This movie was made at a crucial point in American history. In the late 50's and early 60's the sexual revolution was drastically changing the face of American culture, and this film was a commentary on the dark side of the sexual revolution, but yet offered hope that life could still go on.
Modern psychology has recently shown that divorce has devastating effects on children of all ages. This movie shows one aspect of that with the teenagers. When it is discovered that his mom is cheating with her dad, and that they are planning to get divorced, the devastation in the children's' lives is made very plain. Don't get me wrong, both of the parents that were left single by the divorce had their faults, and this is clearly shown, but their children paid for their decision to desert their responsibilities. Both children suffer a great deal of disillusionment, and reject their parents entirely for a time.
The kids are shown as torn between what they know to be the right, sensible thing to do, and what their young passions are yearning to do. Initially, they are prevailed upon to be reserved, but their loss of respect for their parents causes them to both be less reserved, and also more needy of each other. An unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation gives the teens opportunity to have a full-on fling that ends in an unplanned pregnancy, and their need for parental consent for their marriage drives them to reconcile with 3 out of 4 of their parents.
Regret and consequences are plainly shown toward the end of this movie. After the two are known to have been "too involved," the adulterous parents are discussing what to do, and his mother expresses concern about a deeper love that is different from passion, and more important. At one point after she knows she is pregnant, he says that he thinks her dad is going to beat him up, and he rather hopes that he does.
The personal suffering that unwise decisions bring is clearly portrayed to someone who is paying attention, yet hope is also obviously present. A partial reconciliation occurs, and we're left to believe that what began badly for the kids will end fairly well. It is in no way a depressing movie, but clear warnings are present nonetheless.
Some of the reviews led me to believe that this was a really morally repugnant movie, doing nothing but promoting sex, but I think that this is a relatively balanced look at the real pain that divorce and teenage "messing around" can bring. It is not outlandishly sexual, though it was bold for the time. Some of the lines are unconvincing, but overall it's a well-made movie, and an excellent piece of social commentary that is even more relevant today than it was in 1959.
Modern psychology has recently shown that divorce has devastating effects on children of all ages. This movie shows one aspect of that with the teenagers. When it is discovered that his mom is cheating with her dad, and that they are planning to get divorced, the devastation in the children's' lives is made very plain. Don't get me wrong, both of the parents that were left single by the divorce had their faults, and this is clearly shown, but their children paid for their decision to desert their responsibilities. Both children suffer a great deal of disillusionment, and reject their parents entirely for a time.
The kids are shown as torn between what they know to be the right, sensible thing to do, and what their young passions are yearning to do. Initially, they are prevailed upon to be reserved, but their loss of respect for their parents causes them to both be less reserved, and also more needy of each other. An unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation gives the teens opportunity to have a full-on fling that ends in an unplanned pregnancy, and their need for parental consent for their marriage drives them to reconcile with 3 out of 4 of their parents.
Regret and consequences are plainly shown toward the end of this movie. After the two are known to have been "too involved," the adulterous parents are discussing what to do, and his mother expresses concern about a deeper love that is different from passion, and more important. At one point after she knows she is pregnant, he says that he thinks her dad is going to beat him up, and he rather hopes that he does.
The personal suffering that unwise decisions bring is clearly portrayed to someone who is paying attention, yet hope is also obviously present. A partial reconciliation occurs, and we're left to believe that what began badly for the kids will end fairly well. It is in no way a depressing movie, but clear warnings are present nonetheless.
Some of the reviews led me to believe that this was a really morally repugnant movie, doing nothing but promoting sex, but I think that this is a relatively balanced look at the real pain that divorce and teenage "messing around" can bring. It is not outlandishly sexual, though it was bold for the time. Some of the lines are unconvincing, but overall it's a well-made movie, and an excellent piece of social commentary that is even more relevant today than it was in 1959.