646f9e108c A district attorney investigates the racially charged case of three teenagers accused of the murder of a blind Puerto Rican boy. He begins to discover that the facts in the case aren't exactly as they seem to be.
After three teenage hoods stab blind Puerto Rican Roberto Escalante, assistant DA Hank Bell is tasked with prosecuting the case. He's looking for convictions for first degree murder for all three of the boys, even 15 year-old Danny DiPace, son of his old girlfriend, Mary DiPace. He grew up in the neighborhood and investigates the case with Lt. Gunderson. He learns that Escalante may have pulled a knife and was actually one of the leaders of the Puerto Rican gang that fought regularly with their Italian opponents. Bell's wife is upset at the prospect that he's seeking the death penalty for kids and he thinks she's just a liberal living in her own little perfect world. As he gathers more evidence however, he begins to see that it's all far more complex than it first appeared. He pursues justice in the case.
Over the opening credits, three teenagers swagger into New York City's Spanish Harlem, with trouble on their minds. In broad daylight, they viciously stab to death a blind 15-year-old harmonica player. The perpetrators are revealed to be members of the "Thunderbirds", an Italian street gang. This victim was a member of the "Horsemen", a rival Puerto Rican gang. Due to the victim's blindness and young age, district attorney Edward Andrews (as Daniel "Dan" Cole) decides to seek the death penalty. He has an eye on the Governor's office. Tough guy prosecutor Burt Lancaster (as Hank Bell) is assigned the case...<br/><br/>We learn Lancaster moved out of the poor neighborhood and married wealthy Vassar socialite Dina Merrill (as Karin), after dating pitifully sympathetic Shelley Winters (as Mary). Left behind, Ms. Winters raised impressionable blond Stanley Kristien (as Danny Di Pace), one of the knife-wielders. Rounding out the trio are seemingly psychotic John Davis Chandler (as Arthur Reardon) and illiterate head-banger Neil Nephew (as Anthony "Batman" Aposto). While investigating the murder, Mr. Lancaster begins to question the death penalty he is directed to pursue...<br/><br/>Based on "A Matter of Conviction" by "Blackboard Jungle" novelist Evan Hunter, this film asks us to look at a handicapped Hispanic teenager's killers as individuals with problems of their own. That's quite daring. This is, of course, the first step in actually changing things and helping prevent violence. Director John Frankenheimer handles the task well. After your initial revulsion, you're with him. Going for a weird balance of realism and showiness, Mr. Frankenheimer introduces the killers with choreography. For the actual crime, he becomes aloof, shooting it through reflection while a young woman screams. Finally, we become intimate with the characters...<br/><br/>While we're asked to understand the killers and contemplate their action, Frankenheimer does not dismiss their flaws. We see these more fully in two subsequent attacks. In a public swimming pool, young Rafael Lopez (as Jose) is terrorized while dozens of tightly-attired onlookers cavort. Frankenheimer may have gone overboard with the towel-swatting background twosome, but the foot in young Lopez' face is effective. The young actors play this scene admirably. There is also a nail-biting close-up attack on Ms. Merrill in an elevator. Her character is given an edginess Merrill rarely saw in her movie scripts, but the role isn't fully developed. Even less is gleamed from Ms. Winters, who mainly sits and emotes. The most obvious dramatic moment ("He's your son!") never happens and it all ends too easily.<br/><br/>******* The Young Savages (5/24/61) John Frankenheimer ~ Burt Lancaster, Stanley Kristien, John Davis Chandler, Neil Nephew
Overall the film is not an 8 but the cool parts just won't allow me to give it a lower score.When it was first released I was in junior high school and there existed a non-conformist society within a society.These non-conformists wore long dark coats(trench coats ?) and small brimmed dress hats.My older brother used this kind of dress,I thought it looked so cool.The best I could do was a hand-me-down off white coat that had been balled up in the closet.My big head size ruled out using a hat,instead of looking like a teenage gangster I probably resembled a juvenile Colombo.In the film the gang called the Horsemen dress in the coat and hat style,I really could relate to this cool look.Real gang members are used for some parts of the movie.The viewer sees a style of dress that really existed at the time,for me it's history preserved.The slang and look of the young people are what I like about this movie.Among them are Zorro,Pretty Boy,Gargantua and Batman.The outstanding one and for me the scene stealer of the movie is Arthur Reardon one of the accused murders played by John Chandler.Although only involved in violence twice in the movie he goes about it gleefully as it escalates.A complex person he grins telling how he wanted to live on a farm but his parents put him out on the streets to play with bad boys.Most of the time he is sneering giving indication many things in the world annoy him.His character would have no trouble fitting into a current movie. Soundtrack is very good and in one scene sets the viewer up for seeing Diavolo for the first time.The back of his jacket is something else,be ready for it they only show it for a second. The big finale court trial is unbelievable,a fairytale.About the most realistic scene involving Burt Lancaster is when he is at home talking to his wife and reflects on changing his name from Bellini to Bell.Probably especially after one of the Italian gang members yells..What's the matter you ashamed of being a W--?.This is not a Burt Lancaster movie/story,changes were made to fit his image.When asked by a gang member..Do you know why I stomped him? Lancaster gives the correct answer to show his so called tough up bringing.In the book Lancaster's character can't give the answer and is more meek.The character in the movie still has to take a backseat to the young persons maybe all the way to the trunk.Look for the emphasis on poverty,one gang leader lives in a crowded apartment with people laying around. It looks like a combination flop house/sweat shop where sleeping is done in shifts.My favorite touch is a rooster pecking around on the stairwell INSIDE the apartment building(a housebroken slum rooster?)