| For Those Who Think Young | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Leslie H. Martinson |
| Screenplay by | James O'Hanlon George O'Hanlon Dan Beaumont |
| Story by | Dan Beaumont |
| Produced by | Hugh Benson executive Howard W. Koch |
| Starring | James Darren Pamela Tiffin Paul Lynde Tina Louise Nancy Sinatra Bob Denver Claudia Martin Woody Woodbury |
| Cinematography | Harold E. Stine |
| Edited by | Frank P. Keller |
| Music by | Jerry Fielding |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,600,000 (US/ Canada)[1] |
For Those Who Think Young is a 1964beach party film shot inTechniscope, directed byLeslie H. Martinson and featuringJames Darren,Pamela Tiffin,Paul Lynde,Tina Louise,Bob Denver,Nancy Sinatra in her film debut,Robert Middleton,Ellen Burstyn (billed as Ellen McRae), Claudia Martin andWoody Woodbury.
Rich kid and party animal Gardner Pruitt III (James Darren), known as "Ding" to his friends, is on the prowl for a new conquest in the form of teenager Sandy Palmer (Pamela Tiffin). In the meantime, Ding's influential grandfather, B.S. Cronin (Robert Middleton) wants to curtail the romance and shut down a popular local college teen hangout.
Sandy's guardians Sid Hoyt (Paul Lynde) andWoody Woodbury (playing himself) get mixed up in the proceedings, with Woody becoming the college kid's hero at the hangout. That sends up a red flag to the college administration, which sends in Dr. Pauline Swenson to investigate allegations of underage drinking.
When the clever kids discover that ex-gangster Grandpa Cronin used to be a bootlegger, they blackmail him into keeping the club open.
The film began as a script calledA Young Man's Fancy. The rights were bought byFrank Sinatra's Essex Productions. The title was changed in order to secure funding participation from Pepsi Cola, who changed their slogan from "Be Sociable" (which had been used since 1958) to "Now It's Pepsi For Those Who Think Young".[2] Besides Pepsi, the film featured extensiveproduct placement for Jax Clothing, Baskin-Robbins, Peter Pan swimwear, Buick and Honda.[3][4]Sam Arkoff of AIP later called the use of the title "the most ridiculous, hidebound, stupid concept I can think of. To put a middle aged slogan on a youth picture. What kid would go to see a film calledFor Those Who Think Young?"[5]
Dolores Hart,[6]James Darren, andAnn-Margret were all considered to star.[7]Pamela Tiffin replaced Ann-Margret.
Filming began August 14, 1963 at Paramount Studios.[8] The beach scenes were shot atMailbu Beach, all in one day.[9]
James Darren's character drives a 1963 Buick Riviera, designed byGeorge Barris.[10]
Jerry Fielding, later famous for his television themes, composed the score for the film.
Mack David andJerry Livingston wrote "For Those Who Think Love", sung by James Darren over the opening credits.
Bob Denver sings "Ho Daddy, Surf's Up" and "Ho Daddy, Surf's Up (Reprise)."
Jimmy Griffin (later founder member of the 1970s bandBread), performs the song "I'm Gonna Walk All Over This Land", accompanied by Paul Johnson (ofThe Bel-Airs), Glen Grey and Richard Delvy (both ofThe Challengers).[11]
Filmink argued "Half the film is a perfectly acceptable beach movie" but " the other half is a vehicle for unfunny comic Woody Woodbury. Maybe we’re being unfair. Put it another way: don’t miss this if you’re a big Woody Woodbury fan."[12]