Hackett and Goodrich were some of the best screenwriters Hollywood ever produced and even when the movie isn't clicking on all cylinders, the dialogue usually is and when you listen to it, you notice the potential for a great movie is always there. Such is the case of Too young to kiss, a plot that had the necessary oomph but a director and stars that go for the easy. The pluses: Allyson is completely convincing in costume and makeup as the twelve year old she pretends to be. Van Johnson's droll and fatigued performance strikes the right pitch more often than not. The mistaken identity plot is handled here much better than it was in The Major and Minor, a movie to which comparisons have to be made, but is a better movie than that one. The ending feels rushed but that is because of the poor execution, in the hands of Billy Wilder who directed the other movie, it would have been gold as the love strokes and magic of the heart would conquer.
18 Reviews
GOOD, CLEAN, FUN
LJEANH15 April 2003
I just saw this movie for the first time today. The description reminded me of "The Major and the Minor" which is a movie I have watched over and over. While neither movie is Oscar material both are fun & romantic. If you are in the mood for light fare find June & Van in this one and enjoy.
For June Allyson fans
Panamint18 February 2016
June Allyson's acting is really good in this film, I think its one of her best performances. Van Johnson gives a good performance but seems a bit uncomfortable in the role. Gig Young delivers his usual effortless and somewhat detached performance in a thankless supporting role.
My problem is that this story and whole film are contrived, being nonsense about a child pianist who is or is not a child, with one awkward set up after another revolving around this one idea. Its a deliberately contrived movie for its star. The whole idea is misguided as an overall movie, but ironically serves its one and only purpose- to be a starring vehicle for June Allyson and showcase her acting talents and charm.
This is a star who gives a fine performance, and this is a starring role custom written for her. It seems like she is in every scene, and she might be. So if you like June Allyson, you will like "Too Young to Kiss", if you don't like her, you won't.
My problem is that this story and whole film are contrived, being nonsense about a child pianist who is or is not a child, with one awkward set up after another revolving around this one idea. Its a deliberately contrived movie for its star. The whole idea is misguided as an overall movie, but ironically serves its one and only purpose- to be a starring vehicle for June Allyson and showcase her acting talents and charm.
This is a star who gives a fine performance, and this is a starring role custom written for her. It seems like she is in every scene, and she might be. So if you like June Allyson, you will like "Too Young to Kiss", if you don't like her, you won't.
Great music, OK movie
lcantoni2 April 2004
A pleasant film about a Midwestern girl trying to make it in the cut-throat world of professional classical music. It definitely resembles "The Major and the Minor," but it's neither as funny nor as endearing. Still, it's chock full of "popular" classical music, which makes the movie extra entertaining. (The theme that one recognizes from "The Wizard of Oz" is actually Robert Schumann's "The Happy Farmer.") June Allyson is always fun to watch, but her comic talents aren't really given full play here. Van Johnson is a bit too hyper (and a little sleazy); indeed, the whole movie seems a bit too full of nervous energy, as if everyone in it were in a big hurry to get it over with.
Mildly Disturbing
Caitlin-Em2 July 2003
While a cute and lighthearted movie, it's a little unsettling that the teacher almost instantly falls in love with Cynthia after he knows for sure she's not twelve...but I suppose I'm reading into this too deep. I got a dreadful feeling at the thought of myself in her shoes, being sentenced to stay inside and not be able to go anywhere, but, other than that, it's a nice film. I suppose.
6/10
6/10
The Major and the Minor Keys
boblipton16 July 2006
This variation on Brackett & Wilder's THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR transposes the story from a military Academy background to the world of concert music. And while Brackett & Wilder's work is run as a purely and vastly enjoyable piece of straight farce, Hackett & Goodrich's script, while not as funny, makes some serious, if understated points about the freak-show aspects of show business.
Van Johnson and June Allyson are good in their roles. Indeed, Miss Allyson shows a lot more range than she is usually given the chance for. Credit long-time director Robert Leonard, who, after a long career was winding down in MGM's B department -- he was directing Oscar winners like THE GREAT ZIEGFELD in the 1930s, but didn't move into the Freed unit in the 1940s, which left him odd man out. Cinematographer Joseph Ruttenberg, one of the key cameramen in setting up the glossy MGM visual style, uses a lot of low and askew camera angles.
Yet with all these advantages, there is something mechanical and depressing about the entire production. Brackett and Wilder's effort is time-bound in language and setting, but it is meant to be nothing more than fun and succeeds. This does not. I do not wish to point too accusatory a finger, but Miss Allyson, a very hard-working performer, never developed any of the arts of stardom. She remained, to the end, a capable performer, eager to please and hard working, but she lacks the skills to carry this off. The result is a good movie, not a great one.
