Life Begins at 17 is a 1958 American drama film starring Dorothy Johnson, Mark Damon, Edd Byrnes and Luana Anders.[1]

Life Begins at 17
Elaine Peck (Dorothy Johnson) and boyfriend Jim Parker (Edd Byrnes)
Directed byArthur Dreifuss[1]
Written byRichard Baer[2]
Produced bySam Katzman
StarringMark Damon
Dorothy Johnson
Luana Anders
Edd Byrnes
CinematographyFred Jackman, Jr.
Edited bySaul A. Goodkind
Production
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Release dates
  • July 1958 (1958-07) (United States)
  • August 16, 1958 (1958-08-16) (Los Angeles)
Running time
74 minutes
CountryUS
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Carol Peck, a 17-year-old from Indiana, has an older sister, Elaine, who is a beauty queen. Carol wins a local pageant, to the delight of her parents Virginia and Harry and her dependable, mild-mannered boyfriend, Jim.

A smug, prep-school boy, Russ Lippincott, openly declares during the beauty contest his intention to date the winner. Elaine is intrigued, but declines. Russ is determined to make a conquest, so he uses her little sister Carol, pretending to be interested in her instead. Elaine wins the title of Miss Indianapolis, then takes up with Russ, insisting he tell Carol the truth.

A misunderstanding leads to a false assumption that Russ and Carol have been intimate, compounded by a broken-hearted Carol claiming she is pregnant. Russ is threatened with expulsion from school and possible arrest for sex with a minor. When she confesses her lie, Carol wins newfound respect from Russ, who becomes genuinely interested in her while Elaine returns to Jim.

Cast

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Production

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It was known as The Teenage Story during production.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Life Begins at 17". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  2. ^ "Writer Richard Baer dies at 79". Variety. February 25, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  3. ^ Scheuer, P. K. (Jan 28, 1958). "Brazzi wins deborah kerr". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167254752.
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