Friday, November 5, 2010

Paperback 367: High School Confidential / Morton Cooper (Avon T-257)

Paperback 367: Avon T-257 (PBO, 1958)

Title: High School Confidential
Author: Morton Cooper
Cover artist: My hero (Uncredited!!!)

Yours for: $30

AvonT257.HSConfid

Best things about this cover:
  • I wish I had this cover image in poster-sized form; I would frame it and hang it next to my movie poster of "The Beat Generation" (1959) or "The Big Operator" (1959) — I went through a Mamie Van Doren phase, what can I say?
  • Why aren't books this pretty any more? Beautifully-sketched urban scene, awesomely attitudinal teen-agers, and confident, bold, eye-popping use of color. No idea what's going on with the title font, but I love it.
  • Juvenile delinquency = my favorite '50s paranoia.

AvonT257bc.HSConf

Best things about this back cover:
  • Mamie!
  • I can't believe I haven't seen this movie. From the description, I'd say there's nothing not to like about this movie. I mean, "hot-rod hipsters and jive-talking cool cats!?" What more do you want?
  • Hmmm. I knew there was a John Barrymore. And I know Drew Barrymore. I did not, however, know there was a John Drew Barrymore. I wonder how the family reacted to the exciting news that John Drew would be getting third billing behind the likes of Russ Tamblyn and Jan Sterling.

Page 123~

She blinked at him. "Yup," she nodded agreeably. "Yup and double yup. Gonna do my duty," she promised, saluting patriotically only a moment before she caved in and fell to the nearest chair, apparently dead to the world.
"Yup and double yup." There's some jive-talking I insist on bringing back.

~RP

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3 comments:

Deb said...

I believe John Drew Barrymore is Drew Barrymore's father.

Larry said...

Movie opens with Jerry Lee Lewis on a piano on a flatbed truck pounding out some theme related rocker in front of a high school. Only gets better from there. Love seeing Mamie Van D's rockets pushing against her sweater. Were guys disappointed when the bra came off and there were no cone shapped you know whats? I guess not.

Tulse said...

Huh -- I only know this reference from the identically titled Rough Trade song (which also name-checks Mamie).