Ocean Drive Weekend [1985]

"It was the '60s! And even the good girls knew that O.D. meant Ocean Drive.."

Various teenaged thirty-somethings - a gang of girls from "Leon College" and a group of lads from "A Great Southern University (not the one you think)" - head off to the infamous Ocean Drive for a weekend of drinking, dancing, and whatever else kids in the '60s did for fun. If they were anything like our protagonists in Ocean Drive Weekend, it seems they didn't do much at all.

Jeanie is feeling lovestruck, hung up on her ex-boyfriend Danny, much to her best friend Linda's dissatisfaction. "Ah hell, let's not start that again - Danny is the biggest slug in North America!".

Next we've got Alan; the kid so desperate not to be drafted that he is willing to shoot a hole in his foot to prevent the inevitable. His pal Kirk is the funnyman of the bunch, having earlier stolen a motorbike and somehow lost it in the sea, to his amusement.

Serious Chuck and overweight party animal Miller are on a mission to find themselves some women but instead have too much to drink and get in trouble with local cops the next morning when they go out for breakfast and find they have no cash to pay for their meals. Miller insists they escape by jumping off of the pier, but as they swim to shore they are greeted by and unimpressed cafe owner and police. Luck changes for Chuck when he later meets Jeanie and falls head over heels for her, and they dance the night away with the rest of the kids at a Rivieras gig.

Two of Miller's pals, Hank and Billy, borrow his Dodge and go cruisin', but when they decide to poke fun of some guys from another college, it begins a chain of disastrous events that winds up involving half of the kids at Ocean Drive! When Miller gets his car back later that evening, he is stopped and kidnapped by the same college kids who'd earlier been taunted by his pals. The police then find his beat up dodge abandoned at the end of the street and when word gets back to Hank and Billy, they vow to rescue Miller from the clutches of evil and recruit Mark, Chuck, Marsha and the rest of the kids to help.

VERDICT: ★ ½

---

Ocean Drive Weekend is a really obscure and somewhat bizarre movie. One look at the cover art on the vhs box and you'd assume what you were looking at was your typical eighties T&A beach romp. On further inspection of the cover, you'd notice the Troma logo, and your expectations would be lowered to "terrible eighties T&A beach romp". Unbelievably, Ocean Drive is a semi serious tale, with absolutely zero nudity or bad language (okay, the f-bomb is dropped once!), and is so tame that it only earned itself a PG:13 rating on release. Although the movie features beach scenes, the bikini-clad torso on the cover really does give the wrong impression, and I would go as far as to say that Ocean Drive IS a drama film. It is like Troma's response to American Graffiti. Perhaps another good comparison would be Shag The Movie - this is the amateur version, complete with godawful acting, over-ripe "stars", and not really a whole lot of plot.

Under The Boardwalk by The Drifters was used about four times in the movie - there's nothing wrong with that, of course, except for that it continually reminded me how I would have much rather been sitting watching Under The Boardwalk (1989), a much better beach movie.

Incredibly, Ocean Drive Weekend isn't quite as horrifying as you would think. Yes, the acting is nothing more than piss-poor, but where you'd presume it absolutely worthless, there are a few hidden surprises. That said, it is by no means a good movie, and wont ever be regarded as anything other than garbage. The ten or so central characters does make for a stupidly confusing story that it is best not to even try and follow, but it does deliver a few laughs, even if most are sort of unintentional (an example being one of the main characters - an overweight slobbish type who looks about forty and claims to still be a virgin). It seems, though, that Ocean Drive Weekend is destined to lurk in the cavernous depths of low-grade cinema for all of eternity. Do yourself a favour and leave it there.


IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie clip]

---

SOUNDTRACK:

---

The following songs were featured in the movie:

1. Showdown - Smitty Flynn & The Rivieras
2. Under The Boardwalk - The Drifters
3. Double Shot - Smitty Flynn & The Rivieras
4. It Will Stand - the Showmen
5. Peanut Butter - Smitty Flynn & The Rivieras
6. Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy - The Tams
7. 39-21-46 - Smitty Flynn & The Rivieras
8. Come Go With Me - Smitty Flynn & The Rivieras
9. Girl Watcher/Boy Watcher - Karen & Ron Killette

The Outsiders [1983]

"They grew up on the outside of society. They weren't looking for a fight. They were looking to belong."

Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell), Dally (Matt Dillon), Johnny (Ralph Macchio), Sodapop (Rob Lowe), Two-bit (Emilio Estevez), Darry (Patrick Swayze) and Steve (Tom Cruise) are greasers in mid '60s Oklahoma. Coming from the wrong side of the tracks brands them as good-for-nothing, trouble making youngsters - an essentially unearned reputation. Aside from the infamous Dallas Winston, the boys aren't into half as much mischief as their stereotype grants them, getting up to the usual but virtually harmless teen antics.

But one night at the drive-in sees the beginning of a change for the greaser boys, with Dally, Ponyboy and Johnny running into a couple of socs, Marcia (Michelle Meyrink) and Sherri 'Cherry' Valance (Diane Lane). The obnoxious Dally decides to have a go at sweet-talking Cherry, who responds by throwing a drink in his face. Eventually the bad boy of the bunch splits, leaving the less threatening Pony and Johnny talking to the two girls. They're soon joined by the comedian of the greaser lads - Two-bit, sporting sideburns, a mickey mouse shirt and leather jacket. All is going great until leaving the drive-in, when Marcia and Cherry's boyfriends pull up looking for a fight. Narrowly escaping a scuffle, both gangs leave. None of them can foresee the events to follow.

Returning home to find his parents at each others throats, Johnny decides to go over to 'the lot', accompanied by Pony, where they share a tear jerking heart-to-heart, Johnny confiding in his best friend that he feels like committing suicide. They fall asleep, waking up at 2am, Ponyboy rushing home to find his older brother Darry furious. Having lost their parents in a car accident, the oldest of the Curtis brothers, Darry, is responsible for his younger siblings; Soda and Pony, who run the risk of being put into a boys home. In rage, Darry pushes Pony to the floor, only making things worse when Pony bolts back over to Johnny at the lot. The situation gets sticky when the boys are greeted by Marcia and Cherry's boyfriends, ringleaders of their soc gang, who proceed to teach the greasers a lesson. Kicking Johnny to the ground, they drag Ponyboy to a nearby fountain, laughing as they immerse him underwater.

Waking up on the ground to see Johnny clutching a bloodied pocket knife, Ponyboy gags, spotting Cherry's boyfriend in a pool of blood. "I killed him", repeats a trembling Johnny. Needing advice, they race over to find Dally, who throws them a gun and fifty bucks, instructing them to jump the freight train and lay low for a week or so in "an abandoned church on Jay Mountain". Taking his advice, they trek up to Windrixville, disguising themselves to avoid identification.

The act can't go on forever, and when Dally comes up to meet the guys, disaster strikes. A fire breaks out in the church while the guys drive off for a bite to eat, and when they return, the entire place is ablaze. Worst of all, the building is full of children. Playing the heroes, Johnny and Ponyboy hurry inside to rescue the helpless kids, putting their own lives in danger. The superhero deed leads to tragedy when the burning roof caves in on a defenseless Johnny, putting him in hospital with severe injuries.

The tragic incident doesn't stop the impending rumble between the greasers and socs, and there is plenty more bad luck yet to come.


VERDICT: ★★★★

---

The Outsiders, based on S.E. Hinton's novel of the same name, is without a doubt, a fantastic movie. The huge list of future stars whose careers really took off after the film should be an enormous indication of the greatness of the flick!

The theatrical version was stripped of many key scenes for fear of an almost two hour movie being overlong. Finally in 2005, the movie was re-released, with over 20 minutes of extra scenes that might never have seen the light of day. The original score written by Carmine Coppola was replaced by classic '60s hits, changing the atmosphere of the film completely. The moody, intense original score gave the film an almost thriller-like feel, whereas the more contemporary '60s tunes managed to lighten the mood in the appropriate places, but still keep hold of the serious tone where needed. If watching the movie for the first time, i'd wholeheartedly recommend the Complete Novel edition, as it is more faithful to S.E. Hinton's book, and paints a more rounded picture of the story.

