The Plastic Age

All those bright, insipid, and embarrassingly satisfying college films of the eighties (and for a brief time in the sixties) owe a great deal to "The Plastic Age." Remember when the nerd was caught in his underwear on the steps of campus in "Revenge of the Nerds?" Donald Keith's suitcase opens unexpectedly while entering his dormitory, spilling long johns at once mocked by surrounding students. Clara Bow sparkles as the college "fast girl," whose desirable qualities causes a rift between Keith and his roommate. The great Henry B. Walthal plays Keith's father, a typically rigid rich man that may have been the unseen ass that spawned Emilio Estevez in "The Breakfast Club." Modern day movie fans will find the remarkable similarities amusing, but those not keen on the silents will not be won over by this mostly flaccid, formulic comedy. For those of us obsessed with the "jazz age," however, simply experiencing the thrill of Clara Bow's bee-stung lips and unearthly eyes will make a viewing worthwhile. See if you can spot Clark Gable in one of his first on screen appearances.

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.

When I ordered this movie, I really wasn't expecting a whole lot after reading all of the tepid reviews it received here. However, having seen it, I do think that it is a fine little film, with lots of funny and cute moments within that make it a really good watch.

If you want to see a Clara Bow movie, you'd probably fare better with her trademark film, "It", as she is not as present in "The Plastic Age". However, she makes the most of her on screen time, and I was really taken with her character. She is undoubtedly one of the most underrated actresses of all time, and also one of the most lovable.

I would definitely watch this movie again, because it was never boring and never slow. Nothing about it was particularly astounding or brilliant, but who says that every film has to be controversial and ground-breaking? There have to be a few simple, fun films out there to balance everything out! By the way, for those of you who were wondering about Clark Gable's appearance in the film, I can tell you where to look. My sister and I are HUGE Gable fans, and we'd recognize him from a thousand miles away with a bag over his head. He is in the following scenes:

-In the locker room scene, he makes his first appearance, which is pretty obvious, as he is sitting on a bench and is very well greased. Guffaw.

-In that same scene, when the coach comes in to talk to them, you can see Clark over the coach's shoulder, without his shirt on, about to get into the shower. He has an intense farmer's tan, by the way, and he reacts really cutely to everything the coach was saying. Good job, Clark.

-In that same scene again, when the coach is giving that big motivational speech, the camera cuts to two men smiling, and the one on the left with the rouge all over his face is our Clark.

-When Clara and Donald go for their moonlight walk, and a woman's shoe falls out of the tree, that is Clark up there holding the girl in his arms. I thought that was a pretty cute scene, because he got to talk! Of course, we didn't hear it, but reading his lips, he turns to the girl and says: "Is this yours?" Brilliant!

-When Donald hurts his ankle at tryouts, two men come to help him off the field. Clark is the one on the right.

-And finally, at the big game at the end, Clark is the man wearing the helmet, who is sitting next to Donald, and then Gilbert, on the left. He even gets all excited during the last few minutes of the game, and starts bouncing around and cheering.

There, that got that straight. For those scenes alone, this movie is worth getting for all of you Clark Gable fanatics.

Cute track star and all-around nice guy Donald Keith (as Hugh Carver) begins his freshman year at Prescott College hoping to concentrate on both studying and a football career. During his hazing, he meets "hotsy-totsy" co-ed Clara Bow (as Cynthia Day), and the two are smitten. But, Bow is supposed to be dating Mr. Keith's instant best friend, roommate, and lady-killer Gilbert Roland (as Carl Peters). Mr. Roland is furious. Soon, clean-cut Keith is smoking cigarettes and partying to all hours of the night. His grades plummet, and he loses the "Big Race" for Prescott. Keith's Prescott alumni father Henry B. Walthall (as Henry Carver) is furious. Can Keith recover his senses, or will he wind up a family disgrace?

A title card explains, "To the Plastic Age of Youth, the first long pair of pants is second only to - the thrill of going to college." The balance of studying and partying is a timeless challenge, apparently. The students of Prescott College are likable, but not believable. Why can't Keith be successful, and maintain a relationship with Bow? What is Bow studying for? Why is Roland so upset when he has already moved on to his next conquest? And, so on. It ends up as a average college youth film, with everything depending on a reformed Keith winning the end game for the team. Roland, in his first featured role, makes a notable impression. An even greener Clark Gable can be spotted showing his muscles in the locker room.

***** The Plastic Age (12/15/25) Wesley Ruggles ~ Donald Keith, Clara Bow, Gilbert Roland, Henry B. Walthall

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.