Too Young to Kiss

Director: Frederick de Cordova, Robert Z. Leonard Frederick de Cordova

Overview

Can it be that June Allyson is Too Young to Kiss in this bit of MGM fluff? Well, not really. Pianist Cynthia Potter (Allyson) is well into her 20s, but she's posing as a 14-year-old musical prodigy. It's part of her desperate effort to become a client of highly selective concert-promoter Eric Wainwright (Van Johnson), who is only hiring "young" performers. Wainwright falls for Cynthia's subterfuge, building a huge promotional campaign predicated upon his new protégé's "youth." He even adopts a fatherly attitude towards Cynthia, who would prefer that their relationship be a bit more intimate. Though it may seem to be a rehash of the 1943 comedy The Major and the Minor, Too Young to Kiss remains fresh and funny throughout, thanks to the script-writing know-how of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. Ironically, Allyson was thirty-four when this film was shot.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/08/2014
UPC:	0888574029159
Original Release:	1951
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	1:29:00
Sales rank:	42,391

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

June Allyson	Cynthia Potter
Van Johnson	Eric Wainwright
Gig Young	John Tirsen
Paula Corday	Denise Dorcet,Denise Dorcet
Kathryn Givney	Miss Benson
Hans Conried	Mr. Sparrow
Larry Keating	Danny Cutler
Esther Dale	Mrs. Boykin
Antonio Filauri	Veloti
Jo Gilbert	Gloria
Jonathan Cott	Photographer
Alexander Steinert	Conductor
Bob Jellison	Sparrow's Assistant
Lisa Ferraday	Nina Marescu
Teddy Infuhr	Jeffrey
Ruthelma Stevens	Jeffrey's Mother
Alberto Morin	East Indian
Ludwig Stossel	German Accompanist
Betty Farrington	Woman
Elizabeth Flournoy	Woman
Grace Hayle	Woman
Josephine Whittell	Mrs. Fullerton
George McDonald	Boy in Drugstore
Joan Leslie	Actor
Erno Verebes	Headwaiter
Peter Brocco	Waiter
Everett Glass	Druggist
John McKee	Motorcycle Officer,Motorcycle Officer
Jack Gargan	Paul the Chauffeur
Jimmy Ames	Cab Driver
Robert Strong	Photographer
Larry Harmon	Photographer
Roger Moore	Photographer,Charles
Ray Walker	Reporter
Bob Stephenson	Stagehand
John Maxwell	Detective

Technical Credits

Robert Z. Leonard	Director
Sam Zimbalist	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Too Young to Kiss is a reasonably entertaining bit of fluff, the kind of by-the-numbers farce that never really offers any surprises but that gets where it's going in an agreeable manner. Modern audiences are likely to snicker a bit at the absurdity of the plot, and some may be made a bit uncomfortable by the basic situation involving an adult man and a presumed teenager. It's true, of course, that Van Johnson evinces no romantic feelings for June Allyson until after her secret is revealed, but there's still a slight underlying "smarminess" to the proceedings. Fortunately, this isn't dwelt upon and it doesn't disrupt the fun. Even more fortunately, Johnson and Allyson are very much in their element here, delivering finely calibrated comedic performances that find all the humor in the screenplay and then some. There are also some fine performances of musical material, unobtrusive direction, and a professional physical production. This Kiss won't make you swoon, but it's a pleasant little diversion.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler