Young At Heart [DVD]

I saw this film when I was a nuerotic teen, and it spoke to me then and still does. It shows Sinatra and Day to be great together, and Mr. S was still really serious about his acting, unlike later when he lost interest.

The movie reflects its time, showing the Sinatra character as the outsider/rebel, through a slight messing of his hair (toupe) and a loosened tie, reflecting the still uptight society. It took so little to define an outcast.

The music is great although the song he keeps trying to write is not as good as it should have been given the buildup. The title song, Young At Heart, is a better one, although it does not seem to fit the story which heads down a forlorn path until the happy ending saves it. Sinatra shows the inner sadness and self-destructive nature of those of us who are self-involved and neurotic. Funny too is how the only goal for Sinatra's character is to write a hit tune; nothing else will do.

Doris is absolutely adorable and so desirable that you almost feel she is too good for Frank, although Gig Young plays such a likeable, charming jerk that you do eventually get why she might like the more interesting Sinatra.

The three sisters are a hoot, (although they appear too old to be living at home with Dad) all seeking marriage as their only hope in this world, and competing with each other very subtley while trying to love one another; very 50's.

And what more can we say about one of the great Barrymore's, Ethyl. She is so good and on target without going for the obvious choices. Certainly she deserved a better role at this time of her career, but no bitterness shows through. She is a pro. Not sure where this fell in terms of her eventual demise, but she looks quite aged here, so it may have been among her last films. Obviously, I love this film.

Young at Heart is directed by Gordon Douglas and adapted by Lenore J. Coffee, Liam O'Brien & Julius J. Epstein from a Fannie Hurst story called Sister Act. It stars Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Gig Young, Ethel Barrymore, Alan Hale Jr, Elisabeth Fraser and Dorothy Malone. Music is by Ray Heindorf and Ted D. McCord is the cinematographer. Out of Warner Brothers it's filmed in Warner Color with the print by Technicolor. Film is a remake of a 1938 film titled Four Daughters, which was directed by Michael Curtiz. Plot has the charming Alex Burke (Young) enter the lives of the musical Tuttle family, where each of the three daughters start to be attracted to him. It's Laurie (Day) who captures his heart and they become engaged, upsetting the applecart of the other two sisters. But when Barney (Sinatra) comes into the picture to help Alex with some musical arrangements, matters become complicated. Because even tho he has a cynical outlook on life, Laurie forms a close friendship with him. It's the start of something that will alter the lives of everyone in and around the Tuttle family.

It all sounds a bit fluffy in plot synopsis, and at times it undeniably is. Packed with quality tunes and two musical stars pitching from the top of the mound, Young at Heart is every inch an old fashioned romantic picture. Yet it marries this up with some heavy drama, even venturing down the dark alleyways that the source contained, tho the change in ending, requested by Sinatra, plays safe and opens the film up for a more family friendly audience. It's also impeccably casted, Sinatra plays bitter and twisted to Day's sweet and straight, Young has charisma in abundance, and Barrymore is grand as the all seeing, all knowing head of the family, Aunt Jessie. Stand out songs are the title song, Just One Of Those Things, One for My Baby and Someone To Watch Over Me. A quality production harking back to a time when story was as important as style, simple yet retaining a serrated edge, Young at Heart is a classy bit of 50's cinema. 8/10

If you like feel good movies then you'll love this - but it does have bite. Sinatra plays a down at heel, down on his luck piano player who comes across Doris Day and makes a play for her, despite her going with his best friend. She falls in love(who wouldn't?) and yet there is more to come that makes you want to keep watching. With a lovely score and some great standards(in particular, Just One of Those Things), this is a movie that you will reach to time and time again. I do.