As Young as You Feel

I really enjoyed this fine screwball comedy, from a very clever story by Paddy Chayefsky, about a man forced to retire from a beloved printing job because he turned 65. He decides to go straight to the president to question the ageist policy, discovers no one knows what the president looks like, decides to impersonate him, and hilarity ensues. Wonderful roles for Monty Woolley, Thelma Ritter, Constance Bennett and Marilyn Monroe. Heartily recommended if you're in the mood for a few good laughs at the expense of American big business. Still a relevant question that wrangles society today: Whether or not capable people should have to stop doing what they love because of age. I wonder if many instances are simply excuses to incorporate age-related discrimination.

This film was indeed a mildly amusing comedy and one's acceptance of it will depend on one's affection for Monty Wooley. But I was fascinated by the credits. It's part of the feel-good type of movies of the early 1950s. The story is by a young Paddy Chakevsky, who would later write Marty, A Catered Affair, The Goddess, The Americanization of Emily, Hospital, Network, and Altered States, and the screenplay is by Lamar Trotti, who wrote the screenplays for John Ford's Young Mr. Lincoln and Drums Along the Mohawk, for Ox Bow Incident, and won the screenplay Oscar for Wilson in 1944. A lot of talent in a thimble. It might be interesting to compare this screenplay to their other works for similarities. Chakevsky's work later became sharp and hard and even bitter. But his Marty, Catered Affair, and maybe even this show a gentle, humorous side. Trotti would die the next year, so this is one of his last screenplays

This is among my favorite "little movies"--movies that were small budget and about everyday people with everyday problems. The lead is played by the crotchety but very erudite Monty Woolley. Monty is forced to retire from his job as a printer due to his age, even though he still feels young and vigorous. Everyone around him seems to agree that retirement shouldn't be forced upon you if you are still able and willing to work, but no one in this large company where he works seems to be able to anything about this rule--especially since the company is actually controlled by a huge corporation. They just keep saying it's company policy and they would change it if they could--maybe he should talk the the guy in charge to get the rule changed someone suggests. Unfortunately, no one seems to know exactly who that is or how to find him. Out of sheer frustration, he hatches a plot to impersonate the company's CEO and make the changes himself! Unfortunately, this relatively simple plan snowballs and lots of unforeseen problems arise.

This is a brisk, cute movie that it sure to please. The acting is superb (I just love Woolley in films), the story well written and the film leaves you smiling.

PS--Get Marilyn Monroe OFF the Video Cover!!! She's barely in the movie at all--if you expect her, expect to be disappointed. Stupid advertising folks!

John R. Hodges (Monty Woolley) is a printer at ACME Printing. He receives notice that he must retire because he is age 65. The rule comes from Consolidated Motors, the parent company of a vast conglomerate that owns ACME. John takes great pride in his job and enjoys the dignity that comes from doing good work. He decides on an unorthodox strategy to get his job back.

"As Young As You Feel" is a comedy, but it contains serious messages about age-related issues and the unintended effects of technology and modern production methods. More than sixty years later, those viewpoints--as expressed by John--are just as relevant today.

But the messages do not sidetrack the fun. Monty Woolley plays John with a twinkle in his eye. His positivity influences the lives of others (on a grand scale), except maybe for a couple of annoying members of his own family.

One notable aspect of this film is that is adapted from a story by Paddy Chayefsky, who won three Oscars for screen writing. After his service in the war, Chayefsky worked in his uncle's printshop--a connection with this story.

Marilyn Monroe has a small, but well-acted, part in the film as secretary to the executive who runs ACME. Her larger roles were yet to come. I enjoyed seeing Jean Peters and Constance Bennett as well. And there's a small part played by a very young Russ Tamblyn.

This film is a feel-good story that focuses on the subject of human dignity. It is light-hearted and written to entertain.

"As Young as You Feel" is a warm comedy set in a city somewhere not far from New York City. The year is 1951. World War II is well past, and the Korean conflict had not yet begun. (Korea wasn't properly called a War until years later.) America and the world were retooled and making goods for the consumer markets.

The Cold War hadn't really heated up yet between the Soviet Union and the West - it was just in the smoldering stages. That's the setting for this film, and it helps modern audiences decades later to appreciate the film. If one understands the time and the social climate, the gist of the story will make more sense.

So, here is a story about a widowed man who lives with his son's family. Monty Woolley plays Grandpa John Hodges. Son George is played by Allyn Joslyn and his daughter-in-law, Della, is played by Thelma Ritter. Granddaughter Alice is played by Jean Peters. Other key players fit in the story. David Wayne plays Joe Elliott, Alice's fiancé, who works at the same company where grandpa is employed - McKinley Printing.

Albert Dekker plays Louis McKinley, head of the printing company, and Constance Bennett plays his wife, Lucille. Minor Watson plays Harold P. Cleveland, the Chairman of the parent corporation that owns many others. And, Marilyn Monroe plays Harriet, secretary to McKinley. There are a number of other supporting cast who do a fine job.

As an aside - I laughed when I ordered and received the DVD of this film, because the cover artwork is just a huge photo of Marilyn Monroe. She has a very small part in this movie, and it's not bad. For once it isn't about flaunting her sex. But that the movie industry thinks it must flaunt such sex stars to attract customers and sell products says something of the minds of those people. If I had only the DVD design to go by, I wouldn't have been lured to buy the movie. But, the story and the characters appealed to me.

There aren't lots of clever or funny lines in this film. Rather, it's about a huge humorous situation. Grandpa John enjoys his work, the company, and his associates at work. He has no inclination for sitting around playing checkers or cards, or taking up hobbies in retirement. He's healthy and happy, and is a craftsman in the printing field. So, when he gets a notice of mandatory retirement when he reaches 65, he wants to challenge the company policy. But where does that policy come from. It's not from his employer but a parent corporation way up the ladder somewhere.

When John finds out that no one knows what the chairman of the big corporation looks like, he devises a plan. Remember, this is 1951 when TV was just becoming a household staple. The names and photos of business heads weren't readily available on computers, cell phones, or methods as they are in the 21st century.

And that's the set-up. The ensuing scenes make up the bulk of the story. The situational humor is wonderful. And, the film touches on drama in marital relations, social issues and the mores of the day. This isn't a great comedy or drama, but it is a warm, feel-good and enjoyable film about a slice of real American society of the time as one family might have lived t. All, but the comedic situation that John Hodges creates, that is.