The Careless Years

source: The Careless Years

The Careless Years

Is there a more boring actress than Natalie Trundy? Indeed, she's so bad that not even being paired with Dean Stockwell can save her or this thoroughly dull film. Nice rack, though.

When we talk about great male actors, how many times is Dean Stockwell mentioned? Dude worked 70+ years in the entertainment industry. This film proves why he lasted so long. Typical mid-50s teen romance, yet tackles important topics. It's Mrs. Cleaver before Hugh Beaumont got ahold of her. Worth the watch if you're into that kind of thing.

A powerful drama of young love that marks an interesting intersection of the careers of Dean Stockwell, Arthur Hiller, John Howard Lawson and producer Edward Lewis (who originally fronted for the blacklisted Lawson). Made for Kirk Douglas's company Bryna, it marked a very early breach in the Hollywood blacklist.

Jerry Vernon (Dean Stockwell) and Emily Meredith (Natalie Trundy) are Santa Monica High School seniors. He pursues her and they start going out. He comes from a poor family. Her family is well-off. With graduation approaching, he suggests getting married in Mexico. This is a young Dean Stockwell. He's 20 after being a child actor. That's interesting and he's doing his version of James Dean. More importantly, it's Hollywood legend Arthur Hiller's first theatrical directing job. Barbara Billingsley is the mom and this was released months after Beaver. I don't particularly like this young couple. It doesn't start off well enough. This movie almost feels like a PSA. He's always the guy pushing and she's the one demurring. It moves slowly and with limited drama. It's a melodrama and the climax tries to explode. I guess that it's pushing the envelope of its day just by discussing these issues. Everyone starts somewhere and it's interesting to watch these folks starting their careers.