Where the Boys Are

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Where the Boys Are
Directed by Henry Levin
Produced by Joe Pasternak
Written by Glendon Swarthout (novel)
George Wells
Starring Dolores Hart
George Hamilton
Yvette Mimieux
Jim Hutton
Music by George E. Stoll
Cinematography Robert J. Bronner
Editing by Fredric Steinkamp
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s) December 28, 1960
Running time 99 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

Where the Boys Are (1960) is an American motion picture comedy, written by George Wells and based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout, about four Midwestern college co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The title song "Where the Boys Are" was sung by Connie Francis, who also co-starred in a supporting role. The film was originally intended for the teen market, featuring sun, sand and romance.

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[edit] Plot

Where the Boys Are was one of the first teen films to explore adolescent sexuality and changing American sexual mores and attitudes among college youth. Given the censorship of the day, the audience is never sure of exactly what happened to Yvette Mimieux's character "Melanie" in the motel room, but there is an indication that she was raped. The main focus of the story is the "coming of age" of the Dolores Hart character Merritt—a smart, assertive girl who expresses the opinion as the film opens that premarital sex might be OK. Her speech insipres the Yvette Mimieux character Melanie to lose her virginity soon after the girls arrive in Ft. Lauderdale. Paula Prentiss, on the other hand, seeks to be a "baby-making machine," lacking only the man to join her in marriage. She quickly fixes her attention on the goofy TV Thompson. Connie Francis, in her first acting role, rounds out the quartet as an unattractive, athletic girl who is also looking for love. She finds it with a guy who is blind. Each girl finds her beliefs challenged throughout the film. Merritt realizes that she's not ready for sex; Melanie finds that the boy from yale she thought loved her was only using her, and he passes her around to his friend when he grows bored of her. Today, Melanie's fate would be considered to be rape, but, despite her obvious distress and dishevelment after the attack, no mention is ever made of possible prosecution of anyone. Paula Prentiss becomes disillusioned when TV Thompson treats her with resentment and nastiness, as he focuses his attention on an older woman who works as a "mermaid" swimmer/dancer. However, Merritt and Ryder and Tuggle and TV's adolescent relationship angst quickly evaporates when they discover Melanie in her distressed state. They realize the potentially serious consequences of their actions and resolve to act in a more sober, mature manner. The film ends on a melancholy, rather than humorous note, with Melanie recovering in the hospital while Merritt looks after her, with promises to continue a long-distance relationship with Ryder. Released in the wintertime, the film inspired thousands more American college students to head to Fort Lauderdale for their annual spring break.

Veteran cowboy actor Chill Wills plays the veteran Police Chief of Fort Lauderdale. His opening speech sets the tone for the whole movie. George Hamilton plays a reluctant rich kid, and Jim Hutton plays a wacky college kid with a penchant for various hats.

[edit] Music

The kind of cool modern jazz (or west coast jazz) popularized by such acts as Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, and Chico Hamilton, then in the vanguard of the college music market, features in a number of set pieces, as well as pop star Connie Francis, who had her introductory role as an actress in this film. Her popular title song (written by Neil Sedaka) played over the opening credits.

[edit] Gender

As with most other beach blanket films of its time, gender plays a vital part in Where the Boys Are. Each of the four women are represented as different traditional female archetypes. The three women who are more conservative in their sexual behavior are portrayed as respectable, intelligent, and strong. In contrast, Melanie, the most promiscuous of the bunch, latches on to men in an attempt to validate her self-worth. What transpires (her assumed rape and probable suicide attempt) is a reminder to the audience of the stark differences between women who respect themselves and those who don't. In turn, the film is, in fact, a sort of feminist piece of work, as it conveys (sometimes by rather roundabout and illusive means) the power of strong, resolute women.

[edit] Legacy

An unsuccessful remake, Where the Boys Are '84, was made in 1984 by TriStar Pictures. TriStar's parent company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, led a partnership that acquired MGM in 2005; however, the rights to this film (along with the rest of the pre-1986 MGM library) are now owned by Warner Bros. and its subsidiary Turner Entertainment.

[edit] Primary cast

[edit] References

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