The Young Stranger **** (1957, James MacArthur, Kim Hunter, James Daly) – Classic Movie Review 8520

Tales of Fifties misunderstood youth were ten a penny, but director John Frankenheimer’s 1957 The Young Stranger is a first-class one in the best Rebel Without a Cause tradition, thanks to the playing of James MacArthur in his début as the complex and misunderstood Beverly Hills teenager Hal Ditmar lacking only one thing – the love of his Hollywood film-producer father (James Daly).

When a fracas at a cinema turns ugly after a minor infraction of the rules, the 16-year-old Hal Ditmar (MacArthur) finds himself caught up in a world of trouble after he is arrested and charged with assault, and his dad will not listen to his pleas of innocence. Hal admits his rude behaviour may have started the fracas but contends that the assault on Grubbs (Whit Bissell) was in self defence.

The Young Stranger is subtly written, excitingly played, and powerfully made by Frankenheimer (in his movie début too). Above all, MacArthur gives a most compelling performance.

The Young Stranger is based on Robert Dozier’s 1956 TV play, Deal a Blow, broadcast live on the Climax! television anthology series, with the same actor and director. It was inspired by the writer’s relationship with his own father, RKO studio executive William Dozier, who in 1966 achieved the height of TV success with Batman, which ran for three seasons. William Dozier was married to Joan Fontaine from 1946 to 1951 and to Ann Rutherford from 1953 to his death on April 23, 1991.

Also in the cast are James Gregory, Whit Bissell, Jeff Silver [Jeffrey Silver], Marian Seldes, Jack Mullaney, Tom Pittman, Charles Davis, Jean Corbett and Edith Evanson.

The Young Stranger is directed by John Frankenheimer, runs 84 minutes, is made by Stuart Miller Productions, is released by RKO Radio Pictures and Universal Pictures, is written by Robert Dozier, shot in black and white by Robert H Planck, produced by Stuart Millar and scored by Leonard Rosenman, with Art Direction by Albert S D’Agostino and John B Mansbridge.

MacArthur was the adopted son of actress Helen Hayes and playwright Charles MacArthur. He was Danno in 259 episodes of Hawaii Five-0 (1968-1979).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8520

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James MacArthur (1937–2010).