Hart

Phoenix

Right, then, I will definitely look out for it!

I remember loving The World of Henry Orient when it came out in 1964. I was the same age (14) as the two girls in the movie, and I thought they were incredibly cool, the way they ran all over New York following the pianist (Peter Sellers) they had a crush on. They embodied all the qualities that my best friend and I liked to think we had. I haven't seen the movie in almost 40 years, so I have no idea how well it holds up, or whether I would now cringe at the idea that I once saw myself in it.

A more recent movie that I thought did a good job of capturing the experience of being a slightly off-kilter teenage girl was Ghost World.

Hello, bree!

I love Peter Sellers, but for some reason I haven't seen that one. It sounds delightful.
Another one to look for in my video shop!

Three film musicals about teenagers -- one serious and two comedic --immediately come to mind:

1. West Side Story (serious)

2. Bye, Bye Birdie

3. Grease

Oh! I loved Ferris Beuller! But, the movie that most represented my high school daze was Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

In what's turning out to be a twice-weekly call from A#1 son, this afternoon he felt the need to recite a few lines from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' while it was on.....

I bought that movie ten years ago and am responsible for raising another generation of fans.....all of Dougy's friends love it, too.

I still like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, especially the music. And Fast Times at Ridgemont High is still hilarious and sad.

Did anyone see Dazed and Confused? (Link to Dazed and Confused on IMDb) It really struck home with me. Maybe because it's set in the South in the mid-70s which is when I was a teenager.

I confess that I watch The Breakfast Club whenever it's on cable...

I used to like the Breakfast Club before I met TNT and TBS.

I loved Ferris, and Dazed and Confused was right on - I was in high school then too. American Graffiti stands out among the films I remember from my childhood as well as The Last Picture Show and Summer of 42. After that, Risky Business, Stand By Me, King of the Hill, and The Man in the Moon (Reese Witherspoon). The last few years my favorites might be The Ice Storm, Welcome to the Dollhouse, and Life As a House. Most of these I liked because they struck a chord with me, I could relate to a character or his experiences, some are just very good films or very funny.