Chubasco le rebelle

After nearly 40 years of seeing the beginning of this movie which took place on a beach with the police arresting the leading man (Christopher Jones), I finally got to see most of this on a DVD that I borrowed from my local library. I said most because the disc I watched it on skipped some scenes at the beginning and in the middle taking place on an island with Ann Sothern as the bar owner. Susan Strasberg is Jones' girlfriend in the film and was married to him in real life at the time. They have a sweet chemistry throughout and Ms. Strasberg was perhaps at her most beautiful here (though the only other film of hers from this period I managed to watch was Psych-Out where she was also radiant there). Richard Egan was suitably aggressive as her father who isn't above punching some blows to Jones but eventually...well, watch the film if you want to know. So on that note, I say give Chubasco a look if you're curious enough.

Christopher George is Chubasco, a hot-blooded son of a son of a fisherman who takes a sock at a cop and gets a choice: jail, or a job on a fishing trawler. There, he turns out to be a good man, with a pair of eyes that can spot the porpoises that betoken tuna, but bad luck for those around him; one of his skippers drops dead and when he ships unknowingly with the father of Susan Strasberg, with whom he has eloped, sparks fly.

Mostly, it's an okay coming-of-age story with some old Hollywood hands to keep fans of old movies like me happy: Richard Egan, Audrey Totter, Preston Foster and Ann Southern all have good roles, and Paul Ivano offers some good documentary-style footage the first time we see the nets released. On the down side, William Lava, the bane of all cartoon lovers (no fault of his, really; he just had no budget) offers a syrupy and overwrought score that has aged very poorly.

While not as well-made, or as acclaimed, there were obvious similarities between "Chubasco" & "Rebel Without A Cause." Mainly due to its star, Christopher Jones, a self-admitted Dean fanatic who beared remarkable resemblance to Dean. Jones was soon hailed as the "next James Dean" of his generation. Unfortunately, his promising career never rose above expectations. Regardless, all the Deanerisms can clearly be seen in his seminal performance. It also didn't hurt to have the daughter of Lee Strasberg as his co-star. Ultimately lending further credence to the uncanny resemblance/career path of Jones. Can only recommend to Deaners and/or curiosity seekers. Hard to come by outside of commercial t.v.

There were a lot of movies in the sixties which were built around the catchphrase "He's not bad, daddy, he's just misunderstood!" They mostly stereotyped the young as well-meaning and virtuous, trying to find their place in the world, and the oldies who came down heavy on them as ignorant, insensitive, authority figures who judged them harshly, and who wouldn't listen.

Although this movie is certainly strongly representative of that group of films, and is completely predictable, you'd be doing yourself a grave disservice if you let that fact stop you from viewing it, because this film has so much to recommend it.

The movie opens at a beach-blanket party (where else!) where hoons on motorbikes terrorise the innocent young virgins around the campfire, and our fearless young hero (played by Christopher Jones) springs to the defence of the girls! Unfortunately, the police arrive, he accidentally thumps one of them in the scuffle, and the stage is set for the misunderstanding of the oldies versus the innocent but oppressed teenagers! Just when you thought a quick word of explanation would clear the whole matter up, too!

However, there are some genuinely touching moments in the film, like when the old grandma holds our young hero in her arms and begins to softly sing a lullaby. That was such a beautiful moment, I'm sure I'll see the film again whenever I can. And there are so many other equally good moments throughout this film, that you really shouldn't miss an opportunity to see it, either.

Christopher Jones does his best to look, sound, and act like James Dean in this movie, and a very good job he does of it, too! Richard Egan is perfect as the misunderstanding father who is strong and protective of his "little girl", but who shows his vulnerable side as well.

Susan Strasberg is a fine actress who never got a role that was suitable for showcasing her acting skills, and in this movie she's mostly off-screen as one of the women whose idea of fulfilment is waiting for their men to come home from the sea! (Well, I told you it was dated!) Audrey Totter, who plays the grandma, even delivers the line "If I had no men to wait for, I would not live to see the sun come up!"

In this movie, Strasberg plays the hero's girlfriend. She's supposed to be a teenager, yet she looks like she's in her late thirties! (She was actually thirty at the time). When she calls Richard Egan "daddy", it jars, because she's easily old enough to be his wife!

Ann Sothern, who was so pretty and who gave us so many great films when she was young, plays the blowsy, aging, overweight Angela, a good-hearted barmaid who befriends the young couple and looks after them. What a fine actress she is!

Although the directing is merely competent, the film stands out as a milestone among films of its type, because of the great acting performances, the strong character development, the film's appealing humanity and compassion, and those wonderful moving moments which make the film soar above its stereotypical foundations!

Christopher Jones and Susan Strasberg where married when they made this movie. Susan was going through the same hardships at home with her real life father (Lee Strasberg) as she was going through with her father in the movie Richard Egan, (another great actor). This movie is a most see for young lovers who have everything going against them; just as Susan and Christopher had in real life. If you are a fan of Susan Strasberg who recently died and/or of the struggling Christopher Jones from Wild in the Streets and Ryan's Daughter fame - you must see this move. You'll love it for being a timepiece.