Film Review -- "Young and Wild," 1958

It began with a car theft -- a 1957 Ford to be specific. it ended with vehicular homicide, as an old woman was run down by that 1957 Ford, driven by an unrepentant thug and aided by two greaser accomplices. In between the bullies push off the road a clean cut young man and his pretty date in a 1957 Ford convertible. And it trying to cover up their crime, the trio lie, intimidate, and threaten not only the young couple but parents as well. But in the end the heroine of the story, Valerie Whitman (Carolyn Kearney) decides to make a stand and that ultimately leads to the arrest of the three law -breakers.

What to do about teenage punk hoodlums? We can't just execute them. Rick Braden (Scott Marlowe), "Allie" Allison (Weston Gavin), and "Beejay" Phillips (Tom Gilson) go on the tragic joyride, beat up boyfriend Jerry Coltrin (Robert Arthur), assault pretty Valerie, before having to flee when a by-passing vehicle comes upon the scene. Despite their formidable looks they seem to be impotent with girls their age.

Yet it is Det. Sgt. Fred Janusz (Gene Evans) who patiently works the case, deals with reverses, and ultimately puts the three delinquents behind bars. The three should have been drafted and sent to Korea. Good triumphs over evil, but we should never forget that there are plenty of young troublemakers out in the world, ready to make our lives hell if we let them!