Synopsis

From a longtime Vanity Fair writer and editor, a delightfully entertaining, intelligent, and illuminating history and tribute to teen moviesfrom Rebel Without a Cause to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and on to John Hughes, Mean Girls, The Hunger Games, and more.What influence did Francis Ford Coppola have on George Lucass American Graffiti? And Lucas on John Singletons Boyz n the Hood? How does teenage sexuality in Fast Times at Ridgemont High compare to Twilight? Which teen movies pass the Bechdel test? Why is Mean Girls actually the last great teen film of the 20th century? In the same way that Peter Biskinds Easy Riders, Raging Bulls connects the films of the 1970s to the periods cultural upheaval, and David Hadjus Positively 4th Street tells the story of the sixties through the emergence of folk music, Bruce Handys Hollywood High situates iconic teen movies within their times and reveals the intriguing stories, artists, and passions behind their creation. These films arent merely beloved stories; they reflect teens growing economic and cultural influence, societal panics, and shifting perceptions of youth in America. Much more than a nostalgia trip, Hollywood High is a lively, provocative, and affectionate cultural history, spanning nearly one hundred years. Handy, an acclaimed journalist and critic who spent two decades at Vanity Fair, examines the defining films of each generation and builds connections between them. From the Andy Hardy classics (19371946) to the iconic Rebel Without a Cause (1955); Beach Party series (19631968); American Graffiti (1973); Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); the John Hughes touchstones Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Buellers Day Off (19841986); Boyz N the Hood (1991); Mean Girls (2004); the Twilight saga (20082012); and The Hunger Games series (20122015); this is a captivating deep dive into the world of teen movies that captures their sweeping history and influence. Well hear from icons James Dean, Annette Funicello, George Lucas, Amy Heckerling, John Hughes, Molly Ringwald, John Singleton, Tina Fey, and Kristen Stewart, and discover why the most timeless teen movies resonate across generations.

About The Author

Bruce Handy is a journalist, critic, humorist, and childrens book author. His work has appeared inThe New Yorker,Vanity Fair,The New York Times, andThe Atlantic, among other publications. His bookWild Things: The Joys of Reading Childrens Literature as an Adultwas published in 2017. He is also the author of five picture books, includingThe Happiness of a Dog with a Ball in Its MouthandWhat If One Day…, both of which were named New York Times Best Childrens Books. He began his career as a writer and editor atSpymagazine, and also spent a season (19921993) writing forSaturday Night Live.