Great musical score to this one by Gerald Fried, a prolific composer of film music. Enjoyable B-film if somewhat bleak. Tom Pittman was very talented, shame we lost him way too soon. Thanks for sharing this!
It's sad that Tom Pittman died only months after filming this movie. He had a nice voice and was a good actor. I'm sure he would have gone on to have a decent career had he lived.
Marvin's dad is the same guy who had that famous line in North By Northwest: "Gee, that's funny. That plane's dusting crops where there aint no crops."
@GOD IS AN OPIATE FOR THE MASSES there was no problem in the vast majority of the country and only in parts of the south. Of course, there are no problems today!!!!
agreed. Best time to live. Best music, best cars, men looked like men, women looked like women, people generally had morals and the future looked bright.
As previously referred to, lead actor Tom Pittman was tragically killed, at the age of 26, in an automobile accident before this movie was released. He was likely on his way up at the time, having already appeared in three movies before this one. Ironically, his idol was James Dean, and Pittman--who tried to somewhat emulate Dean's lifestyle--was killed while speeding his very own Porsche Spyder (the same model that Dean had) through L.A.'s Benedict Canyon.
High School Big Shot (The Young Sinners UK), released 21 June 1959 (Fargo, North Dakota), 16 October 1959, (USA). Tom Pittman as Marvin 'Marv' Grant; Virginia Aldridge as Betty Alexander; Howard Veit as Vince Rumbo; Malcolm Atterbury as Mr. Grant; Stanley Adams as Harry March; Louis Quinn as Samuel Tallman; Peter Leeds as Mr. Carter; John Barrick as Larry Walker; Jimmy Murphy as Burt Rogers; Byron Foulger as Mr. Mathews; Bobby Hall as Johnson; Ron Gans (as Ron Kennedy), (undetermined role); Evan Thompson, (undetermined role); Bill Coontz, (undetermined role); Wally Rose, (undetermined role); Ellen Atterbury (as Ellen Hardies), (undetermined role).
Despite this film was unknown to myself and neither a classic nor an American cult (I studied lots of noir movies) I am amazed with it. His protagonist is typical of noir movies but the entire piece, the set and the style and other common features, are not typical. Probably it is the artistic cost or the result to try to make a noir film with teenagers personages. Interestingly, it is, say, a post noir transition film and its date (1959) reinforces my suspicions. Roger Corman and Pittman are very good professionals. The rest of the cast are simply good actors. The entire outcome is better than most products of today's Hollywood movies. Hollywood today is an ideological fabric of social tensions, nothing more. Brazil.
The teenage gangster noir genre was quite popular during the 50's, it's a subgente of itself. Watch Four Boys and a Gun or No Time to Be Young, both really good movies with the same style.
Wha'ppen'd to the big shot? Since only about five others have posted this, it needs one more post. About a month after filming wrapped 10/58, his body was found in his Porsche J Dean Model Spyder 11/19/58, 3 wks after his car flew off into a ravine in Benedict Canyon, speeding home from a Hollywood D-list Halloween party. Was found halfway out driver's side window, crushed betwixt steering post & driver side door. Tom Pittman, RIP
1:46 Teach = Peter Leeds, who did a lot of voiceover stuff. My favourite = the Stan Freberg Day-O parody, where he does the voice of the stoned-out beatnik bongo player "Like I don't dig spiders, man"
So is the Tina Turner song "What's Love Got to do with it" coming from this movie? This the first time I've heard that famous phrase at the 42:25 part in this great movie.
Since the two main thieves in the heist (the ones who didn’t die) are named Harry and Marv, I have to wonder: was High School Big Shot secretly a prequel to the Home Alone movies? Perhaps they were later known as the Wet Bandits because they ended up losing the heisted money in the water.
A couple of valuable lessons, very well illustrated: Guys, we can be so embarrassingly weak, easily tempted to let a woman wrap us around her finger. Ladies, sorry, but you're just as dangerously insecure & fallible we. Regardless of gender, we are each born deeply needing love .. but pray God we seek & find a partner with true love that is honorable & righteous, committed to eternal values. Ask & you shall receive, seek & you shall find. I believe God will answer your sincere prayer of faith .. Only please be patient, & be willing to wait !
Why are you calling this a Roger Corman film? He had nothing to do with it! In any event, it's a relatively fun fifties' "teenage" movie, with a cast of "teenagers" who are obviously all well into their twenties--which was typical of the time.
She was my kinda chick, loose and wanting,... Anyone who would turn her down is a wimp. I'd dress her up in a pleated red evening gown with a low cut front and hem just above the knee, Marilyn Monroe style. She's the type of woman you hold onto for a week or two and then move on. 'Unless she has money./..then you stick around awhile longer. Never form any kinda attachment, "None" !
