So, I'm about a third of the way through Andrew McCarthy's documentary Brats. His examination of the effects of "The Brat Pack" label that was applied to him and his celebrity/youth/actor peers in the mid-80's. But was it? I'm just now doing a little research; but it seems to me that most of the people who the public perceives/perceived as being "in" "The Brat Pack" were never even mentioned in the origianl New York Magazine article. In particular, Molly Ringwald. But it ALL kind of revolves around Ms. Ringwald, it seems to me. A sort of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon before that game existed. Should the game really have been One Degree of Molly Ringwald, all along? Let's look at this. But before we do, I just want to say that I, for the most part, really liked pretty much all of the actors who were considered to be in this group. Before and after the fact. So, I'm not here to step on people's feelings; but I will be honest when I feel it's neccessary*, which I'm sure Mr. McCarthy, being a Sagittarius, will appreciate.
That is a lot of copy for a movie poster. Particularly for a teen movie from the 80's. I mean, I wonder how many kids took the time to actually read it. Like stood there in the movie theater lobby and read the whole thing. I probably did; that is, if I was able to make out the small print in the newpaper movie section.
So let's get a corkboard, some red yarn and get to work! (Or should that be pink yarn?).
*MISS SPELLING SEZ:
*MISS SPELLING SEZ:
Chris, "necessary" only has one "c." You always put two "c"s in there. Oh, what do you think of my Molly Ringwald look? I did it just for this blog! MWAH!
I love it Tori! You and Molly should work together. And I really think neccessary should have two "c"s. Sorry, but I insist!
And speaking of teenagers...
So, Mr. McCarthy was saying, during the opening moments of Brats, that the 80's was when Hollywood discovered the youth market. The teens. And then all of a sudden, there was an explosion of teen themed movies that burst off of silver screens across the United States. And that it true. But it certainly wasn't the first time. I would argue that it was the first time that teens and SEX were combined and caught fire. But actually, that's not quite true either. Let's go back to the 50's. The post-World War II era, when I think we can argue that "teen-ager" culture first came into full flower. That is, American teens, as a group, were large enough to be considered a market. A demographic. A money generating demographic at that; perhaps the frist large group with "disposable income." In other words: The Boomers. There's a quote out there, perhaps from a LIFE magazine circa 1954 that went something like: "...never before has there been so much, for so few." And the Boomers are still sort of living that quote, aren't they? But that's for another blog. In any event, Hollywood started tailoring material specifically for teens. Melodramatically, at first. A Summer Place comes to mind:
I love it Tori! You and Molly should work together. And I really think neccessary should have two "c"s. Sorry, but I insist!
And speaking of teenagers...
So, Mr. McCarthy was saying, during the opening moments of Brats, that the 80's was when Hollywood discovered the youth market. The teens. And then all of a sudden, there was an explosion of teen themed movies that burst off of silver screens across the United States. And that it true. But it certainly wasn't the first time. I would argue that it was the first time that teens and SEX were combined and caught fire. But actually, that's not quite true either. Let's go back to the 50's. The post-World War II era, when I think we can argue that "teen-ager" culture first came into full flower. That is, American teens, as a group, were large enough to be considered a market. A demographic. A money generating demographic at that; perhaps the frist large group with "disposable income." In other words: The Boomers. There's a quote out there, perhaps from a LIFE magazine circa 1954 that went something like: "...never before has there been so much, for so few." And the Boomers are still sort of living that quote, aren't they? But that's for another blog. In any event, Hollywood started tailoring material specifically for teens. Melodramatically, at first. A Summer Place comes to mind:
And even before that one, this one:
Apparently, disaffection had set in pretty fast.
And then, stupidity set in pretty fast. Teenagers in the 50's were portrayed in the movies in the most absurd ways. Teenage monsters, gang members, juvenile delinquents. Apparently, they had everything but weren't particularly happy with it.
And then, stupidity set in pretty fast. Teenagers in the 50's were portrayed in the movies in the most absurd ways. Teenage monsters, gang members, juvenile delinquents. Apparently, they had everything but weren't particularly happy with it.