An amazingly well-done movie that you should see at least once in your lifetime! Everyone at some time in their lives has been familiar with gang or 'clique' rivalry/tension, and it is pretty shocking to think of the extremes that teenagers can go to. Demonstrating the scarring stereotypical views of both kids and adults, The Outsiders hits the nail on the head in many places, and the thought of it ever being remade makes me shudder.


IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie clip]

---

SOUNDTRACK:

---

The original soundtrack comprising of Carmine Coppola's score is another sought after soundtrack that sells for big bucks. As yet, a soundtrack to the Complete Novel has not been made available, and it is likely that it never will be. So for now, we'll have to put up with the fan-made unofficial soundtracks that are making the rounds on various soundtrack blogs. Then again, it isn't overly difficult to track these songs down from other sources.

1. Stay Gold - Bill Hughes
2. Fate Theme (Dallas Tragic Music)
3. Country Theme/Brothers Theme
4. Cherry Says Goodbye/Ponyboy and Brothers
5. Dallas Death Scene
6. Fire in the Deserted Church
7. Sunrise/Stay Gold
8. Flight and the Fight in the Park
9. Bob is Dead
10. Train to Deserted Church/Passing Time
11. Go to Rumble Rumble (Gang Fistfight)
12. The Outside In - Bill Hughes

Complete Novel:

1. Stay Gold - Stevie Wonder
2. Gloria - Van Morrison
3. Loveless Motel - R.C. Bannon
4. Jack Daniels, If You Please - David Allan Coe
5. Outer Limits - The Marketts
6. Real Wild Child - Jerry Lee Lewis
7. Blue Moon - Elvis Presley
8. Tomorrow Is A Long Time - Elvis Presley
9. Mystery Train - Elvis Presley
10. We're Gonna Move - Elvis Presley
11. Lend Me Your Comb - Carl Perkins
12. Milky White Way - Elvis Presley
13. When It Rains It Really Pours - Elvis Presley
14. Teen Beat - Sandy Nelson

You've gotta adore the unreleased soundtrack in all its '60s glory. Any Elvis haters had better leave the building!

The In Crowd AKA Dance Party [1988]

"They're young. They've got the energy. They've gotta dance!"

It's the '60s. Philadelphia teen Del (Donovan Leitch) is a kid with a dream. Spending hours in front of the television dancing along to after school phenomenon the Perry Parker show, he is determined to get a spot on the hottest show in town, if only to impress the beautiful Vicky (Jennifer Runyon), Perry Parker regular.

Trying to convince him otherwise are his high school buddies, in particular, friend Gail (Wendy Gazelle), who is none too impressed with her best friend's obsession. Nevertheless, Del is transfixed by the show and, in a move that'll change his future, takes a trip over to the studio. Dolled up in his best suit and looking sharp, he tries his best to blend in with the shows regular faces queued up outside. Realising the chances of his name magically appearing on the doorman's list is very slim indeed, he makes a run for the door when all heads are turned.

As luck has it, he is then mistaken for a dance regular and is taken backstage by a crew member. Mingling with the other youngsters, he can't quite believe he's made it. In walks Perry Parker (Joe Pantoliano) to give his obligatory before-show lecture to the kids, puzzled at the sight of new kid Del. With star dancer Vicky late again due to detention, Perry isn't too happy. It then turns out that Dugan (Scott Plank), Vicky's boyfriend and usual dance partner, has been banged up for acts of juvenile delinquency, forcing Perry to choose a new partner for her. Knowing that Dugan would flip at the idea of some other guy dancing with his girl, the regulars chicken out, refusing to take his place. Naive Del, however, decides to speak up and volunteer for the job.

Curtain call time, on go the lights, music and cameras, a cue for the usual dancers to humiliate the new kid Del. Bouncing back from their attempts at showing him up in front of everyone, the audience are impressed by his moves, and the camera switches to him. Back at home, Gail is gobsmacked that her best friend is shaking his stuff on the hippest show in Philly, jealous that he's sharing the spotlight with the gorgeous Vicky. After the show, Perry Parker - wanting to find an excuse to get rid of bad boy Dugan - talks Vicky into going on a date with Del at the weekend.

