Pouring by way of the “In Memoriam” tributes to Connie Francis following her July 16 dying, aged 87, I used to be somewhat shocked to seek out how few talked about her transient however extremely profitable foray into movie — significantly contemplating her most well-known tune, “The place the Boys Are,” was the title of her debut function. So, like every self-respecting classic popular culture lover, I popped on the film this morning to relive the display presence that was Ms. Francis.
Francis is a part of the ensemble in “The place the Boys Are,” which ought to be the main focus of its personal movie essay sequence… I imply, really, this Hays Code-bending 1960 teen comedy-drama focuses on a bunch of school ladies trying to find males whereas on spring break in Ft. Lauderdale: some are prepared to maintain their advantage, some usually are not. Francis performs hockey participant Angie, the form of wise-cracking sidekick character that may ultimately help Meg Ryan in ’90s romcoms. And he or she truly says at one level, “We’re going to Lauderdale for one cause: to fulfill boys!”
Francis doesn’t get the heavy materials (and it will get schockingly heavy for a way gentle it begins) to play that her co-stars do… future nun Dolores Hart is the point of interest, enjoying a nerd whose romantic life opens up when she meets the dashing, wealthy George Hamilton. Then there’s Paula Prentiss, who defies being tall (handled as a significant hindrance) to fall for additionally very tall Jim Hutton. Yvette Mimieux‘s story I don’t wish to give away a lot about, simply to say that life (and males) hits her exhausting, and it’s by way of her that the film’s shift from teen-to-adult drama happens. It’s truly dealt with extraordinarily effectively, so I received’t give something away on that rating.
The film works as a result of it speaks fairly frankly to teenage considerations, albeit in a buttoned-up 1960 model, and the forged from top-to-bottom is very charismatic. Francis was clearly dropped into the movie to assist enable for the crossover hit track. By this level, the MGM Data recording artist was having constant success on the charts. “My Coronary heart Has a Thoughts of Its Personal” went No. 1 the 12 months “The place the Boys Are” was launched — why wouldn’t the corporate drop their 23-year-old pop star in a movie launched by their very own film studio?
I’ll throw down a spoiler or two for Francis’ Angie. She finally ends up with the Riddler, or a minimum of the actor who performed the Riddler within the ’60s “Batman,” Frank Gorshin. How does she land him? Effectively, music after all. Along with the title tune, she sings “Activate the Sunshine.”
“The place the Boys Are” was such an enormous success it spun off a whole style of beach-set teen and college-set comedies, most decidedly with out the status or polish of their predecessor. Francis herself would star — this time above the title — in a trio of copycats. You’ll discover a theme: “Observe the Boys,” “Searching for Love,” and “The place the Boys Meet the Ladies.” “Observe the Boys” was so clear in its twin goal, so far as Francis’ profession goes, that its theatrical poster introduced “Connie Sings… and the Complete Fleet Swings!”
What’s very clear in each one among her plucky performances is that Francis was way over only a easy pop songstress — she additionally was loaded with pure wit, allure, and attraction. It’s exhausting to think about she stopped performing, fully, after simply 4 motion pictures — whilst she continued as a high music act for the remainder of her life.
And whereas it appears a disgrace, perhaps it permits this quartet of movies — and in significantly the excellent “The place the Boys Are” — to be rediscovered. As songs like “Fairly Little Child” discover new audiences by way of TikTok developments, maybe it is going to lead folks again to Francis’ catalogue and her transient run as a top-flight field workplace attraction.
We’ll let Ms. Francis lead us out along with her signature tune. Watch under.