Van Johnson and June Allyson are good in their roles. Indeed, Miss Allyson shows a lot more range than she is usually given the chance for. Credit long-time director Robert Leonard, who, after a long career was winding down in MGM's B department -- he was directing Oscar winners like THE GREAT ZIEGFELD in the 1930s, but didn't move into the Freed unit in the 1940s, which left him odd man out. Cinematographer Joseph Ruttenberg, one of the key cameramen in setting up the glossy MGM visual style, uses a lot of low and askew camera angles.
Yet with all these advantages, there is something mechanical and depressing about the entire production. Brackett and Wilder's effort is time-bound in language and setting, but it is meant to be nothing more than fun and succeeds. This does not. I do not wish to point too accusatory a finger, but Miss Allyson, a very hard-working performer, never developed any of the arts of stardom. She remained, to the end, a capable performer, eager to please and hard working, but she lacks the skills to carry this off. The result is a good movie, not a great one.
A Prodigy
bkoganbing6 January 2020
In Too Young To Kiss Van Johnson and June Allyson play a classical manager and a
budding pianist who has exhausted all efforts to get an audition. Frustrated
Allyson pretends to be her own younger sister and gets heard. Johnson now
thinks he has a prodigy on his hands.
This gimmick worked very well for Ginger Rogers in The Major And The Minor and does OK here. One guy who doesn't appreciate it is Gig Young whom Allyson is seeing as her adult self. As for Johnson he can't quite explain the strange feelings he's developing, a whole lot like Ray Milland in The Major And The Minor.
Too Young To Kiss falls short of being a comedy classic like the Billy Wilder film. But it is well acted and directed and still holds up well today.
This gimmick worked very well for Ginger Rogers in The Major And The Minor and does OK here. One guy who doesn't appreciate it is Gig Young whom Allyson is seeing as her adult self. As for Johnson he can't quite explain the strange feelings he's developing, a whole lot like Ray Milland in The Major And The Minor.
Too Young To Kiss falls short of being a comedy classic like the Billy Wilder film. But it is well acted and directed and still holds up well today.
The story is entirely ludicrous...much like "The Major and the Minor".
planktonrules29 August 2019
"Too Young to Kiss" is a story with a serious flaw--one so serious that you might want to skip it. Like "The Major and the Minor", it's a film where an adult woman pretends to be a teen...and it's about as realistic as having Santa play a bathing beauty. June Allyson is a bit better than Ginger Rogers ("The Major and the Minor"), but still you cannot help but think it's ridiculous for a woman in her thirties playing a girl of about 12! It strains credibility way past the breaking point!!
Cynthia (Allyson) is an out of work concert pianist and has been trying to get Eric Wainwrwight (Van Johnson) to give her an audition. But Wainwright is a very busy man and keeps canceling appointments with her...to the point where it's obvious she'll never audition for him. So, when she hears he'll be auditioning a group of kids, she dresses up as a girl and performs...and knocks his socks off! But the problem is that when she tries to tell him the truth, he is simply not interested in an adult pianist...he wants to mold young 'Molly' into a brilliant young pianist. So, Cynthia goes along with the ruse and Eric is daft enough to think that Cynthia is Molly's sister...which is all the more dopey since Molly and Cynthia cannot be seen together since they are one in the same person!
The only way to enjoy this film is to turn off your brain and enjoy. If you think too much, you'll most likely find the story a bit ridiculous. After all, she doesn't look 13 AND if she was actually 12, then her relationship with Eric would be REALLY creepy, as she lives with him and spends all her time with him! He even wants to adopt her later in the film! The actors try their best, but the script is a dud...an enjoyable dud...but a dud nevertheless.
Cynthia (Allyson) is an out of work concert pianist and has been trying to get Eric Wainwrwight (Van Johnson) to give her an audition. But Wainwright is a very busy man and keeps canceling appointments with her...to the point where it's obvious she'll never audition for him. So, when she hears he'll be auditioning a group of kids, she dresses up as a girl and performs...and knocks his socks off! But the problem is that when she tries to tell him the truth, he is simply not interested in an adult pianist...he wants to mold young 'Molly' into a brilliant young pianist. So, Cynthia goes along with the ruse and Eric is daft enough to think that Cynthia is Molly's sister...which is all the more dopey since Molly and Cynthia cannot be seen together since they are one in the same person!
