Wow! Star Troy Donahue sings the opening song while the credits roll at the beginning.This is basically another take off of fun filled spring breaks in college.Jack Weston, as the basketball coach, really steals the show with his supposedly tough persona, only to find romance himself while on retreat with the guys.The movie has the usual takes with fun in the swimming pool, the big fight during a swinging party but takes on serious overtones when a spoiled, neglected young man vies for the attention of a girl and almost kills his competitor. There is a serious moment when the guy is forced to look at himself for his actions.

Released in the first week of November 1963, Palm Springs Weekend was what Hollywood was presenting as hard partying Spring Break rebelliousness before the sea change in this country just up ahead. Counter culture was about people who hung around diners not those dissatisfied with the system and in Weekend we get a skewed representation of American youth; blonde, blue eyed (Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Ty Hardin) neatly attired with bad taste in music.The raging hormone set are off to Palm Springs for the weekend from LA along with some bumbling grown ups like basketball coach (Jack Weston) who is intent on keeping his boys in training but ultimately succumbs himself to the temptations of the party culture. Locally Chief Dixon (Andrew Duggan) and daughter Bunny (Stephanie Powers) argue the generation gap. The stage is now set for the kids to hook-up and dance, kiss, fight and celebrate the stupidity of youth circa 63 but even back then this was pretty tame stuff.Director Norman Taurog keeps things flood lit and flat most of the way juggling his roster of second stringers to help give the film a pulse but the humor is heavy handed, the romance beyond mawkish. It takes itself a little more serious than the Frankie and Annette Beach saga which began the same year but it more or less delivers the same sand in your bathing suit result of insipid irritation. Today it can be seen as a goofy time piece of more innocent and secure times.

This is a mostly wimpy "Palm Springs Weekend" trip to "Where the Boys Are" (1960) territory. The studio stars an attractive cast of slightly long-in-the-tooth "teen idols" from Warner Bros. In case you miss the point, they court MGM lawyers by proclaiming "It's Where the Boys Are and Where the Girls Are" in advertising. From the just concluding youthful TV favorite "Hawaiian Eye" come cuties Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, and Robert Conrad. Hollywood westerners Ty Hardin and Stefanie Powers round out the kissing quintet.You can't completely pan anything with a pre-teen Billy Mumy featured, but this one might make you want to be wished into the cornfield. Don't worry, Mumy's robotic companion Bob May is around to help you out. Mr. Donahue is assigned singing duty on the Elvis-like "Live Young" over the opening credits, which might have given Presley pal Red West déjà vu during "Roustabout" (1964). The Technicolor cast is sprinkled with familiar faces, contract players, and guest stars. Connections to Kevin Bacon should come in few degrees.**** Palm Springs Weekend (11/5/63) Norman Taurog ~ Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Stefanie Powers, Robert Conrad

The film's story is about what one would expect for a romantic comedy from the early 1960s. California guys chase girls, and vice versa. With an exception or two, the tone is lighthearted, upbeat, frothy, and fluffy.The script has an ensemble cast. Connie Stevens, Ty Hardin, Stefanie Powers, and Robert Conrad probably fare the best. And Carole Cook, as a perky hotel clerk, is quite good. But Andrew Duggan, Jack Weston, and Jerry Van Dyke all seem out of place here.Major characters have enough dimension, though just barely, to make them reasonably interesting, especially Gale Lewis (Stevens) and Eric Dean (Conrad). One could argue that the script over-populates the story. Three or four main characters might have worked better. As is, the plot is all over the place as it flits from one character to another.Comedy is quite juvenile. It is very unsubtle, and veers toward slapstick. As an example, an annoying little boy named Boom-Boom creates havoc when his behavior results in a swimming pool that fills up with soap bubbles.Music trends decidedly upbeat. I like the Van Dyke/Hardin duo of "Bye Bye Blackbird". But I could have wished for some songs from the early 60s. The Kingston Trio performs a rather uninteresting number. More interesting than the song are the large, unattractive horn-rimmed glasses the lead singer wears.Don't expect any complex plot or heavy-duty message here. "Palm Springs Weekend" is pure fluff, engineered for entertainment. As such, the film will appeal mostly to older audiences yearning for a bit of early 1960s nostalgia.