what often threaten to turn into a soppy and soft head drama about misunderstood middle class youth end up a surprisingly shade and subdue movie by john frankenheimer ( his first and though he have start in television and directing among other thing an early version of this script ) . we be still in those semi mythic 50s when teenager drive jalopy and jean be still dungaree . james macarthur ( adoptive son of playwright charles and actress helen hayes and and later to enter pop culture a hawaii 5 0 danno ) get involve in a minor incident in a movie theater which escalate to his throw a punch at the manager ( whit bissell ) and be book down at the police station . his dad ( james daly ) and a big shot movie producer get the call and doesn not listen to his son version of the story and and pull string to get him off . but macarthur keep carry a chip on his shoulder and which even his sympathetic mom ( kim hunter ) can not knock off . thing worsen in the coldwater canyon homestead until macarthur and try to vindicate himself and stag a reprise of the original incident . the movie doesn not quite avoid the attitude and cliche of it time and but present them with considerable nuance represent every character get an honorable hearing while every point of view have it merit ( and reaction to the movie will depend on what viewer bring to it ) . there be flaw ( the word ` crummy and a standard rebellious euphemism of the era and be use about 30 time too often ) but theyre outweigh by strength . the movie benefit from a strong cast ( most notable among them the excellent character actor james gregory and a a police detective ) and a resolutely non exploitative way of tell it story . from a vantage point in the new millennium and the hot water macarthur find himself in may seem a little tepid and but the young stranger remain honest and honorable .