Falling in with the dance show kids, Del - an alien to their world - begins to spend more time with Vicky, the pair becoming the programme's featured couple. Breaking into Del's house during a violent thunderstorm, a disgruntled Dugan challenges his rival to an explosive dance-off, only intensifying the hate between the two dancers.

Gail is still busy attempting to convince Del to stay away from the 'in crowd' and the bad influence they have on him, but he refuses to listen, causing a major fall-out between them. As it turns out, Vicky isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and differs from Del's crowd as much as he differs from hers. Eventually, Vicky breaks it to Del that she and Dugan are running away together, asking him to help them escape. Realising she is unhappy tied to the Perry Parker Show, Del agrees to give them a hand and finally, him and Dugan are on good terms with one another.

Having let the fame go to his head and taken his true friends for granted, Del is feeling the pain of stardom. But will he and Gail finally lay their differences to rest?


VERDICT: ★★★ ½

---

The In Crowd has that kitschtastic factor to it, looking back on the '60s in as much colour and with as much fondness possible. There are some fantastic dance sequences, accompanied by great '60s tunes. Joe Pantoliano does a convincing job playing Perry Parker - a character based on that of actual Philadelphia disc-jockey Jerry Blavat. A section of Blavat's website describes a bit about what The In Crowd almost definitely took it's inspiration from:

"His first exposure to "fame" came as a dancer on the original Bandstand television program, hosted by Bob Horn. In 1953, less than a year after the show's inception, a 13 year old Jerry Blavat perfected his first scam-- impersonating a 14 year old to get on the program. He became a favorite with the viewers and rose to the head of the coveted "Committee", the group of teens responsible for aiding Horn in the direction of the show. When Bob Horn was fired over very questionable circumstances a few years later, the rest of the teens welcomed new host Dick Clark. Belying his youth, Blavat displayed an early sense of the loyalty that would become his most prized character trait and left the program rather than tacitly approving Horn's ousting."

Overall, a fun look back on the rock and roll generation, with Donovan Leitch nailing the character of Del and demonstrating a whole host of impressive dance moves. Jennifer Runyon does a wonderful job as the just-a-bit-simple teen Vicky, the movie being my favourite of all of her roles. One of the more memorable 'forgotten' movies of the '80s, and gets better the more you watch it!


IMAGES/VIDEOS: [trailer]

---

Coming soon!


SOUNDTRACK:

---

None available.

Heaven Help Us AKA Catholic Boys [1985]

"For the boys of St. Basil's it's easier to be a sinner than a saint"

Brooklyn, 1965. With their parents both dead, Michael Dunn (Andrew McCarthy) and his little sister Boo have been shipped off to live with their grandparents. Being Irish-Catholic, the grandparents have Michael enroll at a strict Roman-Catholic school, St. Basil's, with dreams of him becoming a priest. Michael has other ideas.

Becoming friends with Caesar - an overweight kid with the best grades in the class - Michael is helped to catch up with his school work and the two spend some time hanging out. Being the butt of a thousand jokes, Caesar is often targeted by the underachieving class bully Rooney (Kevin Dillon), who soon decides to pick on Michael, too.

During an English-lit class taught by the intimidating Brother Constance, Rooney sneakily removes the screws from Caesar's desk. It collapses, leaving Caesar on the floor and Brother Constance outraged. Having noticed Rooney in the midst of the prank, Michael whispers an apology to Caesar. Constance overhears, demanding Michael confess the perpetrator of the hijinks, and when he refuses, is hit several times with a wooden paddle. Rooney grins and Michael lunges towards him, with the both of them being sent to the headmaster (Donald Sutherland).

Impressed that Michael refused to rat him out even after a beating, Rooney attempts to become friends, giving him an ultimatum; "I gotta save face. If I don't make you my friend, that means i'll have to kick your ass every time I see you". Disinclined to associate himself with the class menace, but neither too keen on constant altercations, Michael gives in. It isn't long before he is one of the gang, and along with the sex-obsessed Williams (Stephen Geoffreys, who funnily enough, became a porn star in the early '90s), the quiet-guy Corbett (Patrick Dempsey) and soon a reluctant Caesar, the five hang out at the local soda fountain run by the troubled high school dropout Danni (Mary Stewart Masterson).

