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The Truth About Youth

  • 19301930
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 9m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
300
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
David Manners and Loretta Young in The Truth About Youth (1930)
  • Drama
  • Romance
Richard Carewe has raised his deceased friend's son from childhood with the help of his housekeeper and her beautiful daughter, Phyllis. He arranges a marriage between Phyllis and the boy, b... Read allRichard Carewe has raised his deceased friend's son from childhood with the help of his housekeeper and her beautiful daughter, Phyllis. He arranges a marriage between Phyllis and the boy, but the rascal impulsively marries a notorious nightclub singer, "the Firefly", instead. Th... Read allRichard Carewe has raised his deceased friend's son from childhood with the help of his housekeeper and her beautiful daughter, Phyllis. He arranges a marriage between Phyllis and the boy, but the rascal impulsively marries a notorious nightclub singer, "the Firefly", instead. The femme fatale dumps the boy when she discovers he has no money, but by then Phyllis reali... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
300
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William A. Seiter
  • Writers
    • H.V. Esmond(based on: "When We Were Twenty-One" by)
    • B. Harrison Orkow(adaptation & additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Loretta Young
    • Conway Tearle
    • David Manners
Top credits
  • Director
    • William A. Seiter
  • Writers
    • H.V. Esmond(based on: "When We Were Twenty-One" by)
    • B. Harrison Orkow(adaptation & additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Loretta Young
    • Conway Tearle
    • David Manners
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    David Manners and Loretta Young in The Truth About Youth (1930)
    Myrna Loy and David Manners in The Truth About Youth (1930)
    Loretta Young in The Truth About Youth (1930)
    Myrna Loy and Loretta Young in The Truth About Youth (1930)
    The Truth About Youth (1930)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Loretta Young
    Loretta Young
    • Phyllis Ericsonas Phyllis Ericson
    Conway Tearle
    Conway Tearle
    • Richard Careweas Richard Carewe
    David Manners
    David Manners
    • Richard Dane 'The Imp'as Richard Dane 'The Imp'
    Myrna Loy
    Myrna Loy
    • Kara aka The Fireflyas Kara aka The Firefly
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    • Colonel Grahamas Colonel Graham
    Myrtle Stedman
    Myrtle Stedman
    • Mrs. Ericsonas Mrs. Ericson
    Harry Stubbs
    Harry Stubbs
    • Horace Palmer 'Waddles'as Horace Palmer 'Waddles'
    William Bailey
    William Bailey
    • Jim - Kara's Boyfriendas Jim - Kara's Boyfriend
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph E. Bernard
    Joseph E. Bernard
    • Headwaiteras Headwaiter
    • (uncredited)
    James Conaty
    • Nightclub Patronas Nightclub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Yola d'Avril
    Yola d'Avril
    • Babette - Kara's Maidas Babette - Kara's Maid
    • (uncredited)
    Jay Eaton
    Jay Eaton
    • Nightclub Patronas Nightclub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Elliott
    Bill Elliott
    • Nightclub Patronas Nightclub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Hallor
    Ray Hallor
    • Hal - Dane's Palas Hal - Dane's Pal
    • (uncredited)
    William Irving
    William Irving
    • Jim Greeneas Jim Greene
    • (uncredited)
    Mike Lally
    • Night Club Patronas Night Club Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Dorothy Mathews
    Dorothy Mathews
    • Cherry - Blonde Party Girlas Cherry - Blonde Party Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Savitsky
    • Man at Wedding License Bureauas Man at Wedding License Bureau
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William A. Seiter
    • Writers
      • H.V. Esmond(based on: "When We Were Twenty-One" by)
      • B. Harrison Orkow(adaptation & additional dialogue)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Richard Carewe has raised his deceased friend's son from childhood with the help of his housekeeper and her beautiful daughter, Phyllis. He arranges a marriage between Phyllis and the boy, but the rascal impulsively marries a notorious nightclub singer, "the Firefly", instead. The femme fatale dumps the boy when she discovers he has no money, but by then Phyllis realizes she is in love with Richard, not his foolish ward. —Anonymous
    • singer
    • nightclub
    • housekeeper
    • marriage
    • spendthrift
    • 17 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • How Can a Girl Tell- When She Gets the Wrong Answer to a Maiden's Prayer? (Print Ad)
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Myrna Loy was actually a fully trained professional dancer, having studied with Ted Shawn (husband of modern dancer Ruth St. Denis and co-leader with her of the Denishawn company), but "The Truth About Youth" and Warners' all-star musical "The Show of Shows" were among the few movies in which she actually got to dance.
    • Goofs
      At the Firefly Club, before Kara comes on, there is a fanfare then applause, but nobody in the audience is seen clapping.
    • Quotes

      Phyllis Ericson: What chance does a girl have these days, if she won't do this, and doesn't do that?

    • Connections
      Featured in Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home to (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      In the Land of Let's Pretend
      (uncredited)

      Music by Harry Akst

      Played during the opening credits

      Also played when Phyllis is sitting with Dick and Kara at the Firefly

      Also played when Phyllis and Dick are alone at the end

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    truth? where?
    Whatever truth about youth is revealed or explored herein is elusive. Youth is foolish, cunning, wise? We are left wondering. Worth seeing because of the cast (Loretta Young at 17, Myrna Loy in her exotic-vamp stage, silent-era relic Conway Tearle, pretty but awkward David Manners). The first minutes of dense and clumsy exposition play like the synopsis of a Victorian novel, which is pretty close to the actual origin of this story (it was a play in London in 1901 starring, among others, Constance Collier in the Loy role). I had to rewind to get a clear sense of the relationships. It doesn't help that during all this verbiage Young is wearing a gown with a downright bizarre decoration directly on the crotch which seems to shout "Pre- Code Costume! Don't listen - look!"

    The conflict begins when David Manners, pledged to marry Young, falls instead for nightclub performer Loy whose exotic, cynical, gold-digger comes as refreshing counterpoint to Young's homespun housekeeper's daughter. Loy lip syncs a couple of forgettable songs and dances passably & briefly, looking gorgeous at all times. Melodies of two better songs of the day, "Get Happy" and "Miss Wonderful," are played during nightclub scenes.

    Young's line readings are smooth and natural, especially considering her age at the time. But they are, in fact, rattled off too smoothly to register the subtleties of thought that her character is experiencing, so that when she reaches certain conclusions late in the story, they seem arbitrary. Loy's best moment is an outburst of anger while in the arms of David Manners when she finds out he isn't quite the cash cow she thought he was, but the scene collapses when she hurls a vase at him, and misses by a mile. Manners himself is slightly less wooden than usual, but only slightly. He does manage to get a drunk scene half right.

    A few inter-titles illustrate a lingering habit from the silent era, while underscoring in some dramatic scenes reminds us that even in 1930 pure unadulterated soundtrack hiss was not always the case.

    To those who find the ending shocking, tut-tut. Surprising, maybe.
    helpful•2
    4
    • mukava991
    • Feb 15, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 3, 1930 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • First National Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

    Related news

    On TCM: Conservative Actress Young in Audacious Movies
    Jan 6Alt Film Guide

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