Life Begins at 17
| Life Begins at 17 | |
|---|---|
 Elaine Peck (Dorothy Johnson) and boyfriend Jim Parker (Edd Byrnes) | |
| Directed by | Arthur Dreifuss[1] |
| Written by | Richard Baer[2] |
| Produced by | Sam Katzman |
| Starring | Mark Damon Dorothy Johnson Luana Anders Edd Byrnes |
| Cinematography | Fred Jackman, Jr. |
| Edited by | Saul A. Goodkind |
Production company | |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 74 minutes |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
Life Begins at 17 is a 1958 American drama film starring Dorothy Johnson, Mark Damon, Edd Byrnes and Luana Anders.[1]
Plot
Carol Peck, a 17-year-old from Indiana, has an older sister, Elaine, who is a beauty queen. Carol wins a local pageant, to the delight of her parents Virginia and Harry and her dependable, mild-mannered boyfriend, Jim.
A smug, prep-school boy, Russ Lippincott, openly declares during the beauty contest his intention to date the winner. Elaine is intrigued, but declines. Russ is determined to make a conquest, so he uses her little sister Carol, pretending to be interested in her instead. Elaine wins the title of Miss Indianapolis, then takes up with Russ, insisting he tell Carol the truth.
A misunderstanding leads to a false assumption that Russ and Carol have been intimate, compounded by a broken-hearted Carol claiming she is pregnant. Russ is threatened with expulsion from school and possible arrest for sex with a minor. When she confesses her lie, Carol wins newfound respect from Russ, who becomes genuinely interested in her while Elaine returns to Jim.
Cast
- Dorothy Johnson as Elaine Peck
- Mark Damon as Russ Lippincott
- Edd Byrnes as Jim Parker
- Luana Anders as Carol Peck
- Ann Doran as Virginia Peck
- Hugh Sanders as Harry Peck
Production
It was known as The Teenage Story during production.[3]
References
- ^ a b "Life Begins at 17". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ "Writer Richard Baer dies at 79". Variety. February 25, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ Scheuer, P. K. (Jan 28, 1958). "Brazzi wins deborah kerr". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167254752.