Saw a Takashi Miike picture called The Great Yokai War. "Yokai" is a Japanese term for monsters from folklore, as opposed to the more familiar kaiju. It's a kids' picture, about a young boy from Tokyo sent out to live in the countryside with his older sister and his intermittently senile grandfather. When a vengeful spirit appears, the boy gets caught up in a war between warring groups of yokai and must find his courage to become the "Kirin Rider", the hero who will set everything to rights. It's not a bad picture - nothing deep, but an amusing story. Some of the yokai are really trippy, Japanese folklore can get pretty "out there", apparently.
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The 70s were a kind of golden age of road movies, ranging from the thoughtful to the stupid. For my money, the great, fun, dumb-af road/chase movie of the 70s.... actually, a possible tie, between Gumball Rally and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry. The former has a broader range of characters, so you might find one with whom you can relate. The latter definitely wins the "dumb-af" category.
The Backspot (2023): a watchable and well-acted Canadian film about queer teen competitive cheerleaders (predictably played by actors too old for their characters). Evan Rachel Wood has a supporting role as a coach and Devery Jacobs (of Reservation Dogs) as a lead, the two reasons I heard about it. The performance footage is excellent; they clearly use top-notch stand-ins and extras. It also tries to show queer teens who live with families and friends for whom their orientation is a non-issue. The movie itself is.... okay, a blend of elements that work and others that don't.
If you want to see a queer coming-of-age film about cheerleaders that isn't But I'm a Cheerleader, this would be the movie to see.
Ride the Wild Surf (1964): every studio made one movie in the mid-1960s to cash in on the Beach Party movies and Where the Boys Are, typically with higher production values. This one has Fabian, alongside Tab Hunter, James Mitchum, Barbara Eden, and other people whose identification as college-age challenges the willing suspension of disbelief. Mediocre romance-drama-comedy (better than Frankie and Annette, but trying way too hard to be serious), saved somewhat by excellent surf footage. Notes: (1) there is one actual Hawaiian among the surf bros, and a supporting Chinese character played by an actual Chinese-American actor-- so, I guess, progressive for a mainstream film in 1964, (2) Jan & Dean sing the title track, and, apparently, were supposed to appear as surfers in the film. They were apparently replaced because Dean was connected to one of the perpetrators in the Sinatra kidnapping. Some of you would know more about this.
Unless you want to see another surf/beach movie from this era, I wouldn't recommend it.
One reason teenage characters seem to be routinely played by late-twenties to thirtyish actors is probably the changes in work rules. I recently watched the four Nancy Drew movies that starred Bonita Granville:
I recently learned that the movies from that period that were slightly over one hour were intended to be the second feature in a double bill. This is where the term “B movies” originated. The main feature was the “A movie” and would be a normal length.
I had seen Bonita Granville as a supporting actor in another movie and was curious about her Nancy Drew performance. I only intended to watch the first one, but they were all well done.
She and her platonic male friend, Ted Nickerson, work together. He really should have said no after their first pairing because he typically regreted it. The surprising thing was that the actors were the same ages as their characters, she: 15 and he: 17. Four movies in a year's time. There had to be long hours and some dangerous stunts. Minors today wouldn’t be allowed to do this. Hence, older actors playing minors.
JD DeLuzio > Richard WillisJune 29, 2026 at 7:42am
As we've discussed before, I know the reasons. But the extra money required for tutors and hour restrictions is so often worth it in results, especially when the show or film is trying to be realistic and hard-hitting. The Degrassi series used real kids, and it gave it a power that worked even when the ep was extra-cheesy or the actors could have been better. Likewise Christiane F., which I mentioned a few posts back (though those actors were asked to do a few things they probably shouldn't have) or the 70s cult classic, Over the Edge. Or The Tale, and that was 2018 (warning: a very disturbing but well-made film about serious issues).
Kids often act in kid films without it being an issue. It has more to do with the filmmakers not wanting to shell out the extra money to ensure that reasonable restrictions and limitation are followed with minors. As you say, they didn't have to do that in the day, and the results were often catastrophic.
