The Dropout (1962) Online

I saw this gem years ago and my recollection of it is not great. I do, however, remember it as a wonderfully campy mellodrama, set in Hollywood, concerning a would-be actress who seduces a high-school student, bringing him into her dark and sleazy underworld.

The opening scene is quite memorable. A tour bus is stopped at an intersection, the female lead crosses the street, a tourist asks excitedly, "Is she a star?" The tour guide replies, "NO, she's a nobody." Great, isn't it?

UNSPECTACULAR, FRUGAL & LOW-KEY as this may be, we have to give the production team our congratulations. They have nailed it. The story and characters within are universally recognizable in countless real life counterparts.

DONE IN SORT of a documentary style, only makes for a certain connection with reality. The inclusion of any attempt at rendering the short more dramatically "hip" would have only resulted in a crossover into the realm of "Camp" Humor a la REEFER MADNESS. Their use of the voice over narration proves to fit the bill.

WHEN FULLY CONSIDERED and taken as in light of the message behind it and the economy of filming employed, THE DROPOUT holds up very well today, over a half century later. It could very well be remade with a modern, all-inclusive attitude. (It has a completely all-white, middle class cast)

SUCH A PROJECT would be highly successful in reaching inner-city, poor and minority kids, who need to think about the lessons expounded much more than any others.