User Reviews

DANGEROUS YOUTH is a typical kind of 'juvenile delinquent' movie of the late '50s, starring real-life pop sensation Frankie Vaughan. He plays one of a gang of tearaways who gets enlisted into the army, only for misfortune to arise through training accidents and rivalry in the barracks. The latter part of the movie features George Baker leading the hunt for an AWOL Vaughan as he flees through the streets with the authorities in pursuit. The cast is very strong here, with good roles for the likes of Kenneth Cope and Michael Ripper, but the story is overly familiar and only mildly diverting. The version I saw was truncated and appeared to be missing a reel at one point.

Frankie Vaughan was 29 when "These dangerous years" was released,a little elderly for a teenage idol,but this was in the days of David Whitfield, Ronnie Hilton,Ruby Murray(yes THAT Ruby Murray - now immortalised in Cockney rhyming slang)Joan Regan and a lot of other perfectly nice but not particularly youthful singers filled the Top Twenty.He was awarded a seven year contract with Anna Neagle/Herbert Wilcox productions,having made his film debut in "Ramsbottom Rides Again" two years earlier."These Dangerous Years" (Allegedly the time between when a young man left school and when he was "called up") was based partly on his own experiences in Liverpool a decade or so previously.He sings "Cold cold shower" and "Isn't this a lovely evening" as well as the title song in the style to which his admirers had become accustomed.He sneers and shows off his well - oiled locks,but is a far from convincing bad boy despite his provenance. "The lady is a square" and "Heart of a man" were no better,but he was half - decent in "Let's make love",but,movie - wise,it all went downhill from then on. With the arrival of Cliff and Tommy and Billy and Marty,Mr Vaughan switched smoothly to "all-round entertainer" status and headlined all round the country for years. "These Dangerous years" is an intriguing record of a time when British Pop was pausing for breath after years of taffeta dresses and white open - necked shirts with cravats before reaching for it's guitar and and crew-neck pullover. Mr Vaughan wasn't what teenagers in 1957 were reaching out for. My father was a great admirer of his,praising his admirable involvement in Boys' Clubs.What neither he nor Mr Vaughan knew was that most boys wouldn't be seen dead in a Boys' Club unless dragged there by a parent. The first Elvis and Gene Vincent records were coming out.After we'd heard "Be - Bop a Lula" we didn't want to play table tennis and drink Tizer.We were no longer happy to have our musical taste imposed on us. When we went out and bought "Heartbreak Hotel" it was our Declaration of Independence,our announcement that we were no longer prepared to be patronised by films like "These Dangerous Years". "Roll over Beethoven" then,and farewell Frankie Vaughan.

A British rock and roll movie? Sure, why not. Tough gang leader and wannabee rock star Dave Wyman ("Mr. Moonlight" Frankie Vaughan) escapes the Liverpool slums - five years before The Beatles would release "Love Me Do" - for military service. Somehow, someway, it turns out that the army life is the life for him. But we wouldn't have a movie if things didn't take a turn.

The camp bully kills Dave's best friend, which means that according to the law of the street, Dave needs to take revenge. He's also in love with his singing partner, which complicates his need for vengeance.

Look for Hammer star Michael Ripper, as well as David McCallum in his first role. But yeah, for a week of movies all about music, this barely qualifies. You have my apologies.