The Plastic Age

This is one of a very long string of college athletics films made in the 1920s. They all had a lot in common: a gifted athlete who falls on his face due to either their ego or carousing, eventual maturation and redemption AND none of the students ever seem to go to classes! It seems in these films the number one priority is the team--and in most cases, like this one, it's the football team. And, of course, in this film it all boils down to "the big game" at the end of the movie. So this film is pure formula--through and through.

However, despite this, the film is worth watching for many reasons. First, unlike similar films like BROWN OF HARVARD, the hero never quite sinks to the same depths--so it seems a bit less clichéd. Also, it's a fascinating film for who's in it. While not yet stars, Clara Bow co-stars as the, what else, "party girl with a heart of gold" and Clark Gable is in a tiny part as one of the athletes. You'll really have to look closely to see him--as he's very young and thin and not at all the manly "he-man" he later was seen to be! Just look for the trademark ears--they're big enough it's hard to miss! So the overall verdict is that this is a lovely but very formulaic college film. If you've seen a bunch of 'em, then it's pretty skip-able unless you are dying to see Gable or Bow in early roles.

One of the first inter-titles of "The Plastic Age" states that the film is dedicated to the youth of the world. So, as you youngsters can imagine, this film started in a very suspicious way for this German Count. Because, in spite of the fact that the youth reflected in this movie is from the 20's, a youngster is always a youngster…and a risky period for people no matter what the era.

The film depicted the story of Hugh Carver (Donald Keith) a youngster and an athlete too (a terrible combination, indeed) who goes to college. This is in order to learn more about life… and athletics. He will certainly also learn in this experience about the evils of life such as ( in order of danger ) women ( Dame Clara Bow ) and tobacco while forgetting through the fault of these matters, his training, his running and all that exercising not to mention his studies… especially chemistry (except for that with Dame Bow ).

"The Plastic Age" it is another harmless and typical film production about a classic USA film sub-genre, that is to say, "innocent and sporty youngster knows a vamp girl who infatuated him; they love each other passionately, and then they love not but thanks to an important football game at the end of the film, that obviously the boy will win, they will love each other again till the end of times".

In accordance with the film, Herr Wesley Ruggles direction it is anodyne and predictable. There is no emotion or motion, nothing interesting happens in the film other than Dame Bow wears gowns nicely and that makes for scarce merits for this German aristocrat.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must practise his favourite sport, reach out the Porto glass and then put it on the Teutonic table.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/

You can't go wrong with Clara Bow, but if you're expecting a movie on the order of her later work prepare to be disappointed. I was entertained by this film, but some of the moments that made me laugh were probably not intentionally funny.

Donald Keith plays Hugh Carver, a high school athletic star who is going off to college. Before he leaves home, his mother (Mary Alden) tells his father (Henry Walthall, best known as the Little Colonel in "Birth of a Nation), to discuss with him "the things he should know." As his father explains sex to him, Hugh looks bewildered and shocked.

Upon arriving at Prescott College, Hugh initially learns that higher education consists of harmless hijinks. His roomie, Carl Peters, is quite the ladies man and party animal. Hugh dismisses talk of such things, saying "my athletics are fun enough for me."

We all know that can't last, and sure enough, while invading a womens house during his freshman hazing, Hugh meets Cynthia Day (Bow), the "real hotsy-totsy." Hugh ends up dancing with Bow, who is not so much dancing as having sex with her clothes on.

That's the start on Hugh's road to ruin, as he returns to his dorm and is apparently so inflamed by hormones that he decides to take up smoking. So much for being a big track star. Sure enough, he loses his first race, estranging him from his father.

Hugh doesn't care. He's deep into the party scene by this time, dating Bow mostly. This causes a fight between Hugh and Carl, destroying their relationship. Eventually Bow breaks up with Hugh, not wanting to completely destroy his innocence.

This puts him back on the right track, and he makes it to his senior year where the movie resolves itself predictably.

"The Plastic Age" comes on a 2 film DVD with "The Show-Off," another silent comedy that has Louise Brooks in a backup role. Bow and Brooks were destined for better things, but the DVD offers an interesting glimpse at the early work of two women who, along with Colleeen Moore, defined the flapper era. The two actresses were very different; Bow's style was barely contained animal sexuality, while Brooks was more elegant and graceful.

Silent fans will enjoy these second-tier movies, but to see the actresses at their peak, Bow's "Wings" or "It" and Brook's "Diary of a Lost Girl" are far better films.

Plastic Age, The (1925)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Even by 1925 standards this is a film we've seen countless times before. A smart, athletic young man (Donald Keith) goes to college where he falls victim to a vixen (Clara Bow) who soon has him smoking, staying out late and failing classes. As I said, we've seen this type of film countless times so this one here really doesn't offer anything new. The film is fairly routine and predictable without many laughs or drama. What sets this film apart from others are the very good performances by the two leads who have wonderful chemistry together. Bow steals the show as the sexy party girl. Henry B. Walthall plays the boy's father. The unknown Clark Gable is featured in several scenes as an athlete.

This pleasant campus romantic comedy has aged pretty well, since its main characters and basic situations could almost be drawn from the present. It's quite watchable, has a couple of very funny moments, and the mostly good-natured story works pretty well.

Donald Keith and Clara Bow are likable and believable as the two leads, although Keith and his character are somewhat one-dimensional - Bow gets less screen time but is more memorable. The supporting cast are all pretty good, and represent familiar characters - the protective parents, the concerned coach, and fellow students of various types. The story centers on Keith's character, an athletic star who falls in love with Cynthia (Bow) but soon finds that he cannot have everything at once. To a large degree it represents some of the kinds of decisions faced in any era by those of college age (or what the film calls the "Plastic Age"). All of the characters are presented sympathetically, which gives it a pleasant tone throughout.