Starring Dick Sargent, Pat Boone, Terry Moore, and Janet Gaynor
Directed by Henry Levin
Music and Lyrics by various
Boone made his film debut in this movie from earlier in 1957. This is based after a hit non-musical play from 1953, and apparently was originally intended for Robert Wagner. Boone tested for Sargent's role, but he ended up playing his buddy. This movie about four teen boys who meddle in the love life of one was a huge hit in its time, as was Boone's rendition of "Love Letters In the Sand"...but does it still work today? Let's begin with those boys in the locker room of Wingate High School and find out...
The Story: Sanford Wilson (Sargent), Arthur "Beau" Beaumont (Boone), and Griner (Ronnie Burns) are members of the speed boat team who chase girls and hang out together at the Shamrock Club, a local dive. Sanford's not as good with the ladies or his grades as the others, until they try to call the phone number of their ideal "dream girl" Bernadine and get Jean (Moore), a pretty young operator. Sanford is smitten and asks her to a local club to see bongos player Jack Costanzo (himself). He thinks he's found his perfect "Bernadine," but then learns he may not graduate if he can't pass his finals. He's also not crazy about his widowed mother (Gaynor) remarrying a local man (Dean Jagger). Beau and Griner try to help, but their tutoring in love and academics ends up causing more trouble than it solves.
The Song and Dance: I can see why Boone went on to be a star, even just for a few years. He has far more charisma than most of the cast, or really for the part he's playing. Gaynor's sweet and darling as his kindly mother who is rediscovering love for the first time in years. The Technicolor is gorgeous, especially when they're outside during the big speed boat race scene.
Favorite Number: Our first song has the boys singing an ode to their non-existent "Bernadine" - or at least, a cardboard cutout of her - at the Shamrock Club. Beau teaches Sanford the "Technique" of winning a girl over and keeping her interested. John Constanzo gets a big instrumental "Blue Moon" to himself at the club where he pounds away at those bongos. He's really good - no wonder Sanford wanted to see him so badly.
Of course, the big one here is "Love Letters In the Sand." Boone sings it while hanging around with the others at the club. He's just laying around, his feet on the table. It sounds appropriately dreamy and relaxed...even if it's not really the appropriate song for that character at that moment.
Trivia: Janet Gaynor came out of retirement to play the mother; this would be her last film.
What I Don't Like: Some people think Boone should have had Sargent's lead role, like had been originally planned. I'm not sure it would have made anything better. These boys are some of the most obnoxious little creeps I've ever seen in a teen romance. They pick on a nerdy boy at school (Val Benedict) and spend their time obsessing over a girl who doesn't even exist. Sargent is a whiny idiot, and Moore is nothing more than eye candy. Even Gaynor doesn't have that much to do, disappointing for her last movie.
The songs don't work, either. "Love Letters" is a ballad for a character with no love interest and very little to play. "Technique" is not only a bit sexist, but its calypso Harry Belefonte-style beat is all wrong for Boone and sounds ridiculous. I'm a bit surprised they didn't use more of the genuinely exciting speed boat races, too. We see them race once, and it barely figures into the plot.
The Big Finale: A major disappointment after the charming April Love, and not the best way for Gaynor to go out. I wouldn't come within a hundred miles of here unless you're a huge fan of Boone or Gaynor. Everyone else is better off looking up Boone's commercial recording of "Love Letters In the Sand."
Home Media: Maybe it's just as well that the only place you can find this at the moment is YouTube.
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