Movies

Whatever happened to the teen movie?

BBG News

One day, while engrossed in a contemporary or perhaps retro John Hughes teen flick (the details have since blurred), I found myself drawing parallels between the bustling high school corridors and the untamed wild west landscapes of classic westerns. It struck me that both settings are essentially lawless arenas where individuals strive to define their own notions of justice. Over a cup of coffee in my New York City abode, I mused aloud about how teen movies, as a genre, could serve as an intriguing lens through which to explore social history and its reflection on different periods in time.

In this piece, we embark on a journey titled “Hollywood High” – a compelling exploration by Handy that delves not only into the realm of teen movies but also into the very essence of teenagers themselves. By charting the evolution of the genre, from the charmingly naive Andy Hardy, the popular character portrayed by Mickey Rooney in his movie series dating back to 1937, to the gritty struggles of Katniss Everdeen in the “Hunger Games” film franchise, Handy (alumnus of 1976) examines the troubled teenagers and the popular crowd, the bookworms and the clique leaders.

During this period, he links the economic buying capacity of the post-World War II generation who later grew into baby boomers with the emergence of a vibrant entertainment industry that catered to and portrayed adolescents. Adolescents had always been present, but they didn’t truly emerge as a distinct demographic until the 20th century. As high school attendance grew, more labor was taken up by adults, leaving teens to form peer groups separate from their families or the streets. In Handy’s words, “Teenagers and teen movies would grow up together.

Originating from Palo Alto and eventually studying at Stanford University, Handy was deeply influenced by the movie “American Graffiti.” Released in 1973, before George Lucas’ famous “Star Wars,” this film painted a picture of the car culture in Central Valley, focusing on recent high school graduates in the summer of 1962. Actors such as Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams portrayed these characters, all grappling with uncertainty about their future. At the time, Handy was a sophomore in high school; even though he hadn’t yet graduated, he recalls feeling a sense of tension associated with that transitional phase of life, which seemed to resonate with him subconsciously. However, what truly captivated him was the movie’s extensive soundtrack filled with rock ‘n’ roll hits from artists like Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, Buddy Holly, and others popular during that era.

Books

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Handy examines significant films, scenes, and characters from teen movies, starting with Rooney, who felt misdefined by the role he played even after his teenage years, a portrayal that contrasted sharply with his real-life persona. One such film is “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955), starring James Dean, which was groundbreaking for its depiction of teens largely unsupervised by adults and capitalized on the widespread fear of youth rebellion in the 1950s. Another example is Sean Penn’s portrayal of Jeff Spicoli, the stereotypical stoner, in the sexually open yet darkly complex “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982). Lastly, there’s Cher, Alicia Silverstone’s character from “Clueless” (1995), who lives a modern-day version of Jane Austen’s novels in Beverly Hills.

The comedy “Cooley High” from 1975 served as a trailblazer for films focusing on Black teenagers, with subsequent productions like “Boyz n the Hood” (1991) following suit. Directed by John Singleton, this dramatic tale of a gang of friends navigating life in South-Central Los Angeles resonated deeply with diverse audiences, offering a rarely portrayed perspective of teenage life on screen. From former California Governor Pete Wilson to Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins, the impact of “Boyz” was profound, mirroring the themes found in the Hardy movies albeit in an unexpected manner, through candid conversations between Laurence Fishburne’s Furious Styles and his character Tre, played by Cuba Gooding Jr.

Movies

Coming soon to a theater near you: “John Hughes in Love.” And why not?

Modern summer blockbusters often cater to teen audiences, particularly teen boys. Unlike in the late ’90s and early 2000s when movies like “She’s All That,” “Cruel Intentions,” “Mean Girls,” and others were popularly known as teen films, these days they are more likely to be categorized as superhero movies or horror flicks. As the author notes, while there are still films that delve into the adolescent male psyche, we no longer refer to them as teen movies; instead, we label them as superhero or horror films. Even horror, once known for titles like “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” (1957), now primarily targets teens, though the titles may have changed.

Teenage characters in films have frequently been misjudged by older adults, yet in hindsight, they appear to have prevailed. Today’s adult-oriented films continue to thrive, but they struggle to compete with the cacophony of productions that dominate the eight screens at your local cinema. Essentially, teen movies are simply a type of movie today, just like any other.

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2025-05-16 13:31

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