YOUNG MAN WITH IDEAS
US, 1952, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Glenn Ford, Ruth Roman, Denise Darcel, Nina Foch, Donna Corcoran, Ray Collins, Mary Wickes, Sheldon Leonard.
Directed by Mitchell Leisen.
Young Man with Ideas is a slight serious comedy of the early 1950s, showing something of what life was like – or expected to be, in America at the time. The film is very much of its time in showing the bedroom with separate beds – although there is a sly joke in the scene that is included in the film.
Glenn Ford was adept at this kind of low-key role, a lawyer with his family moving from Montana to Los Angeles and encountering various difficulties. Ruth Roman is his wife, an actress better suited to more serious roles who had a long career in film and television, for over forty years. Denise Darcel portrays a singer, Nina Foch is a law student, she also having a very long career in film and television, over sixty years, as well as a teacher of drama. There are cameos from Ray Collins and, entertainingly, from Mary Wickes. Sheldon Leonard is, as often, a gangster.
The film was directed by Mitchell Leisen, a director of the 30s and 40s who had great success with quite a wide range of films including Midnight, Kitty, Frenchman’s Creek.
1. An MGM programmer film, the light touch, the 1950s?
2. A studio-bound film, the sets? The atmosphere of Montana and Los Angeles? Black and white photography? The score?
3. Glenn Ford as the star, genial, a touch romantic, comic? A diffident character, hesitant, then showing his other side? The nice man breaking out? Finding himself – the meaning of the title?
4. The situation in Montana, the home, Julie and the three children, the serious daughter and her po-faced remarks, knowledgeable yet making mistakes? The court win? The dinner, the country club, Julie pleased to be going, their being snubbed? Julie drinking, her speech at the table, her toast? Max and his writing the note, the wrong delivery, the faux pas?
5. The decision to move to Los Angeles, Jethrow and his promotions, his style?
6. Los Angeles hopes, the estate agent, the house, the warning that the previous residents were ‘fast’? The phone calls, the placing of the bets? Julie and her offhandedness, accepting the bet, the consequences? Max and his wanting to pass the bar exam?
7. Max in himself, at home, needing Julie’s confidence in him? The first session, signing in, talking with Joyce, making the mistake and her reply? Joyce and her offer of help, paying for the books? Julie agreeing to the arrangement? Their studying together, Joyce and her hopes?
8. Joyce and the job, debt collecting? Max and his diffidence, being attacked by the woman thinking it was a photo call for the family? The meeting with Dorianne? Her sad story, singing the song, thinking he was a talent scout? His paying the twelve dollars out of his own pocket? The results and with Julie’s reaction? And Joyce caught up in the same problems?
9. Max, upset with Julie, her wanting to go back to Montana and writing the letter? The issue of Eddie, the bet, the big win, Max going to the bar, Eddie going through the telephone book?
10. Max leaving, going to the bar, Dorianne and her song? Julie and her going to Joyce in the middle of the night, the search? The fight in the bar, the suspicions of the criminals, their misjudging of Max?
11. The court sequence, pleading not guilty, taking his own case, the questions for the criminal, for Dorianne, her perjury? The importance of his speech to the jury, his knowing the law, precedents? Julie and Joyce in court, Julie overcome?
12. Winning the case? The sequence of the bar exam, his feeling that he had failed? Passing? The lawyers observing and offering him the partnership? The happy ending, the light style?
