Chasseuses d'autographes

... that was better than I expected it to be. And that is mainly because the focus of the film is not two teen girls autograph hunting. That would have gotten diabetic in a hurry.

Joan Lyons (VIrginia Weidler) and Patricia Drew (Jean Porter) are star crazy autograph hounds who head a club of equally star crazy teen girls who are also autograph hounds. They live in New York City, so it is probably more likely that they would run into stars there than Indiana, but they do seem to have an uncanny amount of luck, including having Robert Taylor move into the apartment across the hall from the Lyons with William Powell ending up in an elevator with the Lyons when he goes to visit Taylor. Taylor was married to Barbara Stanwyck at the time, so why didn't they run into her? The short answer would be that Stanwyck was not under contract to MGM in 1943.

This movie is beefed up with a subplot about a series of misunderstandings coupled with a gossipy governess (Agnes Moorehead) that have Joan believing that her father (Edward Arnold) is planning to leave her mother for his secretary. Joan and Patricia come up with a goofy plot to try and get them back together when there is no problem in the first place. This part of the film is up to the quality of the Andy Hardy films of the time, and it helps to have an old pro like Edward Arnold onboard.

I begrudgingly started watching this in my quest to watch and review all of William Powells existing films, and if not for its minor place in his filmography I would have likely passed on it, but it was better than I expected. If you like the MGM family comedies of the late 30s and early 40s you'll probably like this one.

Five of MGM's biggest stars did some box office cameo duty appearing as themselves in this B picture about the trials and travails of autograph pursuing. I do remember pursuing a few of them in my youth so I can somewhat sympathize with what these young girls headed by Virginia Weidler are going through. I can also understand some of the problems they cause the celebrities as well.

The landings in North Africa and Salerno should have been as well organized as what Virginia Weidler and her fan club when they're on the prowl for celebrity signatures. Weidler and her pursuits are bedeviling her parents, Edward Arnold and Marta Linden, and they've got additional problems with their son Scotty Beckett who fancies himself an inventor and a governess in Agnes Moorehead who's outlived her usefulness and won't take the hint to retire.

Weidler's imagination is set on fire by what she sees in the movies and already she's imagining trouble in her parent's marriage and switches from movie star hunting to Lucy Ricardo like machinations to keep her parents from a breakup that's all in her head.

Lana Turner, Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Taylor, and William Powell all make brief appearances as the hunted. Personally there's no way in God's green earth that Greer Garson would have indulged Weidler and her friend Ann Ayars. Only Pidgeon showed the slightest traces of impatience with the young ladies, maybe more than a trace.

The Youngest Profession is a cute film, a nostalgic look at the Forties, but not too much more than that.

If you don't like light entertainment, avoid this movie! But if you enjoy fluff, I think you'll love this one. Lot's of stars drop by to flash a smile but that's only part of it. If you appreciate the talents of the much underrated Edward Arnold as I do, he's here. Along with Virginia Weidler and Jean Porter who I think are two of the most engaging of the "child" stars of the 40's. And Agnes "Endora" Moorehead adds her spice as well. Try and this one and see...

"You're the cutest mouse in the joint." Its lines like that which make "The Youngest Profession" a classic. This is film isn't seen enough. I saw it the first time on TCM and was absolutely hooked. I'm a HUGE William Powell fan, and quite identified with a young girl's fascination with the debonair actor. Had I been a teen in 1943, I'd have been collecting autographs when stars were stars. Virginia Weidler gains a few John Hancocks by the end of the film which is littered with cameos by William Powell, Lana Turner, Greer Garson, Walter Pigeon, and Robert Taylor. This is a fantastically funny movie and if you're looking for something along the lines of "The Thin Man", "Bringing Up Baby" and other classics of the era, "The Youngest Profession" should quench your thirst.

During the first week of being able to watch TCM, I stumbled onto this delightful little gem called The Oldest Professinal this morning. Pure pleasure with a dynamite comedic pace. That little child actress, Joan Carroll, was just incredible.

I'm already over the moon that I get to see TCM everyday and this little harmless piece of fluff was a great tonic to start the day. It's an incredible treat to be able to view these classic moves unedited, not butchered by commercials, and shown with exquisite prints.

Anotherbonus for this movie was seeing a youngish Agnes Moorehead playing in good supporting role that is neither wacky or evil.