Rich kid and party animal Gardner Pruitt III (James Darren), known as "Ding" to his friends, is on the prowl for a new conquest in the form of teenager Sandy Palmer (Pamela Tiffin). In the meantime, Ding's influential grandfather, B.S. Cronin (Robert Middleton) wants to curtail the romance and shut down a popular local college teen hangout.
Sandy's guardians Sid Hoyt (Paul Lynde) and Woody Woodbury (playing himself) get mixed up in the proceedings, with Woody becoming the college kid's hero at the hangout. That sends up a red flag to the college administration, which sends in Dr. Pauline Swenson to investigate allegations of underage drinking.
When the clever kids discover that ex-gangster Grandpa Cronin used to be a bootlegger, they blackmail him into keeping the club open.
The film began as a script called A Young Man's Fancy. The rights were bought by Frank Sinatra's Essex Productions. The title was changed in order to secure funding participation from Pepsi Cola, who changed their slogan from "Be Sociable" (which had been used since 1958) to "Now It's Pepsi For Those Who Think Young".[2] Besides Pepsi, the film featured extensive product placement for Jax Clothing, Baskin-Robbins, Peter Pan swimwear, Buick and Honda.[3][4]Sam Arkoff of AIP later called the use of the title "the most ridiculous, hidebound, stupid concept I can think of. To put a middle aged slogan on a youth picture. What kid would go to see a film called For Those Who Think Young?"[5]
Filming began August 14, 1963 at Paramount Studios.[8] The beach scenes were shot at Mailbu Beach, all in one day.[9]
James Darren's character drives a 1963 Buick Riviera, designed by George Barris.[10]
Music
Jerry Fielding, later famous for his television themes, composed the score for the film.
Mack David and Jerry Livingston wrote "For Those Who Think Love", sung by James Darren over the opening credits.
Bob Denver sings "Ho Daddy, Surf's Up" and "Ho Daddy, Surf's Up (Reprise)."
Jimmy Griffin (later founder member of the 1970s band Bread), performs the song "I'm Gonna Walk All Over This Land", accompanied by Paul Johnson (of The Bel-Airs), Glen Grey and Richard Delvy (both of The Challengers).[11]
References
^"Big Rental Pictures of 1964", Variety, January 6, 1965 p 39. Please note this figure is rentals accruing to distributors not total gross.
^R. A. (February 8, 1961). "Advertising: Epitaph for 'makin' whoopee'". New York Times. ProQuest115359324.
^Everett Aaker, The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013 p 174
^Seidenbaum, A. (October 25, 1963). "'For those who think young' going all out with tie-ins". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest168469513.
^Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd, eds. (1975). "Interview with Sam Arkoff". Kings of the Bs : working within the Hollywood system : an anthology of film history and criticism. E. P. Dutton. p. 265.
^Dorothy Kilgallen (November 3, 1962). "Film bid may defeat carroll's play". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. ProQuest141520312.
^Scheuer, P. K. (March 7, 1963). "Kubrick's sellers takes four parts". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest168347895.
^H. T. (July 6, 1963). "5-day seminar on film editing scheduled to open here oct. 7". New York Times. ProQuest116608352.
^Lisanti, Thomas Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959–1969 McFarland August 24, 2012
^Barris TV and Movie Cars by George Barris, David Fetherston, pages 76–81. ISBN0-7603-0198-0
^It's Party Time: A Musical Appreciation of the Beach Party Genre; by Stephen J. McParland; page 72. ISSN 0810-3461
