The in Crowd (1988) User Reviews

Hairspray, but seriously.

[Micheaux · 7/10 · 30 July 1999]

A previous commenter made mention of this film being akin to "Dirty Dancing". I think it is closer to "Hairspray", the plot lines are similar (getting on a dance show, how the crowd you are with can affect you) and the soundtracks to both are indeed quite wonderful. Apparently, Ricki Lake is in both pictures, to boot!

While "Hairspray" deserves praise for many things, including, as one critic put it, being so very much entwined in the 1962 Baltimore era it is almost like science fiction, I rather like to root for "In" Crowd, as it has quite a few nice small touches; Del's little brother runs up to him in the middle of the night for fear of monsters and Del lets him crawl into bed with him, Vicky's father's rather inappropriate affection gives us a sad, short insight into her bad home life, the montage of old music shows at the beginning of the film, the silent, paralyzing rage that Parker goes into when he sees Dick Clark (Clark left Philadelphia to go national and Parker never got his national break) to name a few.

It is certainly contrived in spots (some of the dance showcases are pleasant enough, but almost unnecessary), clichéd in some (Vicky's boyfriend is seen near the end of the film during a spooooooky thunderstorm), but it is well...earnest in its intent. The dialog is very good and the performances are at worst, very good, almost to a person. The ending is not a perfectly happy one, nor is it a dour one. It fits well with the movie. Rent it or see it. While not a classic, it is certainly better than it should be.

Good Movie About Early 60's Teens, Rock and Roll and Television

[jayraskin1 · 7/10 · 16 June 2012]

This movie had the misfortune of opening the same month, February, 1988, as John Waters "Hairspray." I suspect critics who compared it to "Hairspray" were probably unkind. If it had opened a month or two earlier, it may have been more successful.

The movie seems derivative of a lot of other 1970's and 1980's teenager movies: "Risky Business," "Footloose," "Grease," and even "American Graffiti." It doesn't come off well in a comparison with any of them. The little known Arthur Penn classic, "Four Friends" also is much better.

Yet, the movie does have a number of charming and sweet moments and often manages to find its own style. The references to Natalie Wood, for example are a nice touch. One forgets that Natalie Wood was a great influence on teenagers of the early 60's with movies like "Splendor in the Grass," "Gypsy" and "This Property is Condemned." I don't think many teenage girls related to the blatant casual sexuality of Marilyn Monroe or the deeply repressed sexuality of Doris Day, but Natalie Wood slowly explored and embraced her sexuality in a way that teenagers could relate to.

Donovan Leitch, Jennifer Runyon and Joe Pantoliano are all enthusiastic and fine in the leads. Also watch Scott Plank's nice performance as Dugan. Plank died tragically at 42 in a car accident after a successful career mostly on television.

Anyways, the lead actors are good, the music is good, and the dancing is good. The biggest problem is perhaps the script that doesn't create much tension or deep involvement.

It is unfortunate for this film that so many great films have been made about Rock and Roll of the early 60's. This film suffers by comparison only because it is not great, but as I noted before, individual moments make it worth watching.

Do You Like Good Music?

[boblipton · 6/10 · 12 July 2022]

It's 1965. In suburban Philadelphia, Donovan Leitch Jr. Is a high-school senior with a 4.0 GPA. He's also much taken with Jennifer Runyon, who's a regular dancer on Joe Pantoliano's pop music show. So Leitch sneaks into the theater and dances with Miss Runyon. The producers like the way they look together, so he becomes a regular too, and a shaky romance begins. But this is a teen drama, and so...

Everyone looks a little too old for their roles, but that's not what makes this one interesting. Musically, you'd think the British Invasion wasn't happening, but even that isn't the point. What makes this movie worth watching is Jerry Evans' choreography. It's so in-your-face and polished that it seems to break the fourth wall with its intensity. I was particularly struck by the dancing to the Marvellos' "I Do."

I absolutely love this movie!

[Ed in MO · 21 March 2003]

I guess when you are a kid of around six or seven, you start to notice the teenagers around you and what they're doing. And for the rest of your life you associate "cool" with the clothes, cars, music, and hair styles of the teenagers you see when you are a little kid. This movie really speaks to me, because I still get goose pimples when I see the fashions, cars, girls, hair, and everything else of the years 1965-67. And the wonderful music! Was there ever a better sound than the Philly sound of those years? I love all those doo-wop tunes--the O'Jays, Gene Chandler, "The Duke of Earl", Curtis Mayfield, Vee-Jay records, "The Real Thing", and on and on...

