Palm Springs Weekend (1963)

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Wow! Star Troy Donahue sings the opening song while the credits roll at the beginning.This is basically another take off of fun filled spring breaks in college.Jack Weston, as the basketball coach, really steals the show with his supposedly tough persona, only to find romance himself while on retreat with the guys.The movie has the usual takes with fun in the swimming pool, the big fight during a swinging party but takes on serious overtones when a spoiled, neglected young man vies for the attention of a girl and almost kills his competitor. There is a serious moment when the guy is forced to look at himself for his actions.

Of course escapism like this shouldn't be compared with anything meaningful. But even by Gidget-type standards, this entry bumps along in unwieldy fashion. That's mainly because a hundred minutes is too long for the erratic material; the humor from Van Dyke is more frantic than funny; while some exterior desert sets are cardboard and worse, look like it. Also, WB inserts about every contract player from TV (Stevens, Hardin, Conrad, Duggan) into the awkward mix, likely accounting for the stretched out run-time. Then too, Donahue, the ostensible star, is likely on WB's downgrade with little to do but stand around and model country club clothes. The movie does manage a few good moments— judo expert Amanda could be a dangerous date, a good impression of Eve Arden from a waspish Naomi, and a winning Ty Hardin as a romantic cowboy. Also, there's a charming little version of Bye, Bye, Blackbird from Hardin and Van Dyke. Anyhow, this sort of teen-age hedonism was about to give way to a Vietnam counter-culture that would soon look nothing like this glossy bon-bon. I confess to a soft spot for the Gidget series, but this lumpy confection unfortunately comes in a poor second. At least the surfing crowd didn't wear uptown suits for every occasion.

This is a mostly wimpy "Palm Springs Weekend" trip to "Where the Boys Are" (1960) territory. The studio stars an attractive cast of slightly long-in-the-tooth "teen idols" from Warner Bros. In case you miss the point, they court MGM lawyers by proclaiming "It's Where the Boys Are and Where the Girls Are" in advertising. From the just concluding youthful TV favorite "Hawaiian Eye" come cuties Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, and Robert Conrad. Hollywood westerners Ty Hardin and Stefanie Powers round out the kissing quintet.You can't completely pan anything with a pre-teen Billy Mumy featured, but this one might make you want to be wished into the cornfield. Don't worry, Mumy's robotic companion Bob May is around to help you out. Mr. Donahue is assigned singing duty on the Elvis-like "Live Young" over the opening credits, which might have given Presley pal Red West déjà vu during "Roustabout" (1964). The Technicolor cast is sprinkled with familiar faces, contract players, and guest stars. Connections to Kevin Bacon should come in few degrees.**** Palm Springs Weekend (11/5/63) Norman Taurog ~ Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Stefanie Powers, Robert Conrad

The nice thing about Palm Springs Weekend is that the film makers did not waste the audiences' and their time with bad language and obscene material like today's film makers do. The plot may not be that original or Oscar material, but then again, not every film is meant to be or should be. However, it is wonderful, free-wheeling, nostalgic fun.I'm a college student and I saw this film for the first time when I was eighteen years old, and it was probably the first teen flick I could watch from beginning to end without having to change channels because of inappropriate content. The film centers around a group of college students and their antics when they converge on a Palm Springs Hotel for spring break. The story has its funny moments, like whenever the kids have run-ins with the local police or when Jerry Van Dyke tries to get people to check out his love machine. Watch out for Bill Mumy in the swimming pool scene. You'll laugh like crazy!The one to see is a young Robert Conrad (why can't there be more young actors like him today?), who's got a big part in this film, even though Troy Donahue got star-billing. This is the perfect film to watch if you're looking for something that's sweet, innocent, and timeless no matter how corrupt and cynical the world has gotten.