Prices are eight times in 2016 what they were in 1958, which is when it was filmed. On the wall in the liquor store, the calendar is clearly June 1958. It was a good time to be an adult. The economy had a huge middle class, unlike now, a repeat of the 1920's. Addendum: Drumpf will make it worse, especially on the working class: Reaganomics on steroids. I amend the last sentence as a repeat of the 1890's. Not only will the working class enlarge, but as the middle class shrinks, everyone in both classes will become poorer. There was a time when economic growth was widespread, not just to the oligarchy, 1946-70.
Great musical score to this one by Gerald Fried, a prolific composer of film music. Enjoyable B-film if somewhat bleak. Tom Pittman was very talented, shame we lost him way too soon. Thanks for sharing this!
It's sad that Tom Pittman died only months after filming this movie. He had a nice voice and was a good actor. I'm sure he would have gone on to have a decent career had he lived.
He died inside his Porsche Spyder like his idol James Dean, that's crazy.
Yes he definitely could act .
Marvin's dad is the same guy who had that famous line in North By Northwest: "Gee, that's funny. That plane's dusting crops where there aint no crops."
The 50's was the best of times. I feel so fortunate to have experienced my teens and early 20's then.
@GOD IS AN OPIATE FOR THE MASSES there was no problem in the vast majority of the country and only in parts of the south. Of course, there are no problems today!!!!
agreed. Best time to live. Best music, best cars, men looked like men, women looked like women, people generally had morals and the future looked bright.
@GOD IS AN OPIATE FOR THE MASSES so, let me get this straight, homosexuals, Mexicans and woman are all equal today? Did you live through the fifties?
@GOD IS AN OPIATE FOR THE MASSES
How many people fell asleep in the theater watching this ?.
"I'm a thief. Not a crook." Good line that's been uttered maybe countless times. No matter. 4/5's of the way through the flick.
I love that. It's like a Yogi-ism.
The awesome music!! 59:29 GO Vince!
As previously referred to, lead actor Tom Pittman was tragically killed, at the age of 26, in an automobile accident before this movie was released. He was likely on his way up at the time, having already appeared in three movies before this one. Ironically, his idol was James Dean, and Pittman--who tried to somewhat emulate Dean's lifestyle--was killed while speeding his very own Porsche Spyder (the same model that Dean had) through L.A.'s Benedict Canyon.
You can see he was very much influenced by Dean.
His body and car wreck were discovered 20 days after the accident. That's sad. People were probably mad looking for him.
One of the better “JD” movies, worth a gander!
What a legacy of excellent films from Mr. Corman. Isn't he about 90 nowadays?
93 and still kicking. The last film he produced that I know of was in 2017 - Death Race 2050 for the SyFy channel.
Just such an exceedingly bleak and horrible ending.
I love it.
High School Big Shot (The Young Sinners UK), released 21 June 1959 (Fargo, North Dakota), 16 October 1959, (USA). Tom Pittman as Marvin 'Marv' Grant; Virginia Aldridge as Betty Alexander; Howard Veit as Vince Rumbo; Malcolm Atterbury as Mr. Grant; Stanley Adams as Harry March; Louis Quinn as Samuel Tallman; Peter Leeds as Mr. Carter; John Barrick as Larry Walker; Jimmy Murphy as Burt Rogers; Byron Foulger as Mr. Mathews; Bobby Hall as Johnson; Ron Gans (as Ron Kennedy), (undetermined role); Evan Thompson, (undetermined role); Bill Coontz, (undetermined role); Wally Rose, (undetermined role); Ellen Atterbury (as Ellen Hardies), (undetermined role).
Despite this film was unknown to myself and neither a classic nor an American cult (I studied lots of noir movies) I am amazed with it. His protagonist is typical of noir movies but the entire piece, the set and the style and other common features, are not typical. Probably it is the artistic cost or the result to try to make a noir film with teenagers personages. Interestingly, it is, say, a post noir transition film and its date (1959) reinforces my suspicions. Roger Corman and Pittman are very good professionals. The rest of the cast are simply good actors. The entire outcome is better than most products of today's Hollywood movies. Hollywood today is an ideological fabric of social tensions, nothing more. Brazil.
The teenage gangster noir genre was quite popular during the 50's, it's a subgente of itself. Watch Four Boys and a Gun or No Time to Be Young, both really good movies with the same style.
Love how they just leave all the corpses at the dock. “Eh. The crows’ll get em”
Wha'ppen'd to the big shot? Since only about five others have posted this, it needs one more post. About a month after filming wrapped 10/58, his body was found in his Porsche J Dean Model Spyder 11/19/58, 3 wks after his car flew off into a ravine in Benedict Canyon, speeding home from a Hollywood D-list Halloween party. Was found halfway out driver's side window, crushed betwixt steering post & driver side door. Tom Pittman, RIP
The character Tallman was played by Louis Quinn who is best known as 'Roscoe' in the "77 Sunset Strip" t v. show from the late '50s.
