For Those Who Think Young was released by United Artists on June 3, 1964
Director: Leslie H. Martinson
For Those Who Think Young cast: James Darren, Pamala Tiffin, Woody Woodbury, Ellen McRae, Paul Lynde, Tina Louise, Bob Denver, and Nancy Sinatra
Musical guests: The Challengers
For Those Who Think Young was an attempt by a major-league production house (United Artists) to make a beach party flick, that ended up proving that a bigger budget is no guarantee of a better film. The plot is a familiar one: two young coeds from opposite sides of the tracks fall in love and their antagonistic parents (or in the girl’s case, guardians) try to separate them. The parents/guardians are eventually convinced to back off and the lovers (we assume) begin preparations for their life together. The production values for this B-movie are really quite high with excellent set design and color photography. The performers are equally top drawer, even first timers Nancy Sinatra (Frank’s daughter), Claudia Martin (Dean’s daughter) and comedian Woody Woodbury (whose set went on just a bit too long). No, the fault does not lie in our stars, but in our script, which includes a song and dance interlude featuring a pre-Gilligan Bob Denver buried up to his nose in beach sand, which is probably the most memorable segment in the entire movie. Another future Gilligan’s Islander, Tina Louise, must do an antiquated, Gypsy Rose Lee styled burlesque in a beach flick! Expect the usual low-brow (even for 60s teenagers) comedic hijinks and improbable tomfoolery. But it is a very pretty film.
Featured Califormulants
The beach scenes were filmed at Paradise cove, but the surf scenes were filmed elsewhere. The campus scenes were filmed at Occidental College, in Los Angeles. James Darren drives a very well equipped 1963 Buick Riviera designed by George Barris.
Persons of Interest
The real big star of this film (career-wise) would be Ellen McRae, who played the prudish college administrator. But her career would not really begin to soar until she changed her name to Ellen Burstyn.
FYI
If you’ve seen this film, then you know, you must know, that Pepsi was the primary sponsor. You really can’t miss it. The product placement is so pervasive it’s downright distracting. Even the film’s title is lifted from a Pepsi ad campaign. See if you can count the number of times the word Pepsi is displayed on screen.