Wild Youth

Wild Youth (also known as Naked Youth) is a 1960 drama film that tells the story of a group of teenagers in Southern California who are living a life of delinquency and rebellion. The movie paints a picture of teenage angst and rebellion during the early 1960s. Directed by John F. Schreyer, Wild Youth stars Robert Hutton, John Goddard, Carol Ohmart, and Virginia Aldridge in lead roles.

The film opens with a shot of a group of teenagers racing cars on the desolate streets of a California town. There's Jim (Robert Hutton), the cool kid who is always trying to impress his buddies by taking reckless risks. We are also introduced to his girlfriend Arlene (Carol Ohmart), who seems smitten with Jim but is disappointed by his impulsive behavior. Johnny (John Goddard), on the other hand, is a more serious teenager who is in love with Arlene but afraid to confront Jim.

As the movie progresses, we see the teenagers engaging in various acts of rebellion, like drag racing, drinking, and smoking. They seem to be living a carefree life, with no real goals or aspirations, content with living for the moment. However, things take a serious turn when Johnny accidentally kills a man while drunk driving.

The rest of the film deals with the aftermath of the accident, as Johnny struggles to come to terms with what he has done. Jim, who is initially supportive of Johnny, starts to become resentful when he realizes that Johnny may be facing serious jail time. Arlene, who is torn between the two boys, tries to help Johnny by convincing Jim to turn himself in for the accident.

The movie has a lot of dramatic moments, but it also portrays a lot of the social issues of the 1960s. The teenagers in the movie are shown as being disillusioned with society and their parents, who they see as being out of touch with their needs and desires. They are shown rebelling against the norms of their society, engaging in activities that are dangerous and extreme.

The movie's title, Naked Youth, is a nod to the film's edgy content. The film has a lot of sensual and suggestive scenes that would have been considered racy for the time. The film also deals with some sensitive themes, including teenage sex and drug use. While the scenes are not explicit, they are enough to make one think that the film was pushing the envelope of what was considered acceptable in the early 60s.

The movie also features a soundtrack that's quite impressive for its time. The songs are catchy and upbeat, but they also help to underscore the film's themes of teenage rebellion and angst. The soundtrack features songs by popular artists of the time, like Little Richard, Ray Anthony, and Eddie Cochran.

Overall, Wild Youth (aka Naked Youth) is a snapshot of teenage life during the early 1960s. The movie captures the pulse of a generation that was coming of age during a time of social and political upheaval. While it may seem a bit tame by modern standards, it was considered edgy and provocative for its time, and paved the way for later films that dealt with similar themes. The movie is definitely worth watching for anyone interested in the history of teenage culture in America.