The Impossible Years (1968) User Reviews (24)

Protesting with The Cowsills

[wes-connors · 5/10 · 28 September 2009]

College psychiatry professor David Niven (as Jonathan Kingsley) and wife Lola Albright (as Alice) are shocked when beautiful 17-year-old daughter Cristina Ferrare (as Linda) is arrested at a campus protest. She is charged with disturbing the peace, inciting to riot, resisting arrest, and unlawful assembly on university property. Ms. Ferrare is also caught carrying a picket sign with an unsavory word written on its backside. She claims to have never turned the sign around to see the naughty word - an impossible plot detail, unless she's lying. Ferrare also smokes cigarettes, gets caught speeding, and keeps a messy room.

"The Impossible Years" comes across like it's daring to fight "the sexual revolution" along the "generation gap" front. But, like many 1960s sex comedies, nothing really untoward actually happens. It's a smoke and mirrors story with a good cast - including highly likable supporting TV stars Chad Everett and Ozzie Nelson. Near legendary photographer William Daniels and director Michael Gordon do a good job with the limited sets. Since Mr. Gordon is the grandfather of accomplished actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, you've got to wonder if, eventually, everyone in movies will be proved related.

The "picket sign" title sequence is nicely done, and features a catchy title song sung by The Cowsills. The tune was finally released on the underrated group's 1994 CD reissue of their first LP "The Cowsills"; previously, "The Impossible Years" was hidden away on a 45 RPM B-side. After the opening, you can stick around for beautiful bikini-clad Ferrare and her young friends. The comedy is dated, innocent, and not so funny, except for an occasional line; it's interesting to hear "I'm glad they passed Medicare!" was once a way to irk the family doctor.

***** The Impossible Years (9/13/68) Michael Gordon ~ David Niven, Cristina Ferrare, Lola Albright, Chad Everett

The angst of raising a teenage daughter

[dmgillund · 7/10 · 13 February 2006]

If you're looking for a film which aspires to be "high art" or convey "deep meaning", forget it..."The Impossible Years" is a lightweight romp with David Niven, Lola Albright, Chad Everett, etc. that will make you laugh, giggle, and smile. It's an hour and 45 minutes of escapist fare that will make you forget about your troubles for a while. Not everyone will appreciate the slapstick humor here, but I sure did! Much in the same vain as the Beach Blanket and Gidget films of the time. This movie won't win any Academy Awards for high-brow acting or directing, but then, I don't think it was ever intended to be a deep message film. Just pure fun!!!

Like The Sexual Revolution With A Laughtrack

[atlasmb · 6/10 · 19 June 2016]

In almost every decade, Hollywood produces films that threaten to explore important issues of their day, including changes in gender roles. And most of those films are bits of fluff. Many of these films also promise--with their trailers--to titillate. Consider the films of Doris Day and Rock Hudson. With a title like "Pillow Talk", the viewer might reasonably expect two people talking in the same room. Or how about those split screens that suggest a couple simultaneously in a bathtub.

In 1968 there were plenty social movements to tackle--the war, race relations, sexual empowerment. "The Impossible Years" is the story of a teenage girl whose sexual experience is the concern of her parents. Like other films, it nibbles around the edges of the topic with occasional "edgy" moments like mentioning that she's now a "C cup".

But this is s comedy and no real issues must interfere with the wackiness. Unfortunately, this film (like most of its time) comes from the Erma Bombeck school of comedy--a slapstick style that takes farce and reduces it merely to scenes of bedlam. People trip, they swing things at each other, they slam doors.

The opening credits are accompanied by the eponymous song by The Cowsills--an unfortunate pairing. I like The Cowsills. Their version of "Hair" is catchy and evokes the time period. But they also sang the theme song for "Love American Style", which also was a catchy tune, but here it forms a thematic bridge between that pseudo-titillating series about romantic relationships and this film, further reminding the viewer that he can expect nothing but pap and silliness.

Even David Niven as the father cannot save the film from its mediocrity. He represents the older generation and father and daughter are meant to talk past each other more than to each other.

Unfunny 1960s sex comedy has square adults vs. hippie kids

[a_chinn · 4/10 · 5 February 2018]

Corny swingin' 60s sex comedy has uptight psychology professor David Niven trying to control his liberated free-spirit 17-year old daughter, Cristina Ferrare. It's really a generational comedy with the square adults having a hard time understanding 1960's youth culture. The main problems with this film isn't the premise, but that the comedy is not all that funny. Both the square adults and the hip kids are presented in broad exaggerated versions of themselves, which could work, but does not here. I did laugh at one of-the-moment line when Niven's character is angry at a doctor friend and yells, "I'm glad they passed Medicare!" but outside of that there was not much that made me laugh.

Sign of the Times

[usnjohn62 · 6/10 · 17 June 2007]

While the film is greatly dated in viewing it today, as for someone that lived during the 60's, it was quite ground breaking in dealing with current trends in our society. Since themes such as this were something relatively new, they sort of skimmed around the issues, and weren't as hard hitting as they are today.

Alond with this film, David Niven starred in another film of this genre also in 1968, "Prudence and the Pill". Even by 1968 standards this film was very silly and disappointing.

It is ironic how Hollywood, tried to deal with society's changes by making them seem humorous and inconsequential.

