I suppose there is some point to be made here about classic Liberal values, but the point is put across so ham-fistedly and lead-footedly that you almost want to side with the outraged squares (represented by Elisha Cook) who supposedly want to tar and feather Steve Allen's protagonist professor character and run him out of town.
For me, the true moment of hogwash is the "porno movie" scene at the prof's beachside playhouse. When the supposed stag film that has been edited into Steve's innocent home movies comes on the screen, all the students get disgusted and walk out! YEAH, RIGHT! Even in 1959, I'm sure college students would not be averse to watching ancient "pornography," since most of the stuff from that era is so tame it looks like a current Victoria's Secret TV commercial that plays at any hour of the day. And then he's charged with "corrupting the morals of a minor." Shut up! All of these people were over 18, which means that they were all ADULTS (okay, perhaps a few were under 18, but only just...we're not talking about children here).
Then comes the final "courtroom" (aka general store) scene, which as usual in bad movies, contains endless pompous and self-righteous speechifying disguised as Weighty Pronouncements. UGH!
Steve's character did make one important point at the end though...if this could happen now, what chance do men of science and enlightenment have in the future against the will of the ignorant mob? With today's current political situation in mind, not much chance, Steve, not much. With that in mind, I hereby elevate the movie's rating, but only just, from a 1 to a 2.
That's the highest I can rate this turkey in good conscience.
On a final positive note, this movie does feature Woo Woo Grabowski, who has the best stage name this side of Whoopi Goldberg. No extra points for that though.
For me, the true moment of hogwash is the "porno movie" scene at the prof's beachside playhouse. When the supposed stag film that has been edited into Steve's innocent home movies comes on the screen, all the students get disgusted and walk out! YEAH, RIGHT! Even in 1959, I'm sure college students would not be averse to watching ancient "pornography," since most of the stuff from that era is so tame it looks like a current Victoria's Secret TV commercial that plays at any hour of the day. And then he's charged with "corrupting the morals of a minor." Shut up! All of these people were over 18, which means that they were all ADULTS (okay, perhaps a few were under 18, but only just...we're not talking about children here).
Then comes the final "courtroom" (aka general store) scene, which as usual in bad movies, contains endless pompous and self-righteous speechifying disguised as Weighty Pronouncements. UGH!
Steve's character did make one important point at the end though...if this could happen now, what chance do men of science and enlightenment have in the future against the will of the ignorant mob? With today's current political situation in mind, not much chance, Steve, not much. With that in mind, I hereby elevate the movie's rating, but only just, from a 1 to a 2.
That's the highest I can rate this turkey in good conscience.
On a final positive note, this movie does feature Woo Woo Grabowski, who has the best stage name this side of Whoopi Goldberg. No extra points for that though.