Customer Reviews

Young at Heart [VHS]

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you are expecting a DVD that is a big improvement on the video, this will disappoint. But if you absolutely love the film, the DVD is still worth getting. Now, the film itself shows what a terrific chemistry Doris Day and Frank Sinatra had together, and makes one wish they had done more films together, and certainly sang more duets. Doris is superb and Frank deserved an Oscar for his portayal of Barney Sloane, as hip and deep a job of acting as anything James Dean ever did and Dean had made his first film this same year (1954). Sinatra was (and is) so underrated as an actor in the 1950's. Someone put it well, there is no Frank Sinatra in this film, only Barney Sloane.
This movie leaves you wanting more MORE of Day and Sinatra together - that is my only criticism of it! A wonderful film.

This is an outstanding movie for many reasons. For cinema fans only familiar with the "rat pack", this Frankie may be an eye opener. YOUNG AT HEART (1954) is a showcase for Frank Sinatra's excellent acting. He is intense, focused & nuanced, becoming one with "Barney Sloan," a gifted musician suffering through multiple "bad breaks" since birth & sorely lacking confidence.

Doris Day also brings much to this classic with a very moving performance. She is warm, lovely & upbeat as the woman of Sinatra's dreams, & so expressive in her eyes! The chemistry between these two actors grows with their characters' relationship; they share a number of memorable scenes together. They are surrounded by a very good supporting cast, especially Gig Young & Ethel Barrymore.

This is a romantic drama with superb singing. Doris & Frank's duet together is "You, My Love", which is a personal favorite. Ms. Day delivers several 50's pop songs beautifully. Frank makes his impact here as the saloon singer, with brilliant, moving renditions of "Someone to Watch Over Me," "One for My Baby," & "Just One of Those Things."

Initially, this film is light-hearted & glossy - until Barney Sloan arrives. There are multiple issues that his character brings to the surface such as: "destiny" & the strength of the human will, the pain of loneliness, the power of hope, life-changing experiences, & recognizing "love".

It's worth noting that the forty-eight year old YOUNG AT HEART was actually a re-make of a 1938 mega-hit "Four Daughters", & carries over some of its plot contrivances. . Don't let this bog you down. This little gem rises above it.

In my opinion, the DVD is a visual improvement over the fuzzy video. Having both the Video / 40th anniversary edition & now the DVD, I've watched each, sometimes scene by scene, to compare, both on the same television. This video has the same small scratches, circles / spots that can be viewed on the DVD; note the gingerbread scene in the kitchen. The DVD's Major Plus: visual details, such as skin & facial features, are improved: Doris' cute freckles are back; thankfully, the character "Amy" no longer has a blackened tooth when she is tying Gig Young' s tie (as seen in Video); and Frank's face shows some scars in close ups, a realistic touch for his character. Actually, the DVD's visuals, preceeding the film, are quite beautiful! The DVD is reasonably priced, although I would have been willing to pay a little more for some extras, such as behind the scenes photos... Now if the film preservationists could help restore the original negative of this classic movie, that would be wonderful. YOUNG AT HEART deserves it -- How about it , AMC? .

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.

This excellent musical drama features some very good music (a few fine original songs for Doris Day and some classics from the Sinatra repertoire for Frank Sinatra to sing) and uniformly wonderful performances by the entire cast, which includes Gig Young, Ethel Barrymore, Dorothy Malone, Elisabeth Fraser & Alan Hale, Jr. Most of the previous reviews have focused on the film in general, so I will focus on the DVD.

While having this film on DVD is welcome, this edition is very poorly done. It is mastered from a print full of scratches, glitches, jumps and those annoying circles in the upper right hand corner that signal a reel change. The color is somewhat washed out, but not too bad. The sound is listed as Dolby Surround 2.0 Stereo and sounds pretty good, but too bassy and muffled in some parts, other parts sounding fine.

Considering that Republic Pictures also put out the 40th Anniversary VHS edition of this film in 1994, which was digitally mastered from the original negative, and looked great, I see no reason why the DVD shouldn't look at least as good. This was the biggest DVD disappointment I've had in terms of mastering quality in quite sometime. This film deserves better.

