Back in the groovy 1960's there was a generation gap and the youth had a slogan, "Don't trust anyone over age 30". This is taken to its illogical conclusion in WILD IN THE STEETS.
Max Flatow (Christopher Jones) runs away from home and 7 years later emerges as Max Frost. He fronts a rock band called The Troopers and sells illicit drugs. The 22 year-old rich pop star and drug pusher launches a campaign for teen-age emancipation. He proclaims: "I have nothing against our current President... that's like running against my own grandfather. I mean, what do you ask a 60-year-old man? You ask him if he wants his wheelchair facing the sun, or facing away from the sun. But running the country? Forget it, babies!"
He runs for the senate, wins in a landslide, doses Washington's water supply with LSD, has the voting age lowered to age 15, then is elected President of the USA. American youth take over. Thirty is the mandatory retirement age, and adults over age 35 are imprisoned and fed a daily dose of LSD. Max's mother, Mrs. Daphne Flatow (Shelley Winters), joins him in the White House, and says, "I'm sure my son has a very good reason for paralyzing the country." Later she is arrested for being "overage". She protests hysterically, "No, no, no, I'm young! I'm young! I'm very young. I'm very young!" The Hook, Abraham (Larry Bishop) takes her into custody and replies, "Lady... you are the biggest mother of them all."
When President Frost informs a senator's daughter that he is 24, she responds with contempt, "That's old." Sally LeRoy (Diane Varsi) his former keyboard musician becomes a Senator for California and says, "America's greatest contribution has been to teach the world that getting old is such a drag." Max Frost is then challenged by youths even younger than himself.
Richard Pryor appears as Stanley X, drummer and political activist. Other actors include: Hal Holbrook, Millie Perkins, Bert Freed, Kevin Longhlin, Michael Margotta, Ed Begley, Sally Sachse, Kellie Flanagan, Don Wyndham, Mary Ishihara, Dick Clark, Walter Winchell, Gary Busey, Bobby Sherman, and Peter Tork. Robert Thorn wrote the script. Original music is by Les Baxter. Barry Shear directed.
The songs on the soundtrack are: ""Wild In The Streets", "Love To Be Your Man", "Shapes Of Things To Come", "Free Lovin'", "Fifty Two Percent", Fourteen Or Fight", "Sally LeRoy", "Listen To The Music", "Shelley In Camp", and "Psychedelic Senate".
WILD IN THE STREETS is an entertaining tongue-in-cheek fantasy. It's a funny political satire and melodrama with many gags. An understanding of the 1960's youth revolution is crucial to appreciating this teen exploitation cult film.