I guess their stoic parents had passed on the ennui to their kids. So, after a bout of horror movies about teens and beach party movies about teens and then horror/beach party movies about teens; the whole Youth Revolution/Hippy-Dippy/Flower Power thing happened and teens were all about tuning in, turning on and dropping out. However, I would argue that most films speaking to that vibe were aimed at the college crowd and being played by young looking, late 20 somethings.
Then, in the 70's, at the movies at least; it was time for the grownups. The real teens were relegated to the Boob Tube, for the most part, in the 1970's. And things weren't really much more realistic than they had been in the 50's. Room 222 was supposed to be a "realistic" portrayl of modern teens. Let's check out a scene and see! Well, I can only find an entire episode; but here's one featuring Cindy Williams and that amazing opening theme:
Let's all watch and meet back here in 22 to 26 minutes or so!
I didn't go to high school in the early 70's. I went in the early 80's. And, I went to an all boys school. But something tells me that for all its earnestness, Room 222 was about as realistic as Welcome Back, Kotter. Or the Brady Kids. But that was at night. During the day, there were some shows that probably came closer to teen reality and teen problems in a realistic way. That would've been The ABC After School Special. And another show called Insight which aired, what I thought, was a particularly excellent story about a girl using sex to get what she wanted. Here's Marcia Brady herself giving, IMHO, an amazing performance:
I didn't go to high school in the early 70's. I went in the early 80's. And, I went to an all boys school. But something tells me that for all its earnestness, Room 222 was about as realistic as Welcome Back, Kotter. Or the Brady Kids. But that was at night. During the day, there were some shows that probably came closer to teen reality and teen problems in a realistic way. That would've been The ABC After School Special. And another show called Insight which aired, what I thought, was a particularly excellent story about a girl using sex to get what she wanted. Here's Marcia Brady herself giving, IMHO, an amazing performance:
Which brings us to 1979 and another sitcom about teens: The Facts of Life. Which is when Molly Ringwald first hit my radar.
We'll get back to Ms. Molly in a moment. But let's look at the last couple of years of the 70's. Teens were starting to maker their way back to the movies. But, I would argue they were pseudo teens. Like the "teens" of Grease (1978). I mean, I loved that movie when I was a kid and I was a teen myself when it was released (13); but as much as I loved it, I never felt that I was watching teenagers. Some sort of reasonably fantastical facsimilie, I suppose. And then, in 1979, Breaking Away was released. I loved it. Here was a case where, yeah, the "teens" were being played by actors slightly older; but they seemed like real young people. Like, they were believable in a way "teens" in movies and on TV generally weren't. This one even spawned a short lived TV series starring Shaun Cassidy, who brought us right back to unbelievable teendom. Right, like any teen that looked like him was going to be a misfit.
Oh look, it's Paul Dooley, who played Molly's dad too! Small world. And I'm really going nuts with all these video clips; so this is probably going to go into more than one blog.
So, where were we? Oh yeah. 1980. This was the year that numerous and sundry movies featuring teen-agers being played by teen-agers were released. Like a lot. And it presented them as real, flesh and blood people. Emphasis on the flesh. Or, the pleasures of the flesh, if you will. Yes, these teens were having sex. And if they weren't having it, they were trying to have it. Trying really hard. Some were more serious examinations of this literal coming of age; and some were more light-hearted. One of the first was from February of that year: Foxes. It starred Jodie Foster and the ever intense Sally Kellerman as her mom. It was decidedly in the former category.
So, where were we? Oh yeah. 1980. This was the year that numerous and sundry movies featuring teen-agers being played by teen-agers were released. Like a lot. And it presented them as real, flesh and blood people. Emphasis on the flesh. Or, the pleasures of the flesh, if you will. Yes, these teens were having sex. And if they weren't having it, they were trying to have it. Trying really hard. Some were more serious examinations of this literal coming of age; and some were more light-hearted. One of the first was from February of that year: Foxes. It starred Jodie Foster and the ever intense Sally Kellerman as her mom. It was decidedly in the former category.
It makes some strange kind of sense that Jodie Foster sort of launched this whole thing. I mean, one second she was playing a child prostitute and the next, a tomboy switching bodies with her mom in Disney matinee drivel. Right on the heels of that, we had Little Darlings, with Kristy McNichol; who I think gave the flat-out, all-time best portrayl of a teen ever put on film in that; despite it's rather ridiculous "high concept" premise.