The only way to enjoy this film is to turn off your brain and enjoy. If you think too much, you'll most likely find the story a bit ridiculous. After all, she doesn't look 13 AND if she was actually 12, then her relationship with Eric would be REALLY creepy, as she lives with him and spends all her time with him! He even wants to adopt her later in the film! The actors try their best, but the script is a dud...an enjoyable dud...but a dud nevertheless.
Too young to kiss, too old to twaddle!
JohnHowardReid22 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Copyright 25 October 1951 by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 22 November 1951 (ran two weeks). U.S. release: 23 November 1952. U.K. release: 3 December 1951. Australian release: 12 March 1952. 91 minutes.
Censored to 88½ minutes in the U.K. in order to qualify for a "U" certificate. Cut by M-G-M to 86 minutes in Australia.
SYNOPSIS: Unable to obtain an audition appointment with Eric Wainwright, a famous concert manager, Cynthia Potter in desperation disguises herself as a thirteen-year-old girl with braces on her teeth and enters a children's concert sponsored annually by Eric.
Her brilliant piano playing wins the contest and on the following day, Eric comes to her apartment with a contract. Cynthia, pretending that she is the older sister of the girl she has impersonated, tries to persuade Eric to sign her, but he refuses and even accuses her of being jealous of her successful kid sister. Furious at his attitude, Cynthia decides to continue the hoax by signing the contract as her little sister's guardian.
Dressed appropriately, she arrives at Eric's office to commence her career as a child prodigy. John Tirsen, Cynthia's newspaperman boyfriend, disapproves of the hoax and tries to make Cynthia give it up. Eric comes upon them conversing, and Cynthia is forced to introduce John as her elder sister's boyfriend. Eric, however, is shocked to later find her smoking and drinking a cocktail while with John, and decides to take her to his country home to remove her from the evil influence of John and her elder sister.
Cynthia deliberately proves difficult at Eric's home, by interfering with his romance with Denise Dorcet, a temperamental singer, and by insisting that he stop drinking and smoking if he does not want her to continue these vices. After weeks of practice, however, Eric becomes very fond of his child protégée, while she has secretly been falling in love with him. Nevertheless...
COMMENT: M-G-M, always eager to copycat a success at another studio, have here taken a leaf from the pages of All About Eve. Of course, the idea has been considerably watered down and most of the bite has been removed. However, it still has sufficient sparkle to add up to passable entertainment.
Acting is proficient. Miss Allyson has a role that takes advantage of her small stature (actually the camera cheats a bit here by making her appear taller, when she should — except for the up-swept hair style — be the same size).
The direction is competent, though inclined to intersperse the musical interludes (cut, of course) with too many reaction shots. Within the limits of a very moderate budget, production values are smooth.
OTHER VIEWS: A slight comedy with a theme at once hackneyed and improbable, which sometimes sparkles but has too many flat passages. — Monthly Film Bulletin.
Censored to 88½ minutes in the U.K. in order to qualify for a "U" certificate. Cut by M-G-M to 86 minutes in Australia.
SYNOPSIS: Unable to obtain an audition appointment with Eric Wainwright, a famous concert manager, Cynthia Potter in desperation disguises herself as a thirteen-year-old girl with braces on her teeth and enters a children's concert sponsored annually by Eric.
Her brilliant piano playing wins the contest and on the following day, Eric comes to her apartment with a contract. Cynthia, pretending that she is the older sister of the girl she has impersonated, tries to persuade Eric to sign her, but he refuses and even accuses her of being jealous of her successful kid sister. Furious at his attitude, Cynthia decides to continue the hoax by signing the contract as her little sister's guardian.
Dressed appropriately, she arrives at Eric's office to commence her career as a child prodigy. John Tirsen, Cynthia's newspaperman boyfriend, disapproves of the hoax and tries to make Cynthia give it up. Eric comes upon them conversing, and Cynthia is forced to introduce John as her elder sister's boyfriend. Eric, however, is shocked to later find her smoking and drinking a cocktail while with John, and decides to take her to his country home to remove her from the evil influence of John and her elder sister.
Cynthia deliberately proves difficult at Eric's home, by interfering with his romance with Denise Dorcet, a temperamental singer, and by insisting that he stop drinking and smoking if he does not want her to continue these vices. After weeks of practice, however, Eric becomes very fond of his child protégée, while she has secretly been falling in love with him. Nevertheless...
COMMENT: M-G-M, always eager to copycat a success at another studio, have here taken a leaf from the pages of All About Eve. Of course, the idea has been considerably watered down and most of the bite has been removed. However, it still has sufficient sparkle to add up to passable entertainment.
Acting is proficient. Miss Allyson has a role that takes advantage of her small stature (actually the camera cheats a bit here by making her appear taller, when she should — except for the up-swept hair style — be the same size).
The direction is competent, though inclined to intersperse the musical interludes (cut, of course) with too many reaction shots. Within the limits of a very moderate budget, production values are smooth.
OTHER VIEWS: A slight comedy with a theme at once hackneyed and improbable, which sometimes sparkles but has too many flat passages. — Monthly Film Bulletin.
Enjoyable Double-Role Film
Maleejandra15 October 2006
Too Young To Kiss stars two actors from the post-war era who seemed to be always coupled together. Van Johnson plays an established impresario whose busy schedule and taste for exotic women leaves him with hardly any time to take talented unknowns seriously. June Allyson plays Cynthia Potter, an excellent musician who is determined to catch his eye despite countless cancellations of appointment on his part. When she hears of a children's audition that he is sure to attend, she stoops to a new level. She dresses as a little girl, braces, bows and all to impress the man. He's hooked, astounded that such talent could come from a 12 year old girl named Molly. He signs her to a contract and takes her under his wing, appalled by the way she is treated by her "older sister" Cynthia and "uncle" (really her fiancée). Slowly the two develop an odd relationship and "Molly" begins to feel awful about duping the man.
One can't help but think of how perfect Mary Pickford would have been in this role had it been created in the silent era. Still, Allyson does a wonderful job in the part, not quite believable as a little girl and yet at times, perfect. This half-way acting makes Johnson's character seem all the bigger an idiot and also gives way for a romantic relationship to bud. Also, did Allyson really do all of the piano performances herself? It would be difficult to have a stand-in do it with some of the shots used. If she did, it is only further proof of how wonderful she was.
One can't help but think of how perfect Mary Pickford would have been in this role had it been created in the silent era. Still, Allyson does a wonderful job in the part, not quite believable as a little girl and yet at times, perfect. This half-way acting makes Johnson's character seem all the bigger an idiot and also gives way for a romantic relationship to bud. Also, did Allyson really do all of the piano performances herself? It would be difficult to have a stand-in do it with some of the shots used. If she did, it is only further proof of how wonderful she was.
Positively ridiculous....
tles7-676-1096331 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
To watch June Allyson fake playing the piano is hysterical. She is late on some banging of the chords and early on others...tentative. It's so obvious that they should have given up or practiced better. At least in La La Land, it looked like he was playing most of the time. Also, to believe that Van Johnson couldn't tell that June was the same person as an adult and a child is asking too much. This was done much better in The Major and the Minor (even then...Ginger Rogers didn't look like a kid, either). MGM took advantage of the audience believability in many their movies. Most people didn't sing for themselves and they obviously thought they could get people to believe that June could play piano in this film. Oh my gosh....terrible!!
A Stretch the Stars Manage to Overcome
dougdoepke1 March 2017
Fortunately the two stars make the derivative premise work pretty well. Seems concert pianist Cynthia (Allyson) can't get an audition with high-powered promoter Wainwright (Johnson). So she pretends to be Cynthia's 13-year old sister Molly. As an apparent child prodigy, she's a sensation as Wainwright takes over her career. Trouble is she has to keep impersonating an adolescent, which creates all kinds of amusing complications when Molly-Cynthia is attracted to the handsome promoter. If this sounds a lot like 1940's The Major And The Minor, that's because they share the same impersonation premise. Of course, that sort of suggestive material is tricky, especially for the airbrushed 1950's. But, on the whole, innuendo is played down in favor of personalities.
Except in height, the bubbly Allyson and Johnson are perfectly matched, so we know the outcome as soon as the credits-roll. And happily they don't disappoint. Though 33 at the time, the youthful Allyson still manages to bring off the age challenge pretty well. Of course, it'a real stretch at times, but wardrobe excels in outfitting Molly in adolescent clothes. On the other hand, poor Gig Young gets the thankless role of the extra man. But this is still early in his career. I don't know how they did it, but Allyson certainly looks like she's playing the concert piano, flying fingers and all. It's great too for us classical music fans hearing segments of Grieg's grandiose piano concerto. I do wish MGM had filmed in color, which better brings out the stars' sparkle. Nonetheless, the 90-minutes amounts to another happy pairing of the two stars, derivative material or not.
Except in height, the bubbly Allyson and Johnson are perfectly matched, so we know the outcome as soon as the credits-roll. And happily they don't disappoint. Though 33 at the time, the youthful Allyson still manages to bring off the age challenge pretty well. Of course, it'a real stretch at times, but wardrobe excels in outfitting Molly in adolescent clothes. On the other hand, poor Gig Young gets the thankless role of the extra man. But this is still early in his career. I don't know how they did it, but Allyson certainly looks like she's playing the concert piano, flying fingers and all. It's great too for us classical music fans hearing segments of Grieg's grandiose piano concerto. I do wish MGM had filmed in color, which better brings out the stars' sparkle. Nonetheless, the 90-minutes amounts to another happy pairing of the two stars, derivative material or not.