Marv's dad was on an episode of The Andy Griffith Show as a cow thief. You're welcome - your life is richer now.
good acting .simple nice movie
Several Grade A acting performances here. Tom Pittman could have been a big star. Also Stanley Adams as Harry.
Agree. Why they didnt? Brazil
@@KRYPTOS_K5 Luck of the draw - Good luck to you and those who deserve it
@@TAROTAI Luck of the draw!-New expression to my anthropological study of Anglo American culture and history. Thank you.
Virginia Aldridge (the young woman who comes to the rescue at 4:33) has a beautiful face! Some women are born lucky.
Interesting movie! Glad that the smart kid did not get killed. Also, he was a good actor!
1:46
Teach = Peter Leeds, who did a lot of voiceover stuff. My favourite = the Stan Freberg Day-O parody, where he does the voice of the stoned-out beatnik bongo player "Like I don't dig spiders, man"
It's unrealistic that Vince would get upset at Marv because he answered a question correctly in class. 4:10
So is the Tina Turner song "What's Love Got to do with it" coming from this movie? This the first time I've heard that famous phrase at the 42:25 part in this great movie.
That was a very messy ending.Stanley Adams is always fun to watch.
Quite a dark ending... no happily ever after on this one. Enjoyed that for a change.
I think of Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" or even a "Kojak" episode of "Therapy in Dynamite".
The name of this could be "For my Woman"
Since the two main thieves in the heist (the ones who didn’t die) are named Harry and Marv, I have to wonder: was High School Big Shot secretly a prequel to the Home Alone movies?
Perhaps they were later known as the Wet Bandits because they ended up losing the heisted money in the water.
Another high School juvenile delinquent movie from I believe the 50s .high School Caesar. that was a good one just like this one
Yes, it's filmed in 1958 and released in 59.
So many bad choices so little time .
When sinners entice you, don't go with them...wisdom from Proverbs ch. 1
Was that fake walking really necessary? 28:56
That was a fantastic ending! 🤷🏾♀️🙋🏽👏🏾🎥🤗🎬Ian glad he killed that greedy girlfriend 👏🏾 ✅
She and Sharron Stone’s character from “Casino” would get along famously.
A couple of valuable lessons, very well illustrated: Guys, we can be so embarrassingly weak, easily tempted to let a woman wrap us around her finger. Ladies, sorry, but you're just as dangerously insecure & fallible we. Regardless of gender, we are each born deeply needing love .. but pray God we seek & find a partner with true love that is honorable & righteous, committed to eternal values. Ask & you shall receive, seek & you shall find. I believe God will answer your sincere prayer of faith .. Only please be patient, & be willing to wait !
Kenneth Rodgers well said!
Marv, Did you get paid? I'd like to pay rent with money instead of sex this month.
Bad whiskey bad woman the downfall of many good men in motion pictures and radio rotten to the core
Good Flick!
Why are you calling this a Roger Corman film? He had nothing to do with it! In any event, it's a relatively fun fifties' "teenage" movie, with a cast of "teenagers" who are obviously all well into their twenties--which was typical of the time.
High School Big Shot was the initial release of The Filmgroup, Inc., a production and distribution company headed by Roger Corman.
Aha! I stand corrected! Thanks.
Thanks for watching. May the Sauce be with you.
@@PizzaFLIX Smartie! :-)
💖⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
She was my kinda chick, loose and wanting,... Anyone who would turn her down is a wimp. I'd dress her up in a pleated red evening gown with a low cut front and hem just above the knee, Marilyn Monroe style. She's the type of woman you hold onto for a week or two and then move on. 'Unless she has money./..then you stick around awhile longer. Never form any kinda attachment, "None" !
Sounds like Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep
Prices are eight times in 2016 what they were in 1958, which is when it was filmed. On the wall in the liquor store, the calendar is clearly June 1958. It was a good time to be an adult. The economy had a huge middle class, unlike now, a repeat of the 1920's.
Addendum: Drumpf will make it worse, especially on the working class: Reaganomics on steroids. I amend the last sentence as a repeat of the 1890's. Not only will the working class enlarge, but as the middle class shrinks, everyone in both classes will become poorer. There was a time when economic growth was widespread, not just to the oligarchy, 1946-70.
Yep. Wages sure aren't 8 x 1958 wages. Except for the fat cats -- far more.
It's simply amazing when 7 families can own the Federal Reserve, make up cash out of nothing at all, and charge us to use it.
Bretton Woods had gold at $35/troy oz.
Trump already made it much better. Get a shrink to straighten you out. You're a stooge for the Dem left. All the really wealthy now are Democrats.
Mark, I truly feel bad for you. Did you use alot of drugs or just born stupid?
I can't watch anymore. Marv is way too much of a coward
Corny , but good acting.
Women - nothing but trouble.
When the girl goes WRONG, the guys go... RIGHT after them!
World's worst father!!
Bye bye Betty. Bye bye. 😉
Nothing to do with Roger Corman really embarrassing schoolroom scene