Did you catch the awful dub job on the girl who makes the challenge? It's the voice of a thirty year-old. And the line is: "...the first one to lose her virginity, wins." Why did they soften it? In case Mom was in the audience? Yes, the girls want to get banged. And in fact, Tatum wants to "lose it" to a hunky camp counselor named Mr. Callahan; essayed within by the Gallically hirsute Armand Assante. And could you blame her???
I just learned Armand is actually an American from New York of Italian and Irish heritage. Now why the heck did I think he was French? Oh, I know! Because he played one so convincingly in Private Benjamin.
Yes, there was decidedly a trend in these movies. A rather disturbing trend. That is, underage kids--well, let's not mince words--having sex with adults. Now, I woud perhaps trace this to Brooke Shields and her Calvins in Pretty Baby; but, no. I think we have to go back to Jodie in Taxi Driver. I think that's when the trend started. And it wasn't just girls. It was most decidedly and perhaps more often boys; as Mr. McCarthy can attest to; as his first feature was about this very thing. Let's consult the poster for his first movie:
Yes, there was decidedly a trend in these movies. A rather disturbing trend. That is, underage kids--well, let's not mince words--having sex with adults. Now, I woud perhaps trace this to Brooke Shields and her Calvins in Pretty Baby; but, no. I think we have to go back to Jodie in Taxi Driver. I think that's when the trend started. And it wasn't just girls. It was most decidedly and perhaps more often boys; as Mr. McCarthy can attest to; as his first feature was about this very thing. Let's consult the poster for his first movie:
They really should have called the movie Crass. I remember when it came out, looking at this ad and thinking it was sleazy at the time. I mean, it's not Mr. McCarthy's fault. It was his first thing. A big Hollywood movie. I'm sure that even if he felt the poster was creepy and skeezy he kept it to himself. I know I would've! I did not see this one at the movies; but I saw it more than several times when it hit cable and was on five times a day. Like the poster, I didn't think it was particularly funny. But back to that poster. I remember staring at it in the paper. I was wont to stare at ads. Most people, particularly with print ads, don't even notice them. But I could stare at them for hours; I suppose trying to puzzle out the underlying meanings. Or meaninglessness. Like, the more I looked at the ad, the more I wondered about it. What's the scenario here? They're sitting like it's a formal portrait, but Andrew is not a family member. So, where are they? That's a loveseat. Loveseats are usually in waiting rooms or in entrance halls, particularly of the wealthy, which Jacqueline Bisset and Rob Lowe's characters were. Why does Rob Lowe seem to be completely unawares that A) His mother is falling out of what appears to be her bathrobe; and the B) His "roommate" is completely naked; and C) that his mother his playing "footsie" with his roommate in clear view of his peripheral vision. Did the three actors pose for this? Did they sit for an actual photo from which the artwork was produced? Or did they graft the heads of the actors from separate photos on to extras who sat for the bodies? In any event, Andrew McCarthy more than likely had to be photographed making a goofy face. What were the directions he was given?
ART DIRECTOR: Okay Andrew...pretend a beautiful and voluptuous older woman is, oh, I don't know...playing footsie with you...
ANDREW: What's footsie?
ART DIRECTOR: You know, when someone takes their shoes off, in say, a restaurant and rubs their bare feet on you...
ANDREW: Why would someone take their shoes off in a restaurant?
ART DIRECTOR: A waiting room.
ANDREW: That's makes even less sense.
ART DIRECTOR: Okay, you took your shoes off.
ANDREW: Why? Are we in a doctor's office?
ART DIRECTOR: Sure.
ANDREW: Is she a doctor?
ART DIRECTOR: She's your roommate's mother.
ANDREW: Is she seeing the doctor? Is she a patient?
ART DIRECTOR: Just stick your tongue out and cross your eyes.
But really, she should have been a patient. If my recollection of the film is correct, she was like a clinical nymphomaniac or something and this was actually kind of played for laughs.