Cute Movie, But...
PiperDrummer2912 October 2021
fun, if completely unrealistic
Liza-1919 March 2002
This film is simply fun. You can't take it too seriously, the idea of a woman in her twenties posing as a twelve year old - this is not something that happens everyday. June Allyson is wonderful in the lead, and is practically playing two characters. She does manage to look very young, despite her being in her thirties at the time. Van Johnson is his usual lovable self, and this movie is just too cute at times. Poor Gig Young is barely seen, but he does what he can with his role. This movie is too cute!
***1/2
edwagreen15 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Didn't the maid played by Esther Dale have a strong resemblance to Eleanor Roosevelt? I thought I was seeing the former first lady in the role.
An absolutely delightful film with June Allyson acting as a 14 year old so that her talents could be displayed. Van Johnson is the impresario, quite a character with so many clients, that hardly anything gets done. Gig Young portrays the reporter willing to go along with the story so that he can get his girlfriend Allyson and finally get a good scoop on a fantastic story of a hoax being perpetrated.
Allyson is so cute as the masquerading 14 year old. She goes along with this since when she introduces her real self, Johnson couldn't care less, only wanting the young lass for musical fame.
Keeping her in line becomes a focus and the two, even though he thinks she is still a child, develop feelings for each other.
An absolutely delightful film with June Allyson acting as a 14 year old so that her talents could be displayed. Van Johnson is the impresario, quite a character with so many clients, that hardly anything gets done. Gig Young portrays the reporter willing to go along with the story so that he can get his girlfriend Allyson and finally get a good scoop on a fantastic story of a hoax being perpetrated.
Allyson is so cute as the masquerading 14 year old. She goes along with this since when she introduces her real self, Johnson couldn't care less, only wanting the young lass for musical fame.
Keeping her in line becomes a focus and the two, even though he thinks she is still a child, develop feelings for each other.
"Oz" music
Ripshin18 December 2001
Did anyone notice that background music written for "The Wizard of Oz" was used in the opening credits and background music for this film? In "Oz", the music plays over the opening scene of Dorothy and Toto running along the road, presumably after encountering Miss Gulch. You hear it many times afterwards. I guess, for this film, they pulled it from the MGM music library, not knowing "Oz" would become such a classic, and that any bit of music from it would be so recognizable over sixty years later. The original piece for "Oz" was (erroneously)titled "Trouble in School."
UPDATE: I have been informed that the above-mentioned piece of music is actually not original to "Oz," but is,in fact, a classically composed children's melody.
UPDATE: I have been informed that the above-mentioned piece of music is actually not original to "Oz," but is,in fact, a classically composed children's melody.
Pleasant but a bit disconcerting film
mgmstar12822 July 2004
"Too Young to Kiss" is interesting to see, especially in this age of awareness towards child rights and their protection. June Allyson, looking like Judy Garland from the 1944 Meet Me in St. Louis, and hardly looking 14, does a good job impersonating a young prodigy, and Van Johnson does all right in his performance as well. However, the movie, in certain scenes, could make the viewer of today a bit uncomfortable. The audience knows in the end that June will confess her legal age, so that no one will be upset or offended. Yet the sexual tension and kisses kind of make one cringe since the plot line is not cleared up at some points with such plot devices as underage drinking and smoking, an older sister who appears to let her kid sister be taken away and cared for by an older single man, etc.... It is interesting to note the Oz music heard as the credits roll and used throughout the movie as stated by another reviewer...The film is one of those old MGM movies that is easy to take and totally forgotten by the next week. June Allyson is terrific in "Good News" and Van much better in "In The Good Old Summertime." Catch those to see them in color and at their peaks).
Wonderful movie -laughable and serious at the same time
rtburkes9 April 2004
I saw a person who had an ambition, a desire to succeed but was not given the chance (based on the story) to prove herself. She reached the stage to try most anything (not recommended for all situations) to be heard and prove here ability. If a person is that talented and have exhausted all other means - then sometimes drastic measures are acceptable. The acting was wonderful but I was captivated by the piano music. Wonderful composer and musician (whoever played the music - I assume that June was that talented - if so - GREAT. As far as matters of the heart are concerned - it was was not that far-out and did not overstep the bounds of decency and permissiveness. June (the character) was aware and in control of her actions.
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