The Youngest Profession

Director: Edward Buzzell, Edward N. Buzzell Edward Buzzell

Overview

In this charming episodic comedy, a giddy group of adolescent girls form a movie-star fan club. Their favorite pastime is collecting the autographs of major stars. Led by their determined president, the gals stalk the streets and train stations of New York in search of big-name stars. Their expeditions are frequently successful, and during the film they garner the John Hancocks of such stars as Lana Turner, Greer Garson, William Powell, Walter Pidgeon, and Robert Taylor.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/26/2012
UPC:	0883316463796
Original Release:	1943
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:22:00
Sales rank:	42,877

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Virginia Weidler	Jean Lyons
Agnes Moorehead	Miss Featherstone
Edward Arnold	Mr. Lawrence Lyons
John Carroll	Hercules
Jean Porter	Patricia Drew
Marta Linden	Edith Lyons
Richard Simmons	Douglas Sutton,Douglas Sutton
Ann Ayars	Susan Thayer
Marcia Mae Jones	Vera Bailey
Raymond Roe	Schuyler,Polly
Scotty Beckett	Junior Lyons
Jessie Grayson	Lilybud
Greer Garson	Guest Star
William Powell	Guest Star
Lana Turner	Guest Star
Walter Pidgeon	Guest Star
Robert Taylor	Guest Star
Beverly Tyler	Thyra Winters
Marjorie Gateson	Mrs. Drew
Thurston Hall	Mr. Drew
Aileen Pringle	Miss Farwood
Nora Lane	Hilda
Dorothy Christy	Sally
Mary Vallee	Mary
Gloria Tucker	Gladys
Jane Isbell	Jane
Hazel Dawn	Hazel
Beverly Boyd	Beverly
Randa Allen	Randa
Ann MacLean	Ann
Gloria Mackey	Gloria
Bobby Stebbins	Richard
Shirley Coates	Girl,Actor
Mary McCarty	Girl
Mark Daniels	Les Peterson
William Tannen	Hotel Clerk
Ann Codee	Sandra's Maid
Edward Buzzell	Man in Theater
George Noisom	Delivery Boy
Leonard Carey	Valet
Harry Barris	Man
Herberta Williams	Hortense
Sara Haden	Salvation Army Lass
Leigh De Lacy	Montage Bit
Vangie Beilby	Montage Bit
Ruth Cherrington	Montage Bit
Claire McDowell	Montage Bit
Sandra Morgan	Montage Bit
Leota Lorraine	Montage Bit
Ray Teal	Taxi Driver
Polly Bailey	Governess
Margaret Bert	Governess
Violet Seton	Governess
Alice Keating	Governess
Hazel Dohlman	Governess
Dorothy Morris	Secretary
Roland Dupree	Mail Room Boy
Robert Winkler	Mail Room Boy
David Snell	Composer

Technical Credits

George Oppenheimer

Charles Lederer

Leonard Spigelgass

Edward Buzzell	Director,Director
B.F. Zeidman	Producer
George Oppenheimer	Screenwriter
Charles Lederer	Screenwriter
Leonard Spigelgass	Screenwriter

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Youngest Profession
1. Chapter 1 [10:00]
2. Chapter 2 [10:00]
3. Chapter 3 [10:00]
4. Chapter 4 [10:00]
5. Chapter 5 [10:00]
6. Chapter 6 [10:00]
7. Chapter 7 [10:00]
8. Chapter 8 [10:00]
9. Chapter 9 [1:45]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Youngest Profession
   Play
   Trailer
   Menu Group #1 with 9 chapter(s) covering 01:21:45

Editorial Reviews

There's an innocence to The Youngest Profession that's almost other-worldly; modern viewers may feel as if it came from another planet, not just another time, and this fact alone may give it some appeal. Once the novelty of its freshness wears off, however, Youngest wears out its welcome. The main reason, of course, is not that Youngest is fluff, but because it's totally unsupported fluff. There's no solid underpinning, either in terms of real drama or genuine technique, and so it soon falls in on itself. There is some fun, of course, in seeing its parade of MGM stars and watching them interact in a typical "fan" situation, but after a while one is ready to trade the not-inconsiderable likes of Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon for just a few moments of wit and originality. Matters are not helped by the plot abruptly switching course in the middle of the film, as the writers clearly (or correctly) saw that their original premise couldn't support a full-length film. Had an actress other than Virginia Weidler been cast in the lead, Youngest would work at least a little better; but Weidler was always a bit grating and artificial, a fact that only became more apparent the older she became. Youngest is harmless and mildly diverting, but little more.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler