Lorenz Tate was ALL wrong for this role
LT is a decent actor, and he even gave an otherwise decent performance, but I never connected with him being Frankie Lymon in this film. Frankie was a young teenager, like 12 or 13, when the Teenagers rose to fame. Lorenz played him like he was approx. 18 to 21. LT also looked silly lip syncing to Lymon's pubescent singing voice. Furthermore, not to be funny, but Tate was too good looking for the role. I read a review of this film that said Tate comes off more like a young Sammy Davis Jr. instead, and I agree.