The Plastic Age

Rising star Clara Bow had appeared in an astronomical 15 pictures in just one year (1925), a busy stretch by any measure during those heyday silent movie productions. But one movie of hers in particular stood out where Bow was the lead and became her first big hit in cinema, December 1925's "The Plastic Age."

Initially hired by the small film production company Preferred Pictures, the young 20-year-old actress had been making movies for the B. P. Schulberg-owned business as well as being loaned out to other studios during her three years with him. Schulberg bought the rights to Brown University English professor's 1924 best-selling book, 'The Plastic Age,' with Clara in mind. She plays the role of Cynthia Day, a college co-ed whose main focus is boys, partying, drinking and petting in the backseat of cars. Bow meets naive freshman Hugh Carter (Donald Keith), a future college football and track star. Through her wild lifestyle, she ensnares Carter, sending him into a downward spiral where his strict parents notice a slippage in his grades. They don't hold back in their disgust at his newfound bad behavior.

Adolph Zukor of Paramount Pictures fell in love with Bow (the version of her on the screen) after seeing "The Plastic Age." In a period where small production houses were being gobbled up by the larger outfits, Zukor made an offer to Schulberg to buy out Preferred Pictures. He agreed to merge with Paramount when the studio gave him total control over the type of pictures he could produce as well the actors, script, crew and wardrobe selection. Bow was now a Paramount employee.

"The Plastic Age" is also noteworthy for the actors appearing in the cast. Mexican-born and Texas-raised Roland Gilbert (birth name Luis Antonio de Alonso) received his first major role in this picture. He traveled to Los Angeles at 14 to be in film, getting his start in several movies as an extra. He's Hugh Carter's freshman roommate, and also has eyes for Clara. In real life, Gilbert had proposed to Bow after the production, to which she accepted. But both soon called off the wedding as Clara moved on to other numerous relationships. They remained lifelong friends, even when Bow reverted to becoming a recluse after she dropped out of pictures. Gilbert had a highly successful career in film, highlighted by his performance in 1952's "The Bad and the Beautiful," along with John Ford's 1964 "Cheyenne Autumn." His last appearance was in the 1982 western "Barbarosa," with Willy Nelson.

"The Plastic Age" also sees Clark Gable as an extra (noticeable in the locker room scene) and as well as his future wife Carol Lombard, also as a 17-year-old extra. The two starred in their only movie together in 1932's "No Man of Her Own,' directed by Wesley Ruggles, who by coincident directed "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 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.

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.