Ok boys and girls it's time for some Strolling fun, so pack up the Coppetone and let's head on down Fort Lauderdale Florida for Spring break!
"WHERE THE BOYS ARE"
The screenplay was based on the novel Where the Boys Are by Glendon Swarthout (New York, 1960).
It was also the film debut for
Connie Francis and Paula Prentis.
The working title for this film was "The Unholy Spring". Voice-over narration preceding the opening credits introduces Fort Lauderdale, FL and explains that over 20,000 college students flock to the tropical vacation destination during the two weeks of spring break, turning the area into a "sizeable chunk of bedlam."
Joe Pasternak cast mostly unknown younger actors in the film, in an attempt to change the control large stars had over the movie industry. Neil Sedaka, a name I'm sure you recognize was the composer of the title song which of course we know turned out to be a big hit for Connie Francis.
(When I saw her a few years ago in concert she sang it much to my delight and she still sounded great!)
Joe Pasternak cast mostly unknown younger actors in the film, in an attempt to change the control large stars had over the movie industry. Neil Sedaka, a name I'm sure you recognize was the composer of the title song which of course we know turned out to be a big hit for Connie Francis.
(When I saw her a few years ago in concert she sang it much to my delight and she still sounded great!)
Four very different college girls drive to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for spring break and seek out various adventures and romance for themselves. The movie is one of my all time favorites and if you've never seen it, where the heck have you been? Even though it's still cold up here in the North this one is sure to warm you up and get you in the mood for your own Spring Break fun.
Being from Florida originally I am also glad for the brief trip to my home state and yes the 60's looks just like it did when I was growing up. In 1960 I was 8 years old and couldn't wait to be able to tease my hair up and wear make up like the older girls on my block.
Last year was the 50th anniversary of the film and Fort Lauderdale found out that Connie Francis still knows how to make an entrance! Riding in a vintage red Cadillac convertible, the star of the 1960 classic movie "Where The Boys Are" returned to Fort Lauderdale Beach to announce plans for the “Great American Beach Party,”
a major special event that celebrated the film’s 50th Anniversary.
(Darn! Sorry I missed it.)
Even though Fort Lauderdale had been popular for Spring Break, the movie boosted it's popularity and made it the place to be. When Connie Francis was filming "Where The Boys Are" in 1960, Fort Lauderdale played host to about 13,000 college students on Spring Break. They stayed at the Marlin Beach, Pier 66 or the Yankee Clipper Hotels. After the January 1, 1961 world premier at the Gateway Theatre in Fort Lauderdale and simultaneously at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, where it broke all previous records; the movie captured the imagination of the nation. It made such an impact that the number of 1961 Spring Breakers exceeded 100,000 people!
If you can't go to Florida for Spring Break this might be the next best thing.
Strolling Down Memory Lane with Candy Main Page