Good point about B movies, which we misue to mean "Bad movie" now. They often went places and explored issues that the big pictures would not, because they weren't taken that seriously. Anna May Wong shifted to b-films later in her career because they allowed her to play interesting and non-stereotypical roles.
I saw the 1939 Hidden Staircase. It was good for what it was, though I didn't think about the actors' ages at the time. And four movies in two years wouldn't be any more work than being a kid on a contemporary TV show. As you note, though, there are stunts, and I doubt that a B-film could afford doubles.
On Father's Day, the Regal movie theater chain offered a 25th anniversary screening of Ocean's Eleven, so we went. I've seen it many times but not on a big screen since it debuted. It's as thrilling as ever, sweeping you along with all the nonsense and plot holes and to the crux of the story. As Ed McBain often wrote in this 87th Precinct novels, there are only two motives for a crime: love or money.
So , when Tess is presented with the knowledge that casino owner Terry Benedict would stop competing for her affections if he could get back the $160 million stolen from him, my only thought was, if I was in his shoes, "Deal." I would without a second's hesitation give up Julia Roberts for $160 million. If it was Halle Berry or Meagan Good or Pam Grier in her prime or Raquel Welch or Sophia Loren at any age, that would a hard call. But Julia Roberts? I'd be lining up the Brinks truck before Danny stopped talking.
"BRAIN TRILOGY": A couple of days ago, Tracy watched Donovan's Brain. Last night she followed it up with The Man With Two Brains (which made for an interersting "double feature"). I suggested The Brain That Wouldn't Die (which we have seen before but she doesn't remember). We may watch it tonight.
The Baron > Jeff of Earth-JJuly 4, 2026 at 12:57pm
A couple of days ago, Tracy watched Donovan's Brain.
Interesting picture. A chance to see the acting chops of a young Nancy Davis (later Reagan).
VIVA LAS VEGAS: Ann-Margret gets the opportunity to perform with IRL "Conrad Birdie."
And we did watch The Brain That Wouldn't Die as well. when I wasked her MST3K or straight, she chose straight because "on MST3K they talk over the dialogue."
Replies
She wants deliverance from Burt Reynolds movies?
The 70s were a kind of golden age of road movies, ranging from the thoughtful to the stupid. For my money, the great, fun, dumb-af road/chase movie of the 70s.... actually, a possible tie, between Gumball Rally and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry. The former has a broader range of characters, so you might find one with whom you can relate. The latter definitely wins the "dumb-af" category.
Two mediocre recommendations:
The Backspot (2023): a watchable and well-acted Canadian film about queer teen competitive cheerleaders (predictably played by actors too old for their characters). Evan Rachel Wood has a supporting role as a coach and Devery Jacobs (of Reservation Dogs) as a lead, the two reasons I heard about it. The performance footage is excellent; they clearly use top-notch stand-ins and extras. It also tries to show queer teens who live with families and friends for whom their orientation is a non-issue. The movie itself is.... okay, a blend of elements that work and others that don't.
If you want to see a queer coming-of-age film about cheerleaders that isn't But I'm a Cheerleader, this would be the movie to see.
Ride the Wild Surf (1964): every studio made one movie in the mid-1960s to cash in on the Beach Party movies and Where the Boys Are, typically with higher production values. This one has Fabian, alongside Tab Hunter, James Mitchum, Barbara Eden, and other people whose identification as college-age challenges the willing suspension of disbelief. Mediocre romance-drama-comedy (better than Frankie and Annette, but trying way too hard to be serious), saved somewhat by excellent surf footage. Notes: (1) there is one actual Hawaiian among the surf bros, and a supporting Chinese character played by an actual Chinese-American actor-- so, I guess, progressive for a mainstream film in 1964, (2) Jan & Dean sing the title track, and, apparently, were supposed to appear as surfers in the film. They were apparently replaced because Dean was connected to one of the perpetrators in the Sinatra kidnapping. Some of you would know more about this.
Unless you want to see another surf/beach movie from this era, I wouldn't recommend it.
