Young at Heart

Rating:
Summary: Great Tear Jerker
Review: This movie features Frank Sinatra in a rare very moral dramatic role. He is a sad low person who meets the ever beautiful Doris Day. Well she falls in love with his boss the ever impressive Gig Young. But then one day she finds out that her older sister has a crush on Gig. So she marries Frank. Well their married live is full of hardships and depression. And poverty. But when they have a baby at the end of the movie Franks outlook on life changes and he becomes cheerful once again. Great tearjerker. Catch Frank singing the title song Young At Heart!

Rating:
Summary: A real tearjerker but a joy to watch
Review: This movie has the best of everything...Gig Young doing what he does best...Ethel Barrymore making you wish she was in your family. Doris day at her best..no one cries as heart wrenching as Doris Day all without overacting and I gotta say, Frank Sinatra was well worth watching before his Rat Pack Days..I love this movie and probably will purchase it for my Classic Film Library.

Rating:
Summary: A Technicolor Musical Film Noir
Review: This movie is a classic because it contains elements that cannot be recreated. It combines the dark themes of the 50' film noir with the broad appeal of a soap opera, all set to popular music written by some of America's top composers.

Frank Sinatra, in his best Capitol Records, post war style, demostrates the genre he created, a singer truly acting his songs. His character, Barney Sloan, evokes the era's cynical, hard boiled post war adult male - steeled against the blows of the world, but vulnerable down deep.

The supporting cast is just that, albeit at a high level.

The real joy of this picture is the music. The arrangements are crisp. You also have the unparalleled pleasure of listening to one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Andre Previn, playing the music that Sinatra accompanies vocally.

This movie is one that grows on you with repeated viewings.

Rating:
Summary: A Technicolor Musical Film Noir
Review: This movie is a classic because it contains elements that cannot be recreated. It combines the dark themes of the 50' film noir with the broad appeal of a soap opera, all set to popular music written by some of America's top composers.

Frank Sinatra, in his best Capitol Records, post war style, demostrates the genre he created, a singer truly acting his songs. His character, Barney Sloan, evokes the era's cynical, hard boiled post war adult male - steeled against the blows of the world, but vulnerable down deep.

The supporting cast is just that, albeit at a high level.

The real joy of this picture is the music. The arrangements are crisp. You also have the unparalleled pleasure of listening to one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Andre Previn, playing the music that Sinatra accompanies vocally.

This movie is one that grows on you with repeated viewings.

Rating:
Summary: Never too Young!!
Review: YOUNG AT HEART is a decent melodrama intersped with a couple of musical numbers featuring the musical talents of Doris Day and Frank Sinatra. Doris Day's numbers are light and upbeat and Frank Sinatra plays meloncholy blues (as a 'piano man' at bar dives, i.e "One For my Baby-One More for the Road"). The only time they actually sing together is a duet near the end of the picture but its worth the wait because its a great song and a great performance. However, the dramatic scenes they share are just as good as Day and Sinatra have good onscreen chemistry. Its a shame they only made this one film together because they were good friends professionally off screen as well. Day/Laurie Tuttle is one of three musical prodigy daughters to Gregory Tuttle (Robert Keith -Lt. Brannigan in GUYS AND DOLLS). A songwiter, Alex Burke (Gig Young-THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY?)charms his way into the family home becoming a border to get inspiration to writing a musical. He becomes the object of affection to the three daughters, but is smitten with Laura immediately. However, when he brings in a piano player, Barney Sloan (Sinatra) to help out, Laura falls for his low self-esteemed but talented musician personality. Sinatra gives a very low-key understated performance as the angry (thinks-he-has-no-talent) piano player and Day is as good as always. The rest of the film is a little predictable, but entertaining and engrossing nontheless as love triangle(s) and misunderstandings arise as part of the drama. Gig Young's character and performance as the charming good guy and lovable songwriter is a bright spot in the film but it is slightly overshadowed by magnitude and presence of the two lead performers. All together, a film with a palusible melodrama plot, great songs, and most notable for the one time pairing of Day and Sinatra who have great on screen presence together. Lastly an overlooked performance by Gig Young. Note: Look for Alan Hale, Jr. (The Skipper of Gilligan's Island)in a supporting role and also,the great Ethel Barrymore (Grand aunt of Drew) as Aunt Jessie.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet and sour
Review: Young At Heart is an unusual film: it has sentiment, romance and superb music, but also an underlying sadness and sense of futility which is unsettling. This is due to the presence of Frank Sinatra, creating a classic lone wolf characterisation, who creates sparks with the mid-Western homeliness of Ethel Barrymore and Doris Day.

Doris' performance is sincerely affecting as she tries to instill confidence into Sinatra's fatalistic character. The juxtaposition of these two characters is the catalyst for an entertaining, and dramatic, film. The songs alone are worth the viewing (Someone to Watch Over Me, If I Give My Heart To You, One For My Baby).

Rating:
Summary: DVD stinks, GREAT FILM!
Review: YOUNG AT HEART is the perfect Doris Day vehicles. It has comedy, great songs,a handsome leading man and a touch of melodrama. Its an unforgettable picture if for no other reason than to catch a glimpse of the Day/Sinatra chemistry. Those who know this film surely love it. But let me continue with what a previous review stated...the DVD stinks.

While the film elements are probably the best available, it would appear no work went into its mastering. There are some annoying (and distracting) twitches that go on throughout most of the film. These are undoubtedly a result of the poorly maintained film element. The soundtrack is serviceable, if a little too low. There are also no real extra features here (of course for a little over 10 bucks, one can't expect much). Artisan DVD should take a little better care of what they release on a technical level. (Not that the Republic Pictures vaults couldn't use better maintenance).