This was definitely not a drive-in movie where programmers about wild teens were being released faster than fleas on dogs. While Pat Boone is the top billed stars (and sings three songs including one of his biggest hits, as well as a samba), it's "Bewitched" replacement actor Dick Sargent (then 27) who has the main story, playing a high school senior who may not graduate because of bad grades. Boone plays his best friend who helps him study. There is no character named Bernadine. It's just the excuse for a title song, the nickname for what Boone, Sargent and pals (which includes Ronnie Burns, son of George and Gracie) refer to as the perfect girl.
Janet Gaynor sadly is completely wasted as Sargent's widowed mother, thinking of marrying a man Sargent can't stand just to have a mature male influence in the family. Odd time in an 18 year old boy's (who looks 27) life to have a potential stepfather for the reason of guidance. Natalie Schaefer has one of her many supporting roles as a bubble headed matron, playing Boone's mother, with stern Dean Jagger as his father. Terry Moore really has nothing to do as the girl Boone likes, completely useless plotwise. Isabel Jewell gets two good scenes as the wisecracking owner of the teen hangout, and Emestine Wade is very funny as Gaynor's housekeeper, Cleo. Pleasant but rather ordinary, but it did lead to Boone getting better parts.
Janet Gaynor sadly is completely wasted as Sargent's widowed mother, thinking of marrying a man Sargent can't stand just to have a mature male influence in the family. Odd time in an 18 year old boy's (who looks 27) life to have a potential stepfather for the reason of guidance. Natalie Schaefer has one of her many supporting roles as a bubble headed matron, playing Boone's mother, with stern Dean Jagger as his father. Terry Moore really has nothing to do as the girl Boone likes, completely useless plotwise. Isabel Jewell gets two good scenes as the wisecracking owner of the teen hangout, and Emestine Wade is very funny as Gaynor's housekeeper, Cleo. Pleasant but rather ordinary, but it did lead to Boone getting better parts.