Mischief (1985) - The Climax of '80s Teen Sex Comedies

"Mischief" (1985).

"Mischief" (1985) is one of my favorite films of all time, and for all the wrong reasons - well, right reasons. "Mischief" sparkles with scenic vistas, classic cars, and teenage lust. But even beyond its obvious prurient appeal, "Mischief" has a quirky charm all its own. You really do get a feel for the repression of the 1950s and the associated impositions on ordinary folks yearning to break free from.... Oh, who am I kidding - it's a teen sex comedy, folks! Enjoy "Mischief" for what it is!

That's how falling out of a car looks when carefully posed, but it's not the final shot used for the film poster ....

"Mischief," directed by Mel Damski (sorry, I love that name) and written by Noel Black (who claims it is "somewhat autobiographical," yeah, well, probably not the Kelly Preston part), belongs in the pantheon of teenage sex comedies. If you watch this largely (unjustly!) forgotten film, it probably is because of Kelly Preston's awesome performance as the beauteous fair maiden Marilyn McCauley, the object of lust for our horny hero, Jonathan Bellah, played by Doug McKeon. "Mischief" fits in well with other '80s films set in whole or in part in small towns during the 1950s, the most famous probably being "Back To The Future."

That's how you REALLY fall out of a car! Notice the prominent panties! But it still isn't the final shot used for the "Mischief" film poster. They must have spent quite some time getting the right pose.

Set in rural Ohio in 1956, this tale follows the path of Jonathan as he pursues the aforesaid wondrous Marilyn, the prettiest girl in town. At first (and, to some eyes, always) a complete nerd, Jonathan gets advice from a local friend Gene (Chris Nash) who has watched one or two too many James Dean films.

He just ran into a fire hydrant because of her, so what does Kelly Preston's character in "Mischief" do?  Dance in the water, of course! And he loves it!

That is the whole story of "Mischief." Oh, there are complications, of course, but this is a Quest as much as any launched by King Arthur's knights. "Mischief" is a simple lust-after-the-impossibly-beautiful-yet-seemingly-unattainable-girl-but-somehow-finally-get-her film.  Isn't that true wish fulfillment? Along the way, there are various sub-plots and complications (there are bullies and runaways and school events and that sort of thing) that do little to distract from our hero's quest. Jonathan might as well be Sir Galahad given his single-minded obsession with conquering the fair Marilyn, whose name is spoken with reverential tones throughout.

Doug McKeon is our "Mischief" guide through the obsessions of a teenage boy in rural Ohio in 1956. Note the authentic background.

Everything but Jonathan's mission to seduce his love object really is just there to fill the time. Oh, and speaking of annoying subplots, Catherine Mary Stewart plays a classmate, Bunny Miller, with her own romantic issues. She is the object of Gene's lust, and, yes, they play out the whole classic James Dean film scenario, planning on leaving town on his motorbike. For some reason, Catherine Mary Stewart got a higher cast credit in "Mischief" than Kelly Preston, something I'm still trying to figure out since Kelly's character completely dominates the entire film.

Those old cars took a lot of punishment in "Mischief." D.W. Brown has thankless role as a teen heavy which results in an epic demolition derby through town.

As usual in these sorts of seemingly throwaway films, there are some minor characters played by then-unknown actors who went on to bigger things. Terry O'Quinn, the best (and, some would say, only good) thing about the 2000's TV series "Lost," plays Gene's very strict dad, a violinist of all things. Jamie Gertz, who had some minor TV success in the 1990s and 2000s  (she almost got a part in "Friends"!), also is around in the background but plays a nerdy girl who doesn't figure into the main proceedings.

The four teen-ish leads of "Mischief."

Interestingly, this was probably the height of  the careers of Doug McKeon and Kelly Preston - if you don't count Kelly's subsequent relationship with Charlie Sheen and marriage to John Travolta as career moves, that is.

This is the picture they used for "Mischief" that was in my local paper when they reviewed it.