This film is excellent in so many ways, I can't list them all. First of all, the writer and director, Mark Rosenthal, got the look right. Philly in 1965 was a nice suburban city, with a core of hoods and blacks who brought spirit and life to the City of Brotherly Love. The acting is terrific from the young cast, and the extras put their heart and soul into the dancing and clothing of those years. Joe Pantoliano "becomes" Jerry Blavat and gives a wonderful and energetic performance. And I loved the ending, because the 60's only became the 60's when the kids discovered Dylan, San Francisco, and drugs. It was a step in the wrong direction, but this film serves as a time capsule. Maybe some future generation will rediscover that dancing, love and soul music make youth the best time of life.

Knew the point they were TRYING to get across

[paintbrush_2003 · 5/10 · 16 April 2006]

When I caught this movie on TV the other day, I kept watching it because I could tell the points they were trying to make, but somehow the filmmakers kept missing the mark. I really wanted to like this movie. I just kept getting distracted by its disjointedness and low production values. Case in point: Because I missed the opening, I had no idea what movie this was while I was watching it, but I could tell right away it had been made in the 80s even though it was obviously set in the 60s. The wardrobe and hair look like something a bunch of kids would do for a 60s theme dance with the help the their parents and 80s clothes out of their own closet. Every look was just enough off that it didn't look at all authentic.

I could almost follow the story line, and I did want the main character to succeed. BUT almost every line of dialogue was mumbled, and every scene rang false, as if I could see a map outlining that the actors needed to get from from A to B in a particular scene, but they don't actually ever get there. Yet the next scene continues on as if they did. It took me almost the whole movie to really get what was going on, and a lot of time it felt as if there were entire chunks of the movie missing. Overall it's a mediocre movie. Not terribly bad, just not terribly good. I can't quite explain why I kept watching - maybe I just kept hoping a scene would succeed. It looks as if they point they were trying to make was that time in your life when you know everything is changing. It's just been done much better elsewhere. By the way, the dancing is kinda' cool, but boy some of the moves look like 80s break dancing instead of 60s jive.

A Good Crowd

[pooh-24 · 9/10 · 21 July 2007]

The time:1965. The place:Phiuladelphia. The movie:The In Crowd. A fun and enjoyable timepiece about the time when Americans enjoyed and loved seeing and participating in dance shows in their various local cities. You see this when the movie ,cleverly, shows the beginnings of several dance TV shows from across the country and the hosts of these TV shows (Sam Riddle in Los Angeles, Wink Markindale in Memphis among others).

The movie centers on three stories. One having the movie's star, Donovan Leitch playing a character called Del. A bright young man with a bright future ahead of him but he wants to be a dancer on the local TV dance program, "Perry Parker's Dance Party". Del doesn't know it but he has nothing in common with the dancers on Perry Parker's show , except that he is a fine dancer himself which gets him a chance to be on the show.

The second part of the movie deals with Perry Parker himself, played by that great actor Joe Pantoliano. Parker .like most people in Philadelphia, feel betrayed that Dick Clark took American Bandstand away from Philaelphia and moved it to Los Angeles.He tries to tell his dancers that if Dick Clark fails the network may want to look for a replacement, like his own show for instance. Parker is like a lot of TV hosts of local shows of that era, hoping to be the next Ed Sullivan, the next Steve Allen, the next Dick Clark, the next Johnnny Carson. Hoping the networks will take him in a make him a big star on network television.

The third part deals with Del and his short love affair with Vicky (Jennifer Runyon). Vicky is pretty but is too lowbrow even for Del. This is one movie where the pretty girl fails to meet the expectations of the supposed geek in the film rather than the other way around. In the end Del tries to help Vicky leave Philadelphia and join her Fonzie like boyfriend Dugan (Scott Plank) as they head for Hollywood.

The In Crowd has great music using some good soul music in the film that is true to the era and not just the same old music you might have heard over and over again in other films about the early 1960's. The choreography is great and inspired and it makes for a good musical and that is what The In Crowd pretty much is. A musical. The living room dance duel between Del and Dugan is proof of that.