Film - 4 Stars / DVD - 2 Stars

Sinatra's portrayal of Barney Sloane (who is one of my all-time favorite characters in movies) is what really MAKES this film great. It's gritty, his acting is seamless - this film has some of his best acting ever. In fact, there IS no Frank Sinatra in this film, only Barney Sloane - I was totally engrossed in the character and he made me forget he was Frank Sinatra - now THAT's acting! Also, Doris Day is at her absolute best in this film. The chemistry between her and Frank is so much more exciting to watch than her work with Rock Hudson, who is like cardboard compared to Doris and Frank together. Great songs from Doris, and an absolutely PERFECT selection of songs by Frank. This film is sad, joyful, but most of all, ROMANTIC. Highly recommended if you want to feel your Heart!

The 50th Anniversary DVD version (2005) has a different cover - Doris Day and Frank Sinatra in 2 red hearts against a white background. The menu shows Frank Sinatra slowly turning his head to the screen. Along comes the soothing voice of Frank Sinatra singng "Young At Heart". And the movie begins with Mr. Tuttle (Doris Day's father) playing the theme song beautifully on the flute.

Music fans won't be disappointed for the film is decorated with love songs sung by Frank Sinatra and Doris Day accompanied by piano. The first half of the movie is a joyful occasion where each of the young 3 Tuttle sisters have found their own love.

Yet Barney Sloan (Sinatra) is the fourth man to show up! His character immediately reminds me of James Dean - the young, rebellious and social misfit. Here when Frank Sinatra is playing it, he tips the scales even further. The second half of the movie turns serious and melodrama. We see Barney and Laurie (Doris Day) tying the knot together and no matter what Laurie does, she single-handedly cannot instill enough hope to move the family away from the hovering dark clouds.

It takes one critical incident to blow all misunderstandings and doubts away. And the piece of music Barney Sloan has long put aside is finally complete. This is not just a joyful sing-a-long movie where boy meets girl and they live happily ever after, but a story about the difficulties of life. Happiness does not come easily, it has to be fought and won over. It will be bestowed to those who fight it right. The love songs are thus sung with an understanding heart.

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).

"Young at Heart", released by Warner Brothers during the Christmas season in 1954, is the only onscreen film appearance by Doris Day and Frank Sinatra. They were arguably the most popular male and female vocalists of the 1950's, and had been paired, successfully, in the 1940's on radio's "Your Hit Parade", as well as scoring big with a hit single, "Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk". The only regret one has after viewing "Heart" is that the talented duo hardly sing together at all, although they more than agreeably warble a number of good songs alone.

"Young at Heart" is a remake of a popular late 30's Warner Brothers drama, "Four Daughters" that starred John Garfield and the Lane Sisters, et al. It's somewhat "soap operaish" tone is kept in check by some genuinely compelling dramatic scenes and fine acting. The remake maintains most of the integrity of the previous effort, although there are no longer four daughters, only three. In addition, Sinatra reportedly refused to suffer the same fate that Garfield's character suffered in the first film, so the ending lacks some of the emotional resonance of the 30's feature. Nevertheless, "Young at Heart" works on several levels. It's a complex, far from sunny story, filled with a variety of interesting characters, some find music, and performances that are gritty, heartfelt, and memorable.

The central family in "Young at Heart" live in a small town that might be called Norman Rockwell in nature. It's a New England setting where a father, his three daughters, played by Doris Day, Dorothy Malone, and Elisabeth Fraser reside, with their seemingly irascible Aunt Jessie, played with relish by the legendary Ethel Barrymore. Into their midst comes a stranger, Barney Sloane, essayed by Sinatra. He's a loner and a composer, who unhinges the seemingly fragile fabric of their existence, in particular Day, who falls in love with him although Gig Young clearly has feelings for Day's character, Laurie. The family is never the same as emotions and feelings surface and we come to see the family as not quite as picture perfect but more real.

Although they only sing together briefly, Doris and Frank do admirable turns in both the acting and singing department. There is depth to both of their portrayals and we grow to understand why Day loves this initially unlikeable man. Both stars make a strong impact with their emotional performances and sing with maturity and feeling. Sinatra's "One For My Baby" is especially memorable, and the film's title tune placed high on the charts for many months. The supporting players are well cast and lend credibility to their characters.

"Young at Heart" was a popular success and, interestingly, was the first of four onscreen appearances between Doris Day and Gig Young, who later appeared with her in "Teacher's Pet", "Tunnel of Love" and "That Touch of Mink". Fraser, who plays her sister, appeared with the star in "Tunnel", "The Glass Bottom Boat", and 1968's, "The Ballad of Josie".

Gordon Douglas, at expert at this kind of story, directs with a sure hand and the picture is lovely to look at and delightful to hear!

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!

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.