''These Dangerous Years'' (also known as ''Dangerous Youth'') is a 1957 British

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...

directed by

Herbert Wilcox Herbert Sydney Wilcox Order of the British Empire, CBE (19 April 1890 – 15 May 1977) was a British film producer and film director, director. He was one of the most successful British filmmakers from the 1920s to the 1950s. He is best know ...

and starring George Baker, Frankie Vaughan, Carole Lesley,

Thora Hird Dame Thora Hird (28 May 1911 – 15 March 2003) was an English actress. In a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in more than 100 films, as well as many television roles, becoming a household name and a British institution. Hird w ...

Kenneth Cope Kenneth Charles Cope (14 April 1931 – 11 September 2024) was an English actor and scriptwriter. He was best known for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in '' Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'', Jed Stone in ''Coronation Street,'' Ray Hilton in '' ...

, David Lodge and

John Le Mesurier John Le Mesurier (, born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 191215 November 1983) was an English actor. He is probably best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC television situation com ...

. It was written by Jack Trevor Story, and was the first of three films Wilcox made with Vaughan.

Plot

Tough gang leader and wannabe rock star Dave Wyman, from the slums of

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

, gets called up for

National Service National service is a system of compulsory or voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act ...

. He undergoes basic training, finds the discipline surprisingly suits him, and emerges stronger. When his best friend from training is killed by the camp bully, Dave takes revenge, and eventually ends up marrying his singing partner.

Cast

* George Baker as the Padre * Frankie Vaughan as Dave Wyman * Carole Lesley as Dinah Brown * Jocelyn Lane as Maureen *

Katherine Kath Katherine Kath (born Rose Marie Lily Faess; 11 August 1920 – 17 November 2012) was a French prima ballerina at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, who became an actress after suffering from an injury which destroyed her chances of continuing her ...

as Mrs Wyman *

as Mrs Larkin * Eddie Byrne as Danny *

as juggler * Robert Desmond as Cream O'Casey * Ray Jackson as Smiler Larkin * Richard Leech as Captain Brewster *

as Commanding Officer * David Lodge as Sergeant Major Lockwood *

Michael Ripper Michael George Ripper (27 January 1913 – 28 June 2000) was an English character actor who appeared in many British horror and science fiction films. Career Ripper began his film career in quota quickies in the 1930s and until the late 195 ...

as Private Simpson * Reginald Beckwith as hairdresser *

Martin Boddey Albert Martin Boddey (16 April 1907 – 24 October 1975) was a British film and television actor. Boddey started acting when he was nearly 40, often portraying irritable authority figures such as police officers or magistrates. He was a fo ...

as Police Sergeant * Lloyd Lamble as Police Officer * Bunner O'Keeffe as youth buying the ''

Liverpool Echo The ''Liverpool Echo'' is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales – a subsidiary company of Reach plc and is based in St. Paul's Square, Liverpool, England. It is published Monday through Sunday, and is Liverpool's da ...

Production

It was the first solo producing effort from Anna Neagle. The film was known as ''The Cast Iron Shore'' and was to be the first of three films Neagle made with

Diana Dors Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; 23 October 19314 May 1984) was an English actress and singer. Dors came to public notice as a Bombshell (slang), blonde bombshell, much in the style of Americans Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and Mamie Van ...

. However Dors was in Hollywood and declined to return to make the film . The army sequences were filmed in the Inglis Barracks,

Mill Hill Mill Hill is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet, England. It is situated around northwest of Charing Cross, close to the Hertfordshire border. It was in the Historic counties of England, historic county of Middlesex until 1965, when it b ...

, London NW7. George Baker later said it "wasn't a good film. Herbert was trying to break away, you see. They'd all gone for Frankie Vaughan and this was a Liverpool film with a message about how tough it is in the Dingle. It wasn't attractive to a lot of people because it wasn't well enough made. The script was by Jack Trevor Story and he and Herbert had no meeting-ground whatever."

Reception

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "''These Dangerous Years'' opens with promise; the Liverpool backgrounds are freshly observed, and the pace is brisk. What follows – the hero's entry into the army and the subsequent melodrama – is less appealing. The flat script invokes every old joke about Army life; and the outcome of the mawkish drama is always obvious. Frankie Vaughan, a popular singing star, makes a vigorous if not particularly likeable screen debut. Eddie Byrne's lively performance is the only bright spot in a dull supporting cast." ''

Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' wrote: "The picture borrows the best ideas, gags and situations from time honoured mixed-up kid melodrama and evergreen squarebashing comedy and vigorously shakes them against authentic backgrounds. Frankie Vaughan, lucky to escape an army crop, acts naturally, displays a strong sense of humour and sings pleasantly as Dave, Carole Lesley is a charming and talented Dinah and George Baker succeeds, despite the handicap of a few mushy lines, in doing a grand job as the padre. The supporting types are no less effective. Its dance hall sequences are gay and both the serious and comic sides of army life are adequately portrayed. The film's alchemy may not be subtle, but it's definitely box-office."

Box office

According to ''

Kinematograph Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' the film was "in the money" at the British box office in 1957.

References

External links

* {{Herbert Wilcox 1957 films British musical comedy films 1957 musical comedy films Films shot at Associated British Studios Films directed by Herbert Wilcox Military comedy films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films Films scored by Stanley Black English-language musical comedy films