3 Degrees of Reidyation Aside:
Andrew, we have ZERO degrees of separation! One time in the early 90's I was at this store called EREWHON (or was it Nowhere? Or was Nowhere across the street from Erewhon. And was it on Beverly? Or Melrose? I forget). It was this huge, like "health food" grocery store and there was this section to the left that had a counter, like a deli and it was where you could get, I think it was smoothies. It was super-dupe trendy at the time. And like, they had little shots of wheat grass juice, which they cut fresh and squeezed (mashed?) right before your eyes. I must've been getting a smoothie, because I know I wouldn't have been getting wheat grass juice because that stuff tasted like kissing a cow. In any event, when I was waiting for my smoothie, I turned around and you were behind me! You ordered and then we were both standing there waiting and I, of course, having recognized you, continued to turn and glance, not so subtly. And then you realized that I'd realized who you were and sort of had this non-plussed, bemused, kind of like when a dog tilts it's head and you can tell it's thinking but you're not sure what it's thinking about. But then again, maybe you didn't realize that I realized who you were and you were simply wondering if you should get a shot of wheat grass juice, even though I'm guessing you probably think it tastes like kissing a cow too. And then my drink was ready and I left you standing there because it would've been highly awkward for me to have loitered, particularly when I never would've spoken first, 'cuz that's just me. Or that was just me then. But now, I'd probably say: "Hi Mr. McCarthy! I love your work. Also, did you actually play footsie with Jacqueline Bisset while Rob Lowe sat nearby and pretended not to notice?" Who knows what sort of conversation might've transpired!
ART DIRECTOR: Okay Andrew...pretend a beautiful and voluptuous older woman is, oh, I don't know...playing footsie with you...
ANDREW: What's footsie?
ART DIRECTOR: You know, when someone takes their shoes off, in say, a restaurant and rubs their bare feet on you...
ANDREW: Why would someone take their shoes off in a restaurant?
ART DIRECTOR: A waiting room.
ANDREW: That's makes even less sense.
ART DIRECTOR: Okay, you took your shoes off.
ANDREW: Why? Are we in a doctor's office?
ART DIRECTOR: Sure.
ANDREW: Is she a doctor?
ART DIRECTOR: She's your roommate's mother.
ANDREW: Is she seeing the doctor? Is she a patient?
ART DIRECTOR: Just stick your tongue out and cross your eyes.
But really, she should have been a patient. If my recollection of the film is correct, she was like a clinical nymphomaniac or something and this was actually kind of played for laughs.
3 Degrees of Reidyation Aside:
Andrew, we have ZERO degrees of separation! One time in the early 90's I was at this store called EREWHON (or was it Nowhere? Or was Nowhere across the street from Erewhon. And was it on Beverly? Or Melrose? I forget). It was this huge, like "health food" grocery store and there was this section to the left that had a counter, like a deli and it was where you could get, I think it was smoothies. It was super-dupe trendy at the time. And like, they had little shots of wheat grass juice, which they cut fresh and squeezed (mashed?) right before your eyes. I must've been getting a smoothie, because I know I wouldn't have been getting wheat grass juice because that stuff tasted like kissing a cow. In any event, when I was waiting for my smoothie, I turned around and you were behind me! You ordered and then we were both standing there waiting and I, of course, having recognized you, continued to turn and glance, not so subtly. And then you realized that I'd realized who you were and sort of had this non-plussed, bemused, kind of like when a dog tilts it's head and you can tell it's thinking but you're not sure what it's thinking about. But then again, maybe you didn't realize that I realized who you were and you were simply wondering if you should get a shot of wheat grass juice, even though I'm guessing you probably think it tastes like kissing a cow too. And then my drink was ready and I left you standing there because it would've been highly awkward for me to have loitered, particularly when I never would've spoken first, 'cuz that's just me. Or that was just me then. But now, I'd probably say: "Hi Mr. McCarthy! I love your work. Also, did you actually play footsie with Jacqueline Bisset while Rob Lowe sat nearby and pretended not to notice?" Who knows what sort of conversation might've transpired!
So, this is going to have to be continued in a second installment and then who knows how many more? Because I have a lot more to discuss, re: The Brat Pack. Oh, wait...I mean The Molly Mob. So please see: The Molly Mob or: Part 2 of My Response to Mr. McCarthy.
Ciao!
CFR 6/21/24
Ciao!
CFR 6/21/24