Too Young to Kiss
| Too Young to Kiss | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Robert Z. Leonard |
| Screenplay by | |
| Story by | Everett Freeman |
| Produced by | Sam Zimbalist |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| Edited by | Conrad A. Nervig |
| Music by | Johnny Green |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Loew's Inc. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $1.4 million |
| Box office | $2.3 million |
Too Young to Kiss (also All Too Young)[1] is a 1951 American[2] comedy film[3] from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Van Johnson and June Allyson. The film, in which the 34-year-old Allyson's Cynthia Potter masquerades as a 14-year-old child prodigy, was directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
The monaural, black-and-white film[1] clocks in at 91 minutes long.[4] In theatres, Too Young to Kiss earned 164% of its budget, and received mixed critical reviews.
Plot[edit]
Cynthia Potter is a skilled pianist trying to catch the eye of concert promoter Eric Wainwright. Wainwright, however, is currently only looking for young talent. To meet his criteria, Potter (in her 20s), masquerades as her own fictional younger sister, a 14-year-old "Molly" Potter. Wainwright is captivated by Molly's skills, and as the two work together, Wainwright develops a paternal affectation towards the young performer, while Potter cultivates an incompatible romantic attraction to the promoter.[2]
Credits[edit]
Cast[edit]
- June Allyson as Cynthia Potter
Allyson (34) playing Cynthia (20s) playing Molly (14) - Van Johnson as Eric Wainwright
- Gig Young as John Tirsen
- Paula Corday as Denise Dorcet
- Kathryn Givney as Miss Benson
- Larry Keating as Danny Cutler
- Hans Conried as Mr. Sparrow
- Esther Dale as Mrs. Boykin
- Jo Gilbert as Gloria
Source: The New York Times[5]
Crew[edit]
- Robert Z. Leonard - film director
- Frances Goodrich - screenwriter
- Albert Hackett - screenwriter
- Sam Zimbalist - film producer
- Frederick de Cordova - film director
- Everett Freeman - story author
- Joseph Ruttenberg - cinematographer
- Conrad A. Nervig - film editor
- Johnny Green - music director
Source: The New York Times[6]
Reception[edit]
At the box office, Too Young to Kiss earned US$2.3 million on a budget of $1.4M (equivalent to about $27M and $16.4M respectively in 2023).[7]
The Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported that Too Young to Kiss was critically acclaimed.[3] Hal Erickson described the film as "fluff", and noted that despite retreading 1942's The Major and the Minor, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett's scriptwriting kept the material "fresh and funny throughout".[2] On a four-star scale, Leonard Maltin rated the film at 2.5 stars, calling Allyson's Potter "fetching".[4] The New York Times' Bosley Crowther however, was unimpressed with Allyson and Johnson's adolescent antics and the excessive suspension of disbelief required.[8]
Awards[edit]
Five people who worked on Too Young to Kiss were nominated for film awards, with only Allyson winning hers.[9]
| Award ceremony | Date | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9th Golden Globe Awards | February 21, 1952 | Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical | June Allyson | Won |
| 24th Academy Awards | March 20, 1952 | Best Black and White Art Direction |
|
Nominated |
Release[edit]
Too Young to Kiss premiered in New York on November 22, 1951, and was distributed by Loew's Inc.[1] In 2015, the film was available on DVD.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Too Young to Kiss (1951) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c Erickson, Hal. "Too Young to Kiss (1951) Overview". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ a b "'Let's Talk Shop' with Polly". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. December 2, 1951. p. C9.
- ^ a b c Maltin, Leonard (2015) [2005]. Green, Spencer; Edelman, Rob; Scheinfeld, Michael; Weaver, Tom (eds.). Classic Movie Guide (3rd ed.). Hudson Street: Plume. p. 725. ISBN 978-0-14-751682-4.
- ^ "Too Young to Kiss (1951) Full Acting Credits". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "Too Young to Kiss (1951) Full Production Credits". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ Mannix, Eddie, Eddie Mannix Ledger, Margaret Herrick Library
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (November 23, 1951). "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'Too Young to Kiss,' With Jane Allyson and Van Johnson, Opens at Music Hall". The New York Times. Arthur Hays Sulzberger. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522.
- ^ "Too Young to Kiss (1951) Awards". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
External links[edit]
- Too Young to Kiss at AllMovie
- Too Young to Kiss at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Too Young to Kiss at IMDb
- Too Young to Kiss at the TCM Movie Database
Media related to Too Young to Kiss at Wikimedia Commons
