Quand on a vingt ans

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."

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.

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.

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/

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