Seriously, the best thing about this film - apart, obviously, from Kelly Preston - is the atmosphere. You are immersed in small-town 1950s life. The main set, the actual town square in Nelsonville, Ohio when the film was made (and probably today, too!), apparently was little changed from the 1950s (and still is, according to some locals). There are lots of classic old cars and situations that feel authentic, but the sexual shenanigans are strictly 1980s.

I really shouldn't have to say anything about this picture sequence from "Mischief, as it speaks for itself, but let's give some hints so you know what's coming....

The key scene is set in Marilyn's bedroom with Marilyn and what's-his-name, sorry, Jonathan. No, they aren't playing Parcheesi!  Kelly completely dominates this scene. Ah, the look of outrageous lust!  Kelly sure has it. If female desire repulses you, stay far, far away from this film.

Wait!  Where did her dress go????? And his shirt???? It's a magic act!

Kelly is very natural about getting naked.  I think she has the best eyes in the business. She really knows how to communicate raw, overpowering seduction.

Oh My God, now her bra is gone, too, run and hide the children....

Kelly is, of course, just as beautiful with her clothes on. The way that she maintains the same look throughout her seduction scene with Jonathan is uncanny, and almost creepy - but in a good creepy way.

That nerdy girl with the glasses, Rosalie (Jami Gertz), is always around in the background to emphasize Kelly's beauty. Thank you, nerdy background girl!

Let's be honest, shall we? Most people are going to view this now in order to see Kelly Preston disrobe and get in sexual situations.  She does a fantastic job of taking off her clothes, one of the best such performances I, personally, have ever seen. And, again being honest, I've seen quite a few. Yes, Kelly Preston gets completely nude, naked as the day she met John Travolta.

It turns out that Marilyn has desires of her own, and is very forthright about fulfilling them. This is one of the best "the sweet and blazingly hot, innocent girl really isn't (innocent, that is)" performances you ever will ever. You may not be into seeing the object of lust for all the men in town being taken down like, well, a prize stag, but if you are, well, this is your film, buddy.  You are welcome!

Chris Nash plays Bunny's biker boyfriend in "Mischief."

Let me put this yet another way.  If the only thing that interests you about the film poster at the top of this post is the fine, fine classic American automobile in which our two heroes are situated, well, that is another reason that this may not be the film for you.  But, if you are here for the sex, the film also does showcase fine old US wheels!

You really can play "ID that car" with "Mischief."

If I haven't fully communicated the true thrust of this film completely enough yet, here's one last odd fact about it: the original film poster was subtly altered for the much later DVD and other releases.  In the original 1985 poster put in all advertising in newspapers and outside theaters (with the classic shot of Marilyn sprawled on a car seat after the passenger door has been opened), Jonathan is shown holding Marilyn's panties in his right hand.  That still may be the case in foreign releases, I don't know, but the panties are no more on current US DVDs and other media.

Marilyn's bedroom is almost as much a star of "Mischief" as the leads.

Airbrushing is evil! I want my panties! LOL. Anyway, that is why I found and put an original (foreign, that's all I could find) poster atop this post.  Incidentally, my old VHS copy also has the panties shown where they should be.  I suppose they figured that a boy holding a girl's panties was just a little too risque for modern family audiences of the 2000s... or, much more likely, some bullying, censoring stores that were still minor players in 1985 wouldn't agree to carry a DVD like that after they got big and arrogant (cough cough WMT cough cough).  Sadly, I guess times have changed.

Yep, there's the girl with the glasses in the background again to make Kelly look even prettier. Thanks again, nerd girl!

Highly recommended for the reasons stated above.  I don't know this for a fact, but I think that free-thinking female viewers will (at least secretly, who knows) like this film too, for its portrayal of female maneuvering toward the ultimate goal of everybody involved (and it may be a good test of such free-thinking hint hint). This is not "Citizen Kane," but if you enjoy films such as "Two Moon Junction" and "The Hot Spot," you really should find a copy of this one. Oh, the soundtrack with top hits from the likes of Elvis Presley is exceptional if you like '50s rock, find a copy of that, too.

"Mischief" (1985).

2017