The movie told a true tale of how things were changing in America without getting highhanded and clumsy in how they did it. Perry Parker is a prime example of this. An associate producer tells him the show is getting low ratings and that the type of music he has on his show won't work. He should try Mitch Miller instead says the producer. The station manager(Blake Soper) has no use for Parker or his dance show and wants something else. When he brings along a British Invasion like group ,longhair and all to the TV studio and wants Paker to put them on the show, Parker says no saying that,thanks to the long hair, he can't tell if they are boys or girls. He was right, the group was all wrong for his dance show but Perry Parker's days on TV are numbered anyway.

Pantoliano is his usual great self here. As with all of his roles he makes Perry Parker his own. The film is a nice timepiece just before everything came apart in the US.The music, the dance numbers, and some decent acting make this a decent movie if you really wanted to know what America was like back in 1965.

It is the type of tale that Dick Clark tried to tell himself through the American Dreams TV series but failed miserably because the show was all over the map. It wasn't overwrought and overrated like the NBC mini series about the sixties called The 60's. The In Crowd is a good film that wasn't all that appreciated when in came out in theaters in 1988. Hopefully people shall take a better liking to it when they see it again in the future.

Continued watching because I couldn't believe how horrible!

[cad63 · 1/10 · 16 August 1999]

Supposed to be a fun retro '50s or '60s movie, but done very amateurishly. This is THE worst movie I have ever seen! The (lack of) plot is so bad and the acting and music are so cheesy that I asked myself aloud several times what I was doing watching it. The only reason I continued watching was because I couldn't believe how horrible it was! It wasn't even horrible in an odd funny way, like Hardbodies or Coneheads. The people who made this movie were serious about it, I think. DON'T EVEN WATCH THIS AS A JOKE!

Jennifer Runyon is no slouch either...!!!!!

[renfield54 · 10/10 · 18 April 1999]

I wasn't going to comment until I read one other comment extolling the "hotness" of Donovan Leitch. As my subject line says, Jennifer Runyon is no slouch either. Not really a tough city girl, more of a naive, simple minded girl who is very appealing. One of the main stars of a dance show, she has to be one of the least talented dancers in the movie and the most watched. But, as in the scene at the bus stop, she does the best "standing there" and groovin' to the music I have ever seen...hehehe... She is the catalyst for the movie's action and does an excellent job as the female lead...

forgettable

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 12 July 2022]

It's 60's Philadelphia. Perry Parker (Joe Pantoliano) is the host of a local dance show. Del Green (Donovan Leitch) is desperate to dance with the show's star dancer Vicky (Jennifer Runyon). Only she's in love with her dance partner Dugan (Scott Plank).

I know that Del is supposed to be a loser but the actor shouldn't actually be one. He needs to be one of the hot nerds. He needs to be the Matthew Broderick or Jon Cryer type. I have nothing against this guy but he's not leading man material. He seem to have had a lot of work but he's not good enough to carry a whole movie. Runyon is always gonna be the girl at the start of Ghostbusters. Finally, it's a bit weird having Joey Pants as some sort of teen idol. I actually don't remember this movie. It seems to have come and gone without much effect. It's forgettable then and it's still that now.

The best soundtrack that was never released!

[mojo2004 · 6 August 2004]

I saw this movie back when I used to get the "Encore" movie channel. The movie to me was campy at first but the more I saw it the more I loved it.Great dancing,likable kids,and songs you just don't hear in

every teen 60's movie.I was heart-broken when I read Orion Studios went broke and this movie was never released on a big scale.I'm not saying the acting is great in fact most of the actors are bad but the spirit of teen dance shows is alive and making you want to get up and boogie. Betten than the show "American Dreams" to me and picking Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" to end the movie was perfect.I, like others also found this movie in the dicount bin and it made my day.Again kudos to whomever picked the songs used in the movie."When You're Young and In Love", "Cast Your Fate to the Wind"..... oh it made me cry.......

Donovan Leitch is hot!

