TOO YOUNG TO KISS

US, 1951, 89 minutes, Black and white.
June Allyson, Van Johnson, Gig Young, Paula Corday, Hans Conried.
Directed by Robert Z.Leonard.

Too Young to Kiss is a pleasant MGM comedy from Francis Goodrich and Albert Hackett, writer of a number of significant MGM films including Summer Holiday. It was directed by veteran Robert Z. Leonard (Pride and Prejudice). It was one of the many romantic teamings of Van Johnson and June Allyson, a popular pair. Gig Young is in the `other man' role.

A pleasant comedy - very similar to Billy Wilder's The Major and the Minor where Ginger Rogers pretended she was a young teenager. June Allyson has little trouble in doing the same - deceiving Van Johnson.

1.Entertaining comedy? The stars? Of its period?

2.Black and white photography? The city? The concerts? The country estate? The musical score? The use of the classics, especially Chopin?

3.The title, romance, the age gap? Cynthia Potter, her musical accomplishment, inability to get an audition, her attempts? Her relationship with John, the hope of an engagement? Hearing about the child auditions? Dressing up as Molly, going to the auditions, her playing, success? Caught and having to go along with the pretence? As Cynthia, antagonistic towards Wainwright? Her responses to him as Molly? The concerts, the hype? Going to his country estate, the nice housekeeper? Her tantrums as a child? Outings, food, games? Ringing Cynthia? Cynthia and her phone calls to Wainwright? John and his expose? Her angers, the build-up to the concert? The revelation? Her playing the concert, her success? Wainwright and his change of heart? The happy ending?

4.Van Johnson as Wainwright, the entrepreneur, listening to the auditions? Denise and the other artists and keeping them happy? Attracted by Molly, the antagonism towards Cynthia? The double meetings and phone calls? ..... tantrums? His forgiving her? Her performance, his discovery, his humiliation, admitting the truth? The reconciliation?

5.John, in love with Cynthia, his job, skill as a writer, the scoop, the plan with Cynthia, the publication?

6.The housekeeper, her eye on Molly, seeing the two were in love, her support?

7.Denise and the temperamental artistes? Humour?

8 The battle of the sexes? Age differences? Tongue-in-cheek? Plausible.