The Young in Heart

What a delightful treat this little movie turned out to be! Not daffy enough to be considered a screwball yet too amusing to be regarded as anything but a comedy, "The Young In Heart" (1938) shows us what happens when an entire nuclear family of con artists finally gains a conscience, while living with a sweet, rich old lady who they are trying to bilk. And what a bunch of performers have been collected to portray that family! Roland "Topper" Young (in heart) plays the father, Sahib; everyone's favorite twittery witch, Billie Burke, is the mom; Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is the son; and Janet Gaynor, here in her last role before her comeback 20 years later (in "Bernardine"), plays the daughter. All give delicious comedic performances, and are ably abetted by former stage actress Minnie Dupree, excellent and understated as the little old lady, and Paulette Goddard, who Dougy is trying to woo. This is a David Selznick picture--it came between the previous year's "A Star Is Born" and the following year's "GWTW"--and is yet another class production for the legendary showman. But the real operative word for this film is "charm," which it exudes more than any other single ingredient. And my goodness, just how pretty is Janet Gaynor here, right before her retirement? Well, she makes even the yummy-looking Paulette Goddard look second best, and that should tell you something! Anyway, all in all, this picture is a real joy, and the crisp-looking DVD offered here only adds to the pleasure.

The Young In Heart is the story of the Carleton Family an civilized and amiable a group of grifters that the screen ever portrayed. The members are Roland Young and Billie Burke and their children Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Janet Gaynor.

On one train trip where Janet's caught the eye of earnest Richard Carlson and Doug is maybe getting in over his head with southern belle Margaret Early, the family makes the acquaintance of an ingenuous old woman played by Minnie Dupree. They seem to hit it off, even more so after a train wreck and the Carletons look after her.

Dupree's family is long gone and she lives in genteel splendor in a very big house in London. In a burst of generosity she invites the whole family to stay with her. It's an opportunity to good to pass up, I know I wouldn't pass up free lodging even for a short spell.

But in order to keep up appearances and maybe she'll leave them the place in a will, they have to get jobs to appear on the up and up. At least the men folk do. Doug gets a job in an engineering firm, he charms Paulette Goddard into hiring him in an entry level position. And Young gets a job selling a brand new state of the art British car, the Flying Wombat. Both the guys especially Young prove really good, although you have to admit that selling cars should be something an accomplished grifter could take to right away.

In order for The Young In Heart to work the part of the old lady must be carefully cast and played. Minnie Dupree in one of her very few screen appearances is great in the part, bringing the right amount of charm to the role without it becoming maudlin. When you think about it, her's is the most important part, the whole film is structured around it.

Next to Dupree, I like Young the best. He's got a great scene when instead of being fired because they've found out he's a crook, he's offered a promotion to general manager, he's done that well.

I've known a few people in my life, one in particular who was one of the brightest people I've ever met, but who spent his whole short life of some 31 years on earth, running one big revolving con game. He was hard to dislike like the Carletons are, but you could never really get close to him. And if he'd ever applied himself honestly, he could have been a success in any field that interested him.

That's the charm of The Young In Heart, the thought that some people like this can be redeemed. Or maybe that in itself is a big con.

The Young In Heart got Oscar nominations for musical scoring and cinematography. Certainly one talented and charming cast gave it their best and the film is a delight.

I.A.R. Wylie's serialized story "The Gay Banditti" becomes a heart-warming sentimental-comedy from producer David O. Selznick. A family of con-artists on the Riviera, about to bilk a former Senator out of some three million dollars, are asked to leave the country by the authorities; they're penniless, but luckily they meet a kindly old lady on the train to London and are asked to stay as guests at her mansion. The screenplay curdles with cuteness now and then (and certainly that unmemorable title hasn't enhanced the film's reputation), yet an enjoyable time is had by all. The first-rate cast (headed by Janet Gaynor as the "rotter" daughter) works the material fabulously, and there's a sweetheart of an automobile (the Flying Wombat). Also, a butler who adores Dominoes, a suspicious lawyer, a sharp working girl (Paulette Goddard, naturally stunning), and some satiric laughs while gently poking fun at the working class. *** from ****

This is a movie which makes you want to sigh 'Aaaah' at the end when you first see it and look for it's faults later.

True, it's often over sentimental and contains a performance from Minnie Dupree as the old lady, which may invoke the occasional murderous thought, but it's a nice film, which leaves you completely satisfied and at peace with the world.

The splendid cast includes Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks Jnr, neither of whom were renowned for playing comedy but they are both excellent. Best of all is Roland Young as the father in possibly the finest performance of his distinguished career. A word also for Billie Burke, as the scatty mother, although I tend to find her performance a little irritating. Perhaps that's how it should be?

The support cast includes Richard Carlson in his first screen part and the lovely Paulette Goddard who do well in the limited roles they are playing. And of course Minnie Dupree.

All in all, a great little film that only the hard of heart could possibly dislike.

Aaaah!!

Although I once was a sucker for any romantic comedy, especially from the 30's, I have become jaded over the last few years. with the preponderance and availability of so many, thanks to TCM, I have been disappointed time and again. The plots are more often than not cliché'd and predictable. The acting is, although good for the time, usually, very different from the style we are used to today. The chemistry between actors is usually nil. The quality of the production second rate.

What a treat and a surprise this film was! It deserves to be as highly regarded as The Awful Truth, it Happened One Night, and any top notch Romantic Comedy of the 30's. It had me laughing and tearing up. The quality of the production was top tier. Imagine using a clip from the train wreck (which was just a minor plot device) in a 1960's popular TV series. That is just one example of how 1st class this film is. Some of the scenes, particularly the father and son speculating over the construction site over how the workers could possibly be having any fun, and the father's horror at actually having to get a job along with the funeral procession to the door of the Flying Wombat dealership to take his position as a car salesman, are absolutely hilarious. (and not just hilarious "for its time.")

I won't add to the the praise of the actors from other reviewers. Just that I agree wholeheartedly.

It's not just another Romantic Comedy. It has drama and heart as well.