Untamed Youth

The story of an unscrupulous cotton farm owner who uses the local correction system for his personal profit, the focus of "Untamed Youth" is really the unbridled sexuality of rock and roll, then in its infancy.

Consider this tagline: "Starring the girl built like a platinum powerhouse-- Mamie Van Doren." The film offers some scenes of rock and roll dancing awkwardly shoehorned into the scenes of dramatic social injustice. And those scenes of dancing are not bad, despite the corny gyrations of Van Doren. The story as a whole is a mess.

Best viewed as a novelty, "Untamed Youth" fits perfectly into the genre of low-grade drive-in movie fare.

On their way to seek fame and fortune in Los Angeles, top-heavy singer Mamie Van Doren (as Penny Lowe) and her guitar-strumming accomplice Lori Nelson (as Janey Lowe) are caught hitch-hiking. The sisters are brought before a small-town southern judge. Apparently, filmmakers decided the shapely pair would be more alluring skinny-dipping than hitch-hiking, so this is how the film opens. The script says hitching, but the visual suggests nudity (of course, their naughtiest body parts are hidden). Looking sexy and sexier, Ms. Nelson and Ms. Van Doren are sentenced to pick cotton on a farm...

They are treated very poorly by dastardly John Russell (as Russ Tropp). He is secretly involved with matronly judge Lurene Tuttle (as Cecilia Steele). Her handsome son Don Burnett (as Bob Steele) arrives to set things right and romance Ms. Nelson. "Untamed Youth" features a tightly-attired, ample-bodied and highly arousing Ms. Van Doren. She sings pseudo-rock 'n' roll in a slip, swinging and swiveling. The soundtrack highlight is Eddie Cochran (as Bongo) performing Les Baxter's derivative "Cotton-picker". The song arrangement doesn't really rock, but Mr. Cochran makes it seem authentic.

***** Untamed Youth (5/10/57) Howard W. Koch ~ Mamie Van Doren, Lori Nelson, John Russell, Don Burnett

When the film begins, a cop comes upon two sexy sisters skinny dipping. When taken to court for this, it becomes obvious that the arrest was part of a scam to get free labor at a local cotton farm. Once sentenced to this work farm, the women (Mamie Van Doren and Lori Nelson) see that it's practically slave labor...and the 'pay' they are to receive is next to nothing....and they feed them dog food! Can anything be done to stop this obvious abuse of power?

This is a weird film. It easily could have been a great exposee film. However, instead of just focusing on this work farm, the film ALSO is a rock 'n roll flick....and seeing folks picking cotton and singing rock is surreal to say the least...as well as a bit ridiculous! After all, they are worked like dogs all day yet somehow have the energy to rock all night long!! Too bad most of the singing wasn't all that great.

So is it any good? Well, it is entertaining though not exactly subtle! And, because the Catholic Legion of Decency panned the film because of its overtly sexual plot...lots of Catholics lined up to see it! Regardless, the picture made a lot of money...so Warner Brothers got the last laugh! But overall, it's not an especially good film due to its strange combination of exposee and second-rate rock....it just didn't make a lot of sense. It would have been much better with less rock and less cheesecake and more on the abuse of power. Overall, an enjoyable 'trash' film that might also make you laugh at times....but not a particularly good movie.

By the way, if you do watch this film, get a load of that final number about the Calypso! It's hilarious!!

As awful as most of the musical numbers are, it's great to see Eddie Cochran performing!

Mamie Van Doren is pretty good in this movie, as corny as it is. John Russell is great as the jerk ranch owner; very convincing bad guy.

In UNTAMED YOUTH, Mamie Van Doren and Lori Nelson play sisters who are arrested on bogus charges, and hustled off to a work farm. Said farm is run by the odious Russ Tropp (John Russell), who -shockingly- cashes in on the labor of his captives.

Absolutely absurd from start to finish, this movie is still highly entertaining. Ms. Van Doren sings, dances, and prances her way into our hearts, all while Tropp devilishly plans to make her his new "housekeeper". In between the various dance parties, crimes are committed and one poor woman dies. Ah well, at least the jukebox keeps working!

If you enjoy your juvenile delinquent / women's work farm movies loaded with music and mirth, you can't go wrong with UNTAMED YOUTH...