During a school field trip, Rooney and the gang sneak off to a movie theatre to see the Elvis film, Blue Hawaii, but are discovered by Brother Constance. As a result, the guys are instructed to clean the St. Basil's statue, which they do so every Sunday from then on.

After frequent visits to the soda fountain, Michael and Danni become close and visit Coney Island where they share a kiss in the rain and whilst at the local hangout, Rooney and the boys suspect something is going on between the two of them. The soda fountain is then raided by Brothers from the school, but Danni, having had enough of their frequent harassment, locks them out and closes the blinds. The Brothers then discuss the whole episode over dinner and decide to report Danni to social services, who arrive soon after, carting her and her mentally-ill father away.

Michael is absolutely shattered by Danni's departure and, knowing it was work of the Brothers, Rooney, Williams, Corbett and Caesar decide to get their own back. The next day at school there is a huge assembly, after the St. Basil's statue is vandalized and, during the assembly, Rooney presents Michael with the head of the statue in a duffel bag. Brother Constance hurries towards the five boys, knowing it was their handywork, and orders them out of the hall. He locks them in a cupboard until they are brought into the gym and forced to admit who took part in the vandalizing. When all five refuse to tell, Brother Constance lashes Corbett and Williams, but when calling Caesar up to the belt, he pleads not to be hit. This only frustrates Constance further, who grabs Caesar, dragging him along the floor, lashing him as he does so. Michael by this point has seen enough, shoving Brother Constance to the floor and runs from the gym, with Constance and the boys close behind.

Spilling out into the assembly hall where Headmaster Thadeus is busy delivering a speech to the students, Constance hits Michael, cutting his face. Michael throws a mighty punch at Constance, and he is knocked off his feet to the sound of applause and cheering from the entire student body.

Brother Constance loses his job, and to their satisfaction, the boys are suspended for two weeks. The film ends with a couple of minutes narration from Rooney, who describes where the five of them end up.


VERDICT: ★★★★ ½

---

Heaven Help Us is another of those really underrated movies that, for one reason or another, never hit it big. With names like Kevin Dillon, Andrew McCarthy, Patrick Dempsey and Donald Sutherland, how can you go wrong. It has just the right mix of comedy and drama, though definitely not for those dead-against corporal punishment.

Whereas many 'period' flicks are way too over the top, kitschy and unrealistic, Heaven Help Us is a pretty damn accurate portrayal of a '60s Catholic school (although some spoilsports argue that, of course). Apparently, the film is based on partially true events, although i'm not too sure of the amount of truth in that statement. Whether it is fact or complete fiction, it's a brilliant movie that I would definitely recommend to those who haven't seen it. All I will say is that the quick exit of Mary Stewart Masterson's character is a bit of a shame and maybe that storyline should have been extended. Director's cut? Yes please!


IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie clip]

---

SOUNDTRACK:

---

For both the original and bootleg soundtracks, I can't seem to find a track listing anywhere, and so i'm unaware of what music was actually on them. The tracks used in the movie, however, are the following:


1. Hallelujah Chorus - The Roches
2. I've Been Loving You Too Long - Otis Redding
3. Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley
4. Hawaiian Wedding Song - Elvis Presley
5. My Girl - the Temptations
6. Come See About Me - The Supremes
7. I Can't Help Myself - The Four Tops
8. Ooh Baby Baby - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
9. Shotgun - Junior Walker & the All Stars
10. Dancing in the Street - Martha & the Vandellas
11. Ain't That Peculiar - Marvin Gaye
12. Blue Velvet - Bobby Vinton
13. Wooly Bully - Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
14. Tutti Frutti - Little Richard
15. Dominique - The Singing Nun
16. Marche Militaire, op.51, #1, 2, and 3 - Franz Schubert
17. Largo al Factotum - Giachinno Rossini
18. Clarinet Polka - Joey Schmidt, Lawrence Welk & Myron Floren


The soundtrack is the perfect mix of feel-good '60s tunes, and original Irish folk score written by James Horner. When watching you'll notice a couple of the James Horner tracks are identical to those used in Titanic. The original soundtrack is very, very rare, which makes sense of the large amount of bootlegs that have been floating around in the past ten or so years.