{"id":2054,"date":"2006-12-21T20:04:32","date_gmt":"2006-12-22T03:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2054"},"modified":"2021-01-18T22:23:24","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T05:23:24","slug":"explosive-generation-the-1961","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2054","title":{"rendered":"Explosive Generation, The (1961)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I asked if it was wrong for a girl to prove to a boy exactly how much she loved him.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-28495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Poster.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a high school teacher (William Shatner) allows his class to talk openly about sex, his job is jeopardized; but his well-meaning students refuse to let him to be punished for something they initiated.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Beau Bridges Films<\/li>\n<li>Collective Action<\/li>\n<li>Generation Gap<\/li>\n<li>High School<\/li>\n<li>Sexuality<\/li>\n<li>Teachers<\/li>\n<li>Teenagers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis unfairly maligned &#8220;youth picture&#8221; &#8212; which could easily have been turned into a trashy exploitation flick &#8212; instead deals honestly and respectfully with some surprisingly relevant issues. While it&#8217;s purportedly about sex education (and what teachers should or shouldn&#8217;t be allowed to discuss with their students), it quickly moves into the fascinating realms of students&#8217; rights, activism, and freedom of speech. These teenagers &#8212; each unique and sincere &#8212; are willing to stick up for what they believe in, and their actions show the power of tenacity and collective will. <\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, the adults in the film are three-dimensional as well; while McCormack&#8217;s mom (Virginia Field) is perhaps a bit too stereotypically uptight about her daughter&#8217;s sexuality, other parents are conflicted in their own ways, and even the principal &#8212; who could easily have been the heavy here &#8212; is played with nuance by Edward Platt. While an essential aspect of the film&#8217;s ending is unrealistic and far too pat (a key character suddenly has a <em>radical<\/em> shift in attitude), overall it provides a satisfying resolution to this enjoyable, provocative film.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Surprisingly strong performances by many of the teen actors &#8212; especially Patty McCormack (evil Rhoda Penmark in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2070\"><em>The Bad Seed<\/em><\/a>)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Class.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Class.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Class.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Class-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Class-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Class-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>William Shatner in a pre-&#8220;Star Trek&#8221; role<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Shatner.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Shatner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Shatner.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Shatner-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Shatner-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Shatner-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Edward Platt as the well-meaning but pressured principal<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Principal.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Principal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Principal.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Principal-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Principal-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Principal-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A unique depiction of meaningful collective activism by teenagers<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Activism.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Activism.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Activism.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Activism-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Activism-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Activism-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use of natural locations in Southern California<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-California.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-California.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-California.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-California-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-California-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-California-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A realistic &#8212; albeit cynical &#8212; look at the competing demands of teachers (and principals); as a colleague reminds the idealistic Shatner, &#8220;You&#8217;re being paid to lead these kiddies down the garden path of readin&#8217;, writin&#8217;, and retirement&#8230;&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Teachers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Teachers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Teachers.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Teachers-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Teachers-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Explosive-Generation-Teachers-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes. As one commenter on IMDb put it, this is an &#8220;enlightened, sensitive, and even-handed treatment&#8221; of sexual education in high school.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0054862\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1962\/02\/15\/archives\/screen-silent-rampageexplosive-generation-in-a-school-strike.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I asked if it was wrong for a girl to prove to a boy exactly how much she loved him.&#8221; Synopsis: When a high school teacher (William Shatner) allows his class to talk openly about sex, his job is jeopardized; but his well-meaning students refuse to let him to be punished for something they initiated. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Beau Bridges Films Collective Action Generation Gap High School Sexuality Teachers Teenagers Review: This unfairly maligned &#8220;youth picture&#8221; &#8212; which&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2054\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2054"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64402,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054\/revisions\/64402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}