[Lizzy_C · 10/10 · 6 December 1998]

Donovan Leitch (model, actor, glam rock singer of the band "Nancy Boy", brother of actress Ione Skye "Say Anything", and son of 60's singer Donovan) is totally hot, and he is great in this movie! Especially his dancing! A must see for any fan of Dono, of 80's films, or of the 60's! Plus the music is great!

Proud to be a Philadelphian!!

[rdambrosio-593-480208 · 10/10 · 27 January 2013]

An absolutely wonderful movie that is still one of the best-kept secrets of 1980s cinema. Being a Philadelphian, I love this movie if for no other reason that our city is rarely featured in period piece films. The producers of "The In Crowd" got most of the nuances of 1960s Philadelphia correct-the red police cars, shopping at Gimbel's (they went to the Cheltenham store), adults listening to WIP on the radio(although the announcer they used for it, Ed Hurst, never worked at WIP),and Vicki wearing a Phillies' jacket with the proper "P" logo of that time. Furthermore, the exterior of the school that Vicki attended is Little Flower High School, one of the three all-girls high schools in Philadelphia. Del's school, Cheltenham High, is the alma mater of hall of famer Reggie Jackson, who, according to the time period of the movie, had just graduated the year before. I think the train station the kids hung out in was the Wayne Junction station, but I could be wrong. The movie is wholesome and engaging. The characters are such that you really care about what happens to them. It's a shame they don't make movies like this anymore.Treat yourself and watch this, regardless of your age. Give this 5 stars!!

True to "Growing up in 60's Philly"

[roadtrip-2 · 6 August 1999]

The first time I watched this movie, I knew from the beginning's great vintage clips of local dance programs that this movie was going to convey the fun feel of the early 60's. The "In Crowd" must have been written by people who really grew up in early 60's Philadelphia. Instead of a generic Hollywood "retro" feel, I saw a more distinctive, local atmosphere to this film. Joe Pantoliano's "Perry Parker" character is a dead-on reference to Philly's own Jerry Blavat (a local radio legend) from his looks right down to his jive patter. The old Philly Dances (Mickey's Monkey, the Soul Street) are performed fantastically by the dancers to overlooked soul/dance classics that would be considered obscure anywhere else. Even the local "clash of classes" is well-represented in the characters' respective areas; Del and Gail from Cheltenham's conservative, upper-middle-class area, and the gritty, streetwise but lovable characters from the urban Philly areas (the tv station scenes were shot in and around Upper Darby's Tower Theatre). One of my favorite scenes is when Del is upstairs in his typical 60's teenage boy's room, attempting to pick up Philly's "WIBG Radio 99" on his little transistor radio. You can even hear classic dj Hy Lit's famous "Hyski O'Roonie McVoughty O'Zoot" jingle amidst the static. And what Philadelphia native doesn't remember the old Wildwood radio record hops "down the shore" in the 60's? And lots of kids snuck out of school early then, to try to get on the local dance programs. Ok, so this film may not have been Oscar material, but it truly makes me feel good every time I see it; it brings back so many good feelings from that era, and showcases great 60's Philly music.

The best movie EVAR!

[tinaeilene · 10/10 · 13 September 2006]

Me and my sister used to watch this movie REPEATEDLY growing up. My dad taped it off of HBO or something and I watched it until the tape literally deteriorated. I had not seen it in years and then I mentioned it to a friend of mine. A week later I woke up to find the movie on my front door step. I now watch it religiously again. I am thankful that this part of my childhood has returned but it would be much greater on DVD.

The plot summary kind of leaves you wondering if it is worth the rent. Let me tell you, it IS. Well if you are a teenage girl who likes music from the 50's and 60's LOL Del is 'in love' with Vicky, who he watches on an after school dance show called 'Perry Parker.' Vicky however does not know he exists and has a boyfriend who also dances on the show, Doogan (Dugan?) Del finds a way to sneak into the dance show, befriending Vicky. Doogan, the rebel with a record, is not pleased with the situation and does what he can to make it work in his favor.

My favorite character of all was Ina, Vicky's best friend, and Popeye's girlfriend.

"OH BOY, Let's break out the Tang!" Definitely worth watching, even if it is just for a laugh. :-D

The In Crowd ... One of my ALL TIME favorite movies!!

