Max Frost, the Reboot

 

by Pa Rock

Film Fan

Back in the very late 1960's a couple of college friends and I went to a drive-in theatre in Springfield, Missouri, to see a new movie titled "Wild in the Streets," and we liked it so well that we went back a few nights later and watched it again.    Today I have a copy of that same film on a compact disk which I occasionally watch when I get nostalgic for my misspent youth.   Over the years the movie has become regarded by many as a "cult classic."

"Wild in the Streets" tells the story of a very smart young man by the name of Max Frost who  grows up and becomes a rock star.  But Max isn't just interested in music, he also has a passion for politics, and from his position of influence with young people he begins pushing to bring teenagers into government.  Some of that is accomplished by amassing the energy and force of the nation's youth, and some is done through more nefarious means such as dumping large quantities of LSD into the water supply of Washington, DC.   Eventually Max is able to get one of his older groupies, a twenty-five year old spaced-out actress named Sally Leroy, elected to Congress where she proposes legislation opening the floodgates of voter participation to teens - thanks to the help of other congressmen who are delusional from the effects of LSD in Washington, DC's water supply.

Okay, so "Wild in the Streets" stretched the imagination a bit, but the movie was fun to watch and had a good soundtrack.  The main character, Max Frost, was played by a young actor named Christopher Jones who seemed to be on a road to becoming the next James Dean.  (Jones also starred in "Three in the Attic" which I reviewed not too long ago in this space.)  Also in "Wild in the Streets" were a few other noted actors including Shelly Winters, Hal Holbrook, Ed Begley, and a very young Richard Pryor in what was only his second film appearance.   

The soundtrack featured eight songs, five of which were performed by "Max Frost and the Troopers," and the most memorable of which was "Shape of Things to Come."  (Alexa knows it - ask her for a listen.)

The reason, of course, that I am rummaging through this particular corner of my mental storage unit today is that on Tuesday of this week the good people of the 10th congressional district in Florida nominated a Democratic candidate by the name of Maxwell Alejandro Frost - aged twenty-five - as the first member of Generation Z to run on a major party ticket for Congress.  Florida's 10th is a Democratic-leaning district, and he is expected to win the general election in November.  Frost, who will be the youngest member of Congress, is supported by national progressives including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

And Pa Rock has lived long enough to see Max Frost make another move on Congress.  Sooner or later it all comes around!