The prevailing youth culture of America in the 1960s certainly had tremendous impact, as noted in this interesting social / political satire courtesy of writer Robert Thom. Christopher Jones plays a young man who yearned to break free of his strict upbringing, and became a leading rock star and counterculture figure, rechristening himself "Max Frost". He becomes a voice for the kids of the nation, and youthful looking career politician Johnny Fergus (Hal Holbrook) figures to capitalize on this. Fergus reasons that any person old enough to be drafted into military service is at least old enough to deserve the right to vote. Their relationship bears some strange fruit, with Frost letting power completely go to his head.
While very much a film of its time, "Wild in the Streets" does capture a pivotal point in the pop culture evolution. It's an amusing and reasonably intelligent examination of the generation gap, which was even more pronounced in past decades than it is now. Kids didn't have a voice, anybody to speak for them, or individuals to relate to. And adults just assumed that they knew best; that experience was all that really mattered. The characters here are stereotypical, by and large, but that is entirely the point. When Frost and his followers - whom he calls his "troops" - get into power, things change to a radical degree, with official law enforcement organizations like the FBI and CIA seeming to become obsolete.
The music is, for the most part, quite catchy and groovy. The cast is impressive all the way down the line. Jones has some charisma going for him, and Richard Pryor is fun as his drummer, although the latter doesn't really get much opportunity to be funny. The young generation is extremely well supported by veterans such as Shelley Winters and Bert Freed (as Frosts' parents), and Ed Begley (as an angry senator). Co-star Millie Perkins, who plays Fergus's wife, was married to screenwriter Thom at the time.
"Wild in the Streets" may seem dated to some viewers now, but back in 1968 I can believe that a story of its kind would have great appeal to its audience.
Seven out of 10.
While very much a film of its time, "Wild in the Streets" does capture a pivotal point in the pop culture evolution. It's an amusing and reasonably intelligent examination of the generation gap, which was even more pronounced in past decades than it is now. Kids didn't have a voice, anybody to speak for them, or individuals to relate to. And adults just assumed that they knew best; that experience was all that really mattered. The characters here are stereotypical, by and large, but that is entirely the point. When Frost and his followers - whom he calls his "troops" - get into power, things change to a radical degree, with official law enforcement organizations like the FBI and CIA seeming to become obsolete.
The music is, for the most part, quite catchy and groovy. The cast is impressive all the way down the line. Jones has some charisma going for him, and Richard Pryor is fun as his drummer, although the latter doesn't really get much opportunity to be funny. The young generation is extremely well supported by veterans such as Shelley Winters and Bert Freed (as Frosts' parents), and Ed Begley (as an angry senator). Co-star Millie Perkins, who plays Fergus's wife, was married to screenwriter Thom at the time.
"Wild in the Streets" may seem dated to some viewers now, but back in 1968 I can believe that a story of its kind would have great appeal to its audience.
Seven out of 10.