The Beatniks

Rating:
Summary: If it's light entertainment you're looking for....
Review: Being an die-hard exploitation movie fan, I have to admit there are very few jd movies I've seen. Although, it is easy to become familiar with the sub-genre after watching just one (take a look at the excellent Brit-flick, BEAT GIRL). I reccomend this film to anyone who wants to enjoy some light, trashy, late-night viewing involving a bunch of teeny-boppers. Tony, a juvinile delinquent and his pals rob a milk-bar. Later on, Tony is discovered by a TV producer and gets a big-time job singing on a popular TV show. His friends get jealous as you'd expect. One of them, Moody (Peter Breck, who later starred in Sam Fuller's SHOCK CORRIDOOR), in the meantime kills the owner of a bar later and gives Tony the blame. Breck, by the way, gives one of the best performances I've ever seen in an exploitation movie; he even provides a lot of intentional humour which keeps this potboiler moving.

Rating:
Summary: Eddie Crane- Superstar...
Review: Eddie Crane (Tony Travis) and his gang of punks are perfectly happy, robbing mom & pop stores and drinking their "gaswater" (aka: booze). One day, a man over-hears Eddie singing along to a record, and decides he just might be the next Fabian (much like Don Sullivan in THE GIANT GILA MONSTER). Well, things seem great for a while, as Eddie is whisked away to meet some big shots, gets a chance to croon on TV, and hooks up with his new agent's secretary, Helen (Joyce Terry), much to the dismay of Eddie's girlfriend, Iris (Karen Kadler). Meanwhile, Eddie's pal Mooney (Peter "The Crawling Hand" Breck) goes increasingly looney, in what may be the greatest single example of over-acting in cinema history! Still, he's a hoot to watch, and his dialogue is priceless! Mooney kills a bartender for no real reason (he's crazy doncha know?) and almost derails Eddie's shot at the big time. Will Eddie be able to ditch his "circle of fiends" in order to make it in the music biz? Will he find true love? Will someone please explain the title of this flick, since there's nary a sandle nor bongo drum in the whole thing?? Should've been called, "Hoodlums" or "Punks" or "How To Go From Being A Crook To Superstardom Without Really Trying!" I love these 50s delinquent movies! Crazy man, crazy! ...

Rating:
Summary: Eddie Crane- Superstar...
Review: Eddie Crane (Tony Travis) and his gang of punks are perfectly happy, robbing mom & pop stores and drinking their "gaswater" (aka: booze). One day, a man over-hears Eddie singing along to a record, and decides he just might be the next Fabian (much like Don Sullivan in THE GIANT GILA MONSTER). Well, things seem great for a while, as Eddie is whisked away to meet some big shots, gets a chance to croon on TV, and hooks up with his new agent's secretary, Helen (Joyce Terry), much to the dismay of Eddie's girlfriend, Iris (Karen Kadler). Meanwhile, Eddie's pal Mooney (Peter "The Crawling Hand" Breck) goes increasingly looney, in what may be the greatest single example of over-acting in cinema history! Still, he's a hoot to watch, and his dialogue is priceless! Mooney kills a bartender for no real reason (he's crazy doncha know?) and almost derails Eddie's shot at the big time. Will Eddie be able to ditch his "circle of fiends" in order to make it in the music biz? Will he find true love? Will someone please explain the title of this flick, since there's nary a sandle nor bongo drum in the whole thing?? Should've been called, "Hoodlums" or "Punks" or "How To Go From Being A Crook To Superstardom Without Really Trying!" I love these 50s delinquent movies! Crazy man, crazy! ...