From this movie I learned a couple of new things about the 50's. My parents had shown me a few pictures of them, but they were only about 10 or 11 during the movie's time frame, so I learned about the teenagers of that period. They seemed most concerned with cars, their boyfriend/girlfriend, and popularity. There were only a couple who seemed to care about their future - be it college or vocational studies. The majority appeared happy in their present state - grow up, live, and die in the same town knowing all the same people. Their attitude was quite isolationistic and they believed they had a good station in life.
The stereotypes portrayed in the movie were typical of then as well as today. There was the All-American guy and girl, the guy who's friends with everyone, but's unsure of himself, the rebel/loner, the nerd, and the trouble-makers. The All-Americans were the same then as now, school president/jock and head cheerleader/Ms. Popular. The guy Richard Dreyfus played is also the same now as then - just someone who blends into a crowd. The rebel now is like a skater/punk rock type, and then it was a greaser with a fast car. The nerd is also the same now as then. The trouble-makers now are wannabe gangsters who don't commit serious crimes but just mess around. Back then it was the Pharoahs who kept the cops on their toes.
I liked Curt's plot the best. He was a kid who never got in much trouble and he didn't have big aspirations. But on the last night of summer after his senior year he finally had some good times. It started off when he was riding with Morgan's character and he saw the lady in the white T-Bird. He spent all night trying to catch her, but he couldn't. When he saw her car from the plane it only added to the mystery of his night. Another mysterious thing was in the radio booth. He met this personality who was a kinda normal guy who played tapes of Wolfman Jack. Then it turned out to be the real Wolfman, which was cool. He also felt the thrill of being in a gang for a night. Harassing the cops, breaking the law, and staying out all night. The biggest change for him, though, was going to college and entering a whole new life. It was ironic that he went, but Steve didn't.
I thought that all these characters were pretty well portrayed. It was also a surprise to see Harrison Ford in there too. The only one who could've been better casted was Laurie. If they set this in a Californian town, the head cheerleader should've been a little more lively and blonde. I thought they did a good job on John Milner. They showed his transition from all-out rebel to someone who had lost his touch and was feeling the end of a period of his life coming. This movie represented the change from the 50's to the 60's very well.
