The harmonica boys are a group of trouble making teenagers (way past the draft age) who join the regular gang of the teen-agers series to convince the college town's corrupt mayor (Donald MacBride) to open up a youth center. Candy Candido is his nephew who to his own admittance has become stupid simply out of practice, using a cartoon like voice to make his brainless character all the more idiotic. In fact, Candido was a veteran of voice overs, and is the oldest teenager ever here at 35.
Veteran character actor MacBride, a veteran expert of the slow burn, plays both the mayor and his father, disguised through old age makeup. In the opening scene, cook Martha Davis serves the elder MacBride his breakfast, performing "The Kitchen Song", walking away with the movie even though that's her only time on screen. The Harmonica Boys are thrust onto the stage after a prank involving fireworks, and are quite good, although they are as dangerous as a box of puppies.
The regular gang of teenagers have limited footage in this and as a result, the film is surprisingly much better than those made between the first one and this. The plot itself is a tired one, a retread of ones done over and over, but individual elements of the film adds a charm to it. MacBride is fabulous in the dual role. The music is also quite welcome here with an appearance by Gene Krupa. Fans of "The Wizard of Oz" need to listen closely as Candido was the voice of the angry apple tree.
Veteran character actor MacBride, a veteran expert of the slow burn, plays both the mayor and his father, disguised through old age makeup. In the opening scene, cook Martha Davis serves the elder MacBride his breakfast, performing "The Kitchen Song", walking away with the movie even though that's her only time on screen. The Harmonica Boys are thrust onto the stage after a prank involving fireworks, and are quite good, although they are as dangerous as a box of puppies.
The regular gang of teenagers have limited footage in this and as a result, the film is surprisingly much better than those made between the first one and this. The plot itself is a tired one, a retread of ones done over and over, but individual elements of the film adds a charm to it. MacBride is fabulous in the dual role. The music is also quite welcome here with an appearance by Gene Krupa. Fans of "The Wizard of Oz" need to listen closely as Candido was the voice of the angry apple tree.
