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By
NICK ZEGARAC
In "The Young in Heart" Miss
Ellen Fortune (Minnie Dupree) is a painfully
lonely elderly woman, traveling on a European
train. She meets the rather roguish, wholly
unusual Carlton family: George-Anne (Janet
Gaynor), Richard (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), Leslie
(Paulette Goddard), Col. Anthony (Roland Young)
and Marmy (Billie Burke). They are a rambunctious
pack of congenial connivers. Recently deposed from
their perch on the Riviera, the Carltons decide
that Ellen is just such a wealthy fop, ripe for
their picking.
Ellen, however, is not as easily cajoled out of
her savings. Forced to regroup their efforts, the
con artists are delivered into unfamiliar
territory before getting their way; they're going
to have to work for it!
Richard Wallace's direction allows for just the
right amount of is sensitivity and humor to
prevail in a film that provides heart-warming
results. After an unfavorable preview, "The Young
in Heart" had its downtrodden ending revamped. The
result: two Academy Award nominations and a
fun-loving frolic for all time.
MGM's DVD is rather impressive. The B&W picture
exhibits a very nicely balanced grayscale with
smooth, solid blacks and very clean whites.
Age-related artifacts are present throughout but
do not distract. Some minor edge enhancement crops
up but pixelization is kept to a minimum. Overall
the picture will surely not disappoint. The audio
is mono but more than adequate for a film of this
vintage. There are no extras. |