[jmes-2 · 10/10 · 19 April 2009]

The In Crowd is definitely one of my all time favorite movies. Watching this is a "time machine" for me. It takes me back to those days watching dance shows every afternoon. (Anyone remember Cam Nelson (?) dancing on L. A. TV every afternoon? - don't remember the show) The story line is a bit weak, but the dancing, music, simplicity of the time strike home with me ... it takes me back to that era when I was a teenager in So. Cal. ...

I lucked out many years ago at a Laserdisc store that was going out of business -- found a rental LD that was for sale .. one of the best investments of my life! Converted it to DVD and now watch it half a dozen times a year ...

I suggest that if you have the opportunity, take a chance and watch it -- accept it for what it is -- a dancing TV show in a simpler time with great music and dancing ... you might waste an hour and a half or you might be completely entertained ...

Oh, BTW -- Jennifer Runyon -- will you please marry me? :)

Regards, J

A male version of "Dirty Dancing"

[robertb-4 · 26 March 1999]

This coming-of-age movie is sort of a male version of "Dirty Dancing" with a young man from a wealthy suburb falling for a tough city girl. The best thing about it is the soundtrack, which is packed with undeservedly overlooked R & B from the '60s--great songs like the Marvelows' "I Do," Tina Britt's "The Real Thing," the Majors' "A Wonderful Dream" and the Marvelettes' "When You're Young And In Love." It's a refreshing change from the typical '60s movie with songs you've already heard a million times. The dancing is terrific, Donovan Leitch and Jennifer Runyon are appealing as the young lovers, and Joe Pantoliano is outstanding as DJ Perry Parker.

The In Crowd

[natalie-63 · 10/10 · 5 January 2005]

Or Dance party as it was when i had it years ago. This is a classic film, how can anybody not like it! Saying that i like all the teenage music films like hairspray, shag, footloose etc. Why has this not been released on DVD yet?, its a classic, it should be. Its all about this guy, Del who falls for a good looking girl (Cant remember her name)who obviously has a boyfriend (as they all do) but he gets put inside and Del manages to worm his way in with his girlfriend on the TV show. She ends up falling for him but the X is always there in the back ground. You have to watch it to see but if you like the cheesy teenage dance films you will love this... I Do

Splendid 60s nostalgia film.

[sonya90028 · 10/10 · 22 March 2011]

Donovan Leitch Jr., stars as 60s teenager Del Green. Del is a nerdy guy, who lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Though Del is a scholar, he loves to dance to songs on the radio. He also digs the Perry Parker show, which is an after school teen dance show, much like American Bandstand. And Del has a wicked crush, on the Perry Parker Show's reigning queen of the cast of dancers, Vicki (played by the gorgeous Jennifer Runyon).

Meanwhile, Del's suburban friends, especially his neighbor Gail, think that Del should concentrate on studying to take the College Board exam, so that he can get into a good college. Gail thinks that Del's infatuation with Vicki, is just Del's 'hood fantasy', and that he ought to wise-up, and forget about Viki.

Nevertheless, Del tells Gail, that he want to go and try out as one of the dancers, on the Perry Parker show. Del is hassled outside of the dance studio, by some tough, working class guys, who are regulars on Perry's show. But with a stroke of luck, and some clever thinking, Del get into the set of Perry's show.

Del is hand-picked by Perry to be Vicki's dance partner, since Vicki's old partner and boyfriend Dugan, was banned from Perry's show. Seems that Dugan is a trouble-maker, who went to jail for stealing a car. For a while, Del dates Vicki, and is even accepted by Vicki's over protective father, who never liked Dugan. But Del is unaware that he's just being used by Vicki, as part of her convoluted plan, to run away to California with Dugan, without her father finding out.

This film has a lot of nice touches. The glamor of the Perry Parker show, including the dancers, is palpable. The gritty, urban environment of the Perry Parker show, and the mid-60s ruffians, are very authentic. As is the the sheltered suburban environment, in which Del lives. I also liked the spot-on 60s radio jingles and commercials, that Del was listening to on his portable transistor radio. The music in this movie, was excellent. It featured many of the stellar recording stars of the 60s; Mitch Ryder, Dionne Warwick, Wilson Pickett, and many others.

