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Movie: Wild in the Streets (1968)Christopher Jones, Shelley Winters Star in Far-Out Sixties Film
Christopher Jones is rock star Max Frost, who becomes President of the United States in Wild in the Streets. Shelley Winters, Hal Holbrook and Diane Varsi co-star.
The Sixties produced some far-out films, man. Resting near the top of the list is Amercian International Pictures' Wild in the Streets, a 1968 political fantasy flick in which a young rock idol ascends to the presidency. Christopher Jones plays the rock-on President, with Shelley Winters, Hal Holbrook, Diane Varsi and Richard Pryor in psychedelic support. Based on the Short Story by Robert ThomWild in the Streets was based on the short story "The Day It All Happened, Baby" by Robert Thom (1929-1979), which first appeared in the December 1966 issue of Esquire magazine. The story was later expanded into a novel by Thom and released as a movie tie-in paperback titled Wild in the Streets (Pyramid, 1968). Screenplay, Director, MusicRobert Thom adapted his story for American International Pictures. Directing was Barry Shear, whose previous credits were in the television field (Daniel Boone, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Tarzan). Les Baxter created the original music score. The movie's soundtrack is considered a powerhouse of psychedelic '60s songs penned by Baxter, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Guy Hemric. Among the entries: "Free Lovin'" (The 13th Power), "Wild in the Streets" (Jerry Howard), "Psychedelic Senate" (The Senators) and "Shelley in Camp" (The Gurus). The single, "Shape of Things to Come" by the studio band Max Frost and the Troopers (Tower 419), later rose to #22 on the Billboard charts in September 1968. Wild in the Streets CastChristopher Jones has the starring role of 19-year-old Max Jacob Flatow Jr. (a.k.a. Max Frost). Other cast members include Shelley Winters (Daphne Flatow), Diane Varsi (Sally LeRoy), Hal Holbrook (Senator Johnny Fergus), Millie Perkins (Mary Fergus), Richard Pryor (Stanley X), Bert Freed (Max Flatow Sr.), Kevin Coughlin (15-year-old Yale law grad Billy Cage), Larry Bishop (The Hook/Abraham Salteen), Ed Begley Sr. (Senator Allbright) and Barry Williams (Young Max). Narrated by Paul Frees, the film also features cameo appearances by Dick Clark, Walter Winchell and lawyer Melvin Belli. Budget, Filming LocationsBudgeted at $1 million, Wild in the Streets was filmed in California. Some background exterior scenes were shot in Washington, D.C. Shape of Things to ComeWild in the Streets chronicles the meteoric rise of the fictional super rock band Max Frost and the Troopers. Sensing political opportunity, California U.S. Senate hopeful Johnny Fergus befriends the rising group, asking them to play at his televised campaign rally. Fergus has come out in favor of lowering the voting age to eighteen, but Max Frost proposes something even more radical, calling for a minimum age of fourteen in a new song he calls "Fourteen or Fight!" Fergus wins in a landslide, with Max continuing to exert his enormous political influence. Band member Sally LeRoy becomes a Congresswoman, the voting age is lowered to 14 after Max and his minions spike the Washington water supply with LSD and Max himself later becomes President. The Max Frost movement gains momentum worldwide, even in Red China, whose rebellious youth adopt the protest song "Don't Want to Be No Yellow Peril." Release, ReviewsWild in the Streets hit movie theaters on May 29, 1968. "Blunt, a little preachy...the movie is philosophy with dual exhausts..." opined Renata Adler and Vincent Canby of The New York Times (5/30/68). DVDWild in the Streets -- winner of a Best Film Editing Oscar -- is available on DVD from MGM (2005). "I'm young! I'm young! I'm VERY young!" Shelley Winters pleads. Not in this movie you ain't, dear.
The copyright of the article Movie: Wild in the Streets (1968) in Film Dramas is owned by William J. Felchner. Permission to republish Movie: Wild in the Streets (1968) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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