Recently I was revisiting a documentary with my best friend. The movie was ‘This Film Not is not Yet Rated’ by Kirby Dick. It is an excellent examination of the MPAA and their forty year long monopoly on rating movies for content. The main theme here was basically how much sexuality a filmmaker can get away with. As it turned out this was a remarkable segue to s film that came to my attention for review; ‘The Explosive Generation’. It was made back in 1961 a time when my generation was more concerned with stickball than anything else. The topic of the movie was something commonplace now but half a century ago was quite risqué and definitely controversial; teenage sexuality. Even now in the more permissive society we inhabit bringing up this topic is guaranteed to divide the room. This division will take place on a myriad of criteria from age group to political conservatism to religious bearing. The thing is no matter what is said or done the fact remains steadfast teens have always had sex and the always will find a way to have sex. Strict upbringing may help delay or in some cases prevent individual teens from sexual experimentation but in the broader scope of thins hormones will win out and sex will occur. As a father of a daughter, now approaching thirty, I will live my life in a perpetual state of denial. For me the perfect father was Mary’s; his daughter was a virgin and still gave him a grandson. In this movie there is a frank, open discussion of teen sexuality from the point of view provided by parents, educators and most importantly the teens themselves. It must be constantly kept in mind that this movie is fifty years old and as such reflects the social sensibilities of s bygone era. If you contrast this film to something like the TV series ‘Skins ‘currently running on MTV the sale of bars for windows would skyrocket and there would be a revival in the manufacture of chastity belts. Then again, if it was possible to take a few episodes of that series back in time fifty years we wouldn’t be here since our grandparents would have clutched their chests and keeled over before the first commercial break. With that in mind consider this film a portal into the past; a means to understand where we the parents of today’s explosive generation come from. This would be fascinating to watch with your kids before a lively discussion on the subject.

In 1961 William Shatner may have been a few years away from the role as Captain Kirk but at that time he was already a hard working actor well employed in film and many highly regarded dramatic television series. In that year Shatner had roles in two films, ‘Judgment at Nuremberg’ and the film under consideration here, ‘The Explosive Generation’. In both cases his screen time was limited but highly effective. In this blast from the past film Shatner play the role of Peter Gifford, a high school sociology teacher. The focus of his class is a topic referred to as ‘Senior Problems’ which ostensibly is mandated to address the questions the school’s senior class may have with their post high school ambitions or what might be a concern to them at the movement. The school administration never intended this class to become a forum for controversy but one morning it took a turn in that direction. The students want to have as frank and open discussion about a topic that the school board would rather ignore, sex. Me. Gifford is liberal in his natural inclination and scholastic methodology so he opens the floor to that topic. The consequences are quick in appearing as the principal, Me. Morton (Edward Platt) has no choice but to suspend the well intentioned teacher. This sparks open rebellion among the student body as the kids demand a greater role in their education including a say in selecting topics for discussion not subject to censorship by the administration. Considering this movie was released in the era when the drive in was popular it could have easily been formatted in a more exploitive fashion. Instead the screenwriter Joseph Landon and director Buzz Kulik both set out on the high road which resulted in a meaningful dialogue of a contemporary social issue; one that persists through to current times. Before the classroom drama begins we are introduced to the central characters; Janet Sommers (Patty McCormack) and her steady boyfriend Dan Carlyle (Lee Kinsolving). There is a party to celebrate the victory of the school’s basketball team and parental supervision is conspicuously absent. Janet and Dan run into some friends Bobby Herman Jr. (Billy Gray) and Marge Ryker (Suzi Carnell) who are on their first date. You might notice an extremely young Beau Bridges here adding to the familiar faces. McCormack is famous for her preteen role in ‘The Bad Seed’ and Grey was the iconic middle child in ‘Father Knows Best’. Of course for those keeping score Platt is best known as ‘The Chief’ in the original ‘Get Smart TV series.

Janet finds herself pressured not only by Dan to go further than she is comfortable with but there is peer pressure from Marge as well. Her girlfriend explains that Janet is going steady so she has her guy but Marge is just starting to date Bobby so she feels she has to do whatever is necessary to cement the relationship. At first Mr. Gifford is reluctant to add sex to the list of topics his class wants to discuss but he accedes upon realizing just how important this opportunity is to the students. The movie makes an honest attempt to depict the topics that teens of that day would be concerned with. This is one thing that speaks so well of the relevance of this film; most of the topics the kids discuss are still important to kids today albeit with some details changed. ‘Heavy petting’ may have given way to oral sex but the influences of peer pressure and the way alcohol’s tendency to lower inhibition can waylay even the best of intensions. Also depicted is the position of the adults including the parent and teachers with expectations that their kids will willingly forego urges that are as old as time; a powerful force of nature. The film is admittedly dated. At the big game the cheerleaders actually lead the cheers of the crowd instead of perform routines worthy of an elite gymnast. Overall this film is still a good one interesting to watch. It would be very interesting if some enterprising auteur would consider making a modern take of this one.