Donovan Leitch did an excellent job, in his portrayal of the gawky, awkward, yet charismatic Del Green. The supporting cast, was wonderful too. Especially Joe Pantoliano as the shifty, yet vulnerable Perry Parker, Scott Plank, as the charming hood Dugan, and Sean Sullivan, as Del's tough-guy, mad-cap pal Popeye. The In Crowd, is quite an enjoyable film, and I recommend it to all, who are nostalgic for the 60s.

A great sense of time and Place of Philadelphia at the 60's end

[steves-5 · 24 May 2000]

If you lived through the Jerry Blavat Era in Philadelphia [c.1964-1969], this movie is a mirror of life. The locale's, mostly Cheltenham, Philadelphia and Wildwood touch a nerve of conciousness to all who lived through that turbulent time period.

It is too bad that there is no sound track album, because it is exemplary. I can still feel the music pounding through my brain when I watch this film, as I did when I danced to it in real life.

I highly recommend the film for a reminder of simpler times-and the closing "Like a Rolling Stone" is just the capstone on the end of an era.

Awesome 80's movie!

[aveyqueen · 10/10 · 28 May 2021]

Sigh...so miss the nostalgic throwback movies from the 80's. The music was phenomenal using real records hearing the grit and rawness of an actual live recording. There was nothing to worry about with being "PC." What I had hoped growing up was that as time went by, it was going to be equal for EVERYONE to say what was on their minds and there not be such a big uprising because of it. Boy, was I wrong. I still have hope. We still laugh and smile when comedians say things in a controlled environment so hopefully open conversation with each other is next.

It's the original Hairspray, Grease and HS musical

[northsidequeen · 10/10 · 14 July 2019]

Why didn't they sue? I never saw this before. Now I know why all these musicals seem the same.

I couldn't stay away!

[oyerbides · 12 January 2002]

I caught this one while channel searching. At first I simply took a look and then moved on but I found myself coming back and by about the third trip back I was hooked. Yeah it's a little campy and it is a dance movie but I found myself wanting to watch and even dance a little. It is a heartfelt coming of age movie for a young man growing up in the 50 - 60's. Teen love, angst, peer pressure, and the desire to find out who we really are; this movie has it all. I even tried to find it 2nd-hand to buy. I recomend it to anyone who remembers what teen life is all about.

being an extra

[bunbunmiller · 21 July 2011]

Many of my friends and i were extras in this when they filmed it in Wildwood. The film company took a bunch of high school kids from the nearby high schools. It was the beginning of my sophomore year in 1986 and quite a way to start it. It is a great campy movie and a much overlooked one, too. Altho i think my personal scene was cut (so much for my 15 minutes of fame), i know many dear friends...who i am still close to this day...do appear in it. The experience of being put in hair, makeup and costume resonates with me to this day. My gang and I still talk about it when we get together. For a brief 15 seconds, i was able to meet some of the stars. Joey P. really took his career to big heights, in spite of this flick. Regardless, this reviewer's very biased opinion: give it a roll!

great dancing & music, in humorous teen-age growing-up story

[mparks · 1 May 2003]

The earlier review saying this is one of the worst movies ever made is obviously from someone who hasn't seen a lot of bad movies. All I can guess is that it brought back too many bad memories of the reviewer's teen-age years, teen-age angst being one of the things with which this movie deals. All in all, I found it quite enjoyable, especially because it made such good use of the music from the time, including Vince Guaraldi's big hit "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" (and when that song plays in the background, it is really telling you something about what is going to happen). The story line is not much, dealing with teen-age romance and growing pains, and with the difficulties of trying to fit into the currently popular styles, whatever they may be, but it's not terrible either. Joey Pants' speech in the classroom is a classic, and a lot of the other scenes in the movie transcend the story. I certainly wouldn't call it a great movie, but if you enjoyed "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", or "Some Kind of Wonderful", then you'll have a good time watching this one too.

Peter Boyle plays his father in uncredited cameo

[alelia1 · 29 August 2000]

Peter Boyle (Young Frankenstein, Everybody Loves Raymond)made an uncredited cameo. It is a scene where Del walks into the studio. Sally Starr, a hero on 1950's Philly kid shows, asks "Uncle Pete" to draw Del a picture. In fact, that is what Peter Boyle's real father, Uncle Pete, did on Philly TV in the 50's, drawing pictures between cartoons on his after school show.