Unfunny 1960s sex comedy has square adults vs. hippie kids

[a_chinn · 4/10 · 5 February 2018]

Corny and unfunny swingin' 60s sex comedy has uptight psychology professor David Niven trying to control his liberated free-spirit 17-year old daughter, Cristina Ferrare. It's really a generational comedy with the square adults having a hard time understanding 1960's youth culture. The main problems with this film isn't the premise, but that the comedy is not all that funny. Both the square adults and the hip kids are presented in broad exaggerated versions of themselves, which could work, but does not here. I did laugh at one of-the-moment line when Niven's character is angry at a doctor friend and yells, "I'm glad they passed Medicare!" but outside of that there was not much that made me laugh.

good movie,but bad rating

[catseyesix · 9 September 2001]

Okay,so this movie wasn't really that good to some people,but I for one liked it.A father who is a doctor(?) has two daughters:Abby who is the youngest and Linda who is the oldest(and has the raging libido).Yes,it's boyfriend after boyfriend for Linda,and her parents watch her wondering why their daughter jumps from one boyfriend to the next.It isn't until later when she moves out of the house and gets married,only to see her father trying to find out who her spouse really is.There is a favorite scene of mine where the Linda's parents are having a party and her boyfriend brings in a portrait of her that he painted.And when he shows the family and guests,it's revealed to be a nude portrait,in which Linda didn't know!The rating is bad though.It acts more like a PG-13 movie than a G rated movie.Believe me.This is NOT something you wanna watch with your parents!

Enjoyable generation gap comedy

[pmtelefon · 7/10 · 20 June 2023]

"The Impossible Years" is a pretty funny movie. It's a late 1960's generation gap comedy so it has a lot of '60s hippie stuff going on and it works well. David Niven spends half of the movie wearing a bow tie. Cristina Ferrare spends half of the movie wearing a bikini. "The Impossible Years" isn't the funniest movie ever made but it does have a light-hearted charm to it. I'm a big fan of Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide. I was using that book many years before IMDB came around. I still look movies up in that book. Leonard gave this movie a "Bomb" rating. Maltin is usually on the money but that rating is way off. Honorable mention: the always welcome Michael McGreevey.

Just Impossible

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 17 June 2012]

As those who have read my reviews on his films before, David Niven carried more mediocre films on the strength of his charm than any other leading man I know. In this case he had something of a built in advance sale on a role, as The Impossible Years had a respectable two year run of 640 performances on Broadway. Would you believe that Alan King played the role on Broadway and I'm sure the interpretation was vastly different. In fact I'm sure King had to reach for his conception as part and parcel of his standup comedy routine was his experiences in suburbia as the father of two teenage sons which he was in real life.

The unflappable Niven plays a psychologist who has written on the subject of teens, but in his own life he and wife Lola Albright are having no better or worse time than thousands of others raising adolescents. Daughters Christina Ferrare and Darleen Carr are driving both of them to the edge. Especially the 17 year old Ferrare who has a lot of young males in heat buzzing around her. And one of them has rounded home and scored.

The play had to have been a bit more realistic to have enjoyed the run it did. The Code was down, but obviously this was being marketed to a family audience and a lot of it just didn't make sense. Most of all Ferrare's choice of male partner.

The Impossible Years is just plain impossible.

odd one, for david niven

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 7 August 2020]

Impossible years... some recognize-able names in this MGM film from tumultuous 1968. David Niven is Professor Kingsley, and the late 1960's were known for trouble and protests. and his own daughter has been arrested for protesting! and the running gag is that everyone Kingsley bumps into wants to know what was written on the sign that got her arrested. Ozzie Nelson is Dr. Fleischer, the next door neighbor. his son Freddie (Rich Chalet) is all over Linda, Kingsley's daughter (Cristina Ferrare... probably best known as wife of John DeLorean, the car guy). it's all about the story of the new, young, protesting generation versus the older establishment. it's okay. It's pretty much beach blanket bingo. there's even a scene of the teenagers dancing on the beach. Directed by Michael Gordon, who made two films with Doris Day.... Move Over Darling, and Pillow Talk. it's a fun snapshot of the protest years.. late 1960s.

50's coming to terms with the 60's before it becomes the 70's

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 4 May 2020]

Students are demonstrating at an university. Jonathan Kingsley (David Niven) is a psychology professor who practices what he preaches. He has a comfortable life with two teen daughters and then his oldest gets arrested for demonstrating with a free speech sign. Something on the other side is too shocking to say out loud. His teaching assistant Richard Merrick has been pushing him on his work and suggests "The Impossible Years" for his next book.

The girl is too flighty. It feels like a parent's vision of a bratty teenager. The dad is a 50's liberal. This movie is basically the adults unable to understand their crazy, crazy kids. The play was apparently shown in 1965. So I can excuse the writing which seems to be the 50's trying to come to terms with the 60's. Nevertheless, this movie cannot help but look backwards rather than forwards. It may still work as social commentary but it's not going to work as a comedy. As for the forbidden word, it shouldn't be one word. It becomes a distraction as the audience becomes preoccupied with guessing the word. This is done from the point of view of the professor and that's not that compelling or funny. When it comes to sex, it gets even more awkward although awkward can at least approach some fun. The problem here is that nobody is actually funny. It gets desperate as it even tries slapstick.

David Niven's finest comic performance--a must see!

[HotToastyRag · 10/10 · 15 February 2018]

I can't remember the last time I laughed so heartily and often during a movie as I did while watching The Impossible Years. The play, written by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, was a smashing success on Broadway, and when Hollywood came calling, it couldn't have found a more perfect lead than David Niven. Without him, the movie-no matter how funny George Wells's script adaptation was-wouldn't have been very good. It shows off his incredible comic timing like no other movie ever has, and even though he's a wonderful dramatic actor, this hilarious performance is one of his best. Simply put, The Niv is amazing.

He plays a college professor and psychiatrist, working with Chad Everett to write a book called The Impossible Years about how to successfully raise teenagers during the spirited 1960s. Of course, Niven's oldest daughter, Cristina Ferrare, drives her parents crazy with her free-loving rebellious