Palm Springs Weekend (1963)

"Palm Springs Weekend" benefits from a higher budget and better quality cast than many of the teen films produced during the 1960s, and it has some more emotional range.Among the featured players are Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens, coming off their "Hawaiian Eye" television series. Here, though, Mr. Conrad plays a spoiled playboy type driving around in a '63 Ford Thunderbird roadster, causing trouble, a real contrast to his role as Tom Lopaka on "Eye." Warner Brothers stock player Troy Donahue, who also appeared 26 times on "Hawaiian Eye" and had other WB shows such as "Surfside Six," plays the lead role of Jim Munroe.We also have WB players Ty Hardin and Andrew Duggan, as well as Stefanie Powers and Billy Mumy.Overall, it is an enjoyable film to watch, in part because it is an artifact of the late Kennedy era. It has its funny moments. And speaking of which, I think the performer who steals the show here is none other than Jerry Van Dyke, who has at least one musical number with his banjo.American International may have made the most teen flicks, but it seems as if Warners produced some of the more interesting ones. Definitely worth a watch.

This is a mostly wimpy "Palm Springs Weekend" trip to "Where the Boys Are" (1960) territory. The studio stars an attractive cast of slightly long-in-the-tooth "teen idols" from Warner Bros. In case you miss the point, they court MGM lawyers by proclaiming "It's Where the Boys Are and Where the Girls Are" in advertising. From the just concluding youthful TV favorite "Hawaiian Eye" come cuties Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, and Robert Conrad. Hollywood westerners Ty Hardin and Stefanie Powers round out the kissing quintet.You can't completely pan anything with a pre-teen Billy Mumy featured, but this one might make you want to be wished into the cornfield. Don't worry, Mumy's robotic companion Bob May is around to help you out. Mr. Donahue is assigned singing duty on the Elvis-like "Live Young" over the opening credits, which might have given Presley pal Red West déjà vu during "Roustabout" (1964). The Technicolor cast is sprinkled with familiar faces, contract players, and guest stars. Connections to Kevin Bacon should come in few degrees.**** Palm Springs Weekend (11/5/63) Norman Taurog ~ Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Stefanie Powers, Robert Conrad

The film's story is about what one would expect for a romantic comedy from the early 1960s. California guys chase girls, and vice versa. With an exception or two, the tone is lighthearted, upbeat, frothy, and fluffy.The script has an ensemble cast. Connie Stevens, Ty Hardin, Stefanie Powers, and Robert Conrad probably fare the best. And Carole Cook, as a perky hotel clerk, is quite good. But Andrew Duggan, Jack Weston, and Jerry Van Dyke all seem out of place here.Major characters have enough dimension, though just barely, to make them reasonably interesting, especially Gale Lewis (Stevens) and Eric Dean (Conrad). One could argue that the script over-populates the story. Three or four main characters might have worked better. As is, the plot is all over the place as it flits from one character to another.Comedy is quite juvenile. It is very unsubtle, and veers toward slapstick. As an example, an annoying little boy named Boom-Boom creates havoc when his behavior results in a swimming pool that fills up with soap bubbles.Music trends decidedly upbeat. I like the Van Dyke/Hardin duo of "Bye Bye Blackbird". But I could have wished for some songs from the early 60s. The Kingston Trio performs a rather uninteresting number. More interesting than the song are the large, unattractive horn-rimmed glasses the lead singer wears.Don't expect any complex plot or heavy-duty message here. "Palm Springs Weekend" is pure fluff, engineered for entertainment. As such, the film will appeal mostly to older audiences yearning for a bit of early 1960s nostalgia.

You have got to give Warner Bros studios credit for milking Troy Donahue for all they could get with the teenage audience....there was "Summer Place", "Parrish", "Susan Slade", "Rome Adventure"...Warner Bros was riding the high waves with Donahue for the teenage audience in the early 60s.......then they apparently decided to remake "Where the Boys Are"....this time the film is in Palm Springs California instead of Florida....Stephanie Powers more or less recreates the role Delores Hart had in "Where the Boys Are".....a young student looking for teenage/young adult love...Troy Donahue basically recreates the role George Hamilton had.....the handsome lover boy looking for romance.....basically corny and overly silly in a lot of respects. Plenty of comedy though as Jerry Van Dyke plays a over the top goofball who winds up with the homely down and out girl...sort of like the role Frank Gorshin had in Boys Are with Connie Francis....lots of similarities with both films. Troy Donahue did not have to do much acting...just stand around looking handsome and available and the gals ate him up. In a silly teenage film like this much acting was not required at all. For my money a scene near the end where Donahue and Stephanie Powers were standing in front of a fake, paper rock, supposedly in the desert was laughable....Powers says "look out there, see the sands, it is the valley of lost lovers" ha=ha-ha.....or something to that effect....Donahue stands there listening to her with a silly gape on his face....just totally laughable acting. Nothing like that old puss himself Jack Weston to play the lovable loser - he was the basketball coach trying to keep his players under control and falling for the matronly owner of the motel they were at....Weston always a lovable loser, just like in "The Cincinatti Kid" and "Thomas Crown Affair" in the 60s..... For my money Jerry Van Dyke steals the movie as a looney over the top comedian....once again, this is a teenage love flick at it's best....if you saw "Where the Boys Are" you have seen "Palm Springs Weekend"....just the same two films stitched together with different actors....Bob Conrad as the spoiled, rich kid with the fast T-Bird and Connie Stevens as the nubile, and very available coed....she gets mixed up with the wrong guy. Top notch film for the teenagers in the early 1960s.