One reason teenage characters seem to be routinely played by late-twenties to thirtyish actors is probably the changes in work rules. I recently watched the four Nancy Drew movies that starred Bonita Granville:
Nancy Drew… Detective (1938) 1h 6m
Nancy Drew... Reporter (1939) 1h 8m
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939)1h 8m
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939) 1h
I recently learned that the movies from that period that were slightly over one hour were intended to be the second feature in a double bill. This is where the term “B movies” originated. The main feature was the “A movie” and would be a normal length.
I had seen Bonita Granville as a supporting actor in another movie and was curious about her Nancy Drew performance. I only intended to watch the first one, but they were all well done.
She and her platonic male friend, Ted Nickerson, work together. He really should have said no after their first pairing because he typically regreted it.
The surprising thing was that the actors were the same ages as their characters, she: 15 and he: 17. Four movies in a year's time. There had to be long hours and some dangerous stunts. Minors today wouldn’t be allowed to do this. Hence, older actors playing minors.
As we've discussed before, I know the reasons. But the extra money required for tutors and hour restrictions is so often worth it in results, especially when the show or film is trying to be realistic and hard-hitting. The Degrassi series used real kids, and it gave it a power that worked even when the ep was extra-cheesy or the actors could have been better. Likewise Christiane F., which I mentioned a few posts back (though those actors were asked to do a few things they probably shouldn't have) or the 70s cult classic, Over the Edge. Or The Tale, and that was 2018 (warning: a very disturbing but well-made film about serious issues).
Kids often act in kid films without it being an issue. It has more to do with the filmmakers not wanting to shell out the extra money to ensure that reasonable restrictions and limitation are followed with minors. As you say, they didn't have to do that in the day, and the results were often catastrophic.
Good point about B movies, which we misue to mean "Bad movie" now. They often went places and explored issues that the big pictures would not, because they weren't taken that seriously. Anna May Wong shifted to b-films later in her career because they allowed her to play interesting and non-stereotypical roles.
I saw the 1939 Hidden Staircase. It was good for what it was, though I didn't think about the actors' ages at the time. And four movies in two years wouldn't be any more work than being a kid on a contemporary TV show. As you note, though, there are stunts, and I doubt that a B-film could afford doubles.
On Father's Day, the Regal movie theater chain offered a 25th anniversary screening of Ocean's Eleven, so we went. I've seen it many times but not on a big screen since it debuted. It's as thrilling as ever, sweeping you along with all the nonsense and plot holes and to the crux of the story. As Ed McBain often wrote in this 87th Precinct novels, there are only two motives for a crime: love or money.
So
, when Tess is presented with the knowledge that casino owner Terry Benedict would stop competing for her affections if he could get back the $160 million stolen from him, my only thought was, if I was in his shoes, "Deal." I would without a second's hesitation give up Julia Roberts for $160 million. If it was Halle Berry or Meagan Good or Pam Grier in her prime or Raquel Welch or Sophia Loren at any age, that would a hard call. But Julia Roberts? I'd be lining up the Brinks truck before Danny stopped talking.
Well it wasn't "Pretty Woman" Julia Roberts but I felt bad for her! She was the only woman in the cast but the fifth prettiest person in the movie!
"BRAIN TRILOGY": A couple of days ago, Tracy watched Donovan's Brain. Last night she followed it up with The Man With Two Brains (which made for an interersting "double feature"). I suggested The Brain That Wouldn't Die (which we have seen before but she doesn't remember). We may watch it tonight.
A couple of days ago, Tracy watched Donovan's Brain.
Interesting picture. A chance to see the acting chops of a young Nancy Davis (later Reagan).
I've seen Nancy in a few movies. She was a good actress, but not a great one. Her future husband was pretty good at making one forget who he was.
VIVA LAS VEGAS: Ann-Margret gets the opportunity to perform with IRL "Conrad Birdie."
And we did watch The Brain That Wouldn't Die as well. when I wasked her MST3K or straight, she chose straight because "on MST3K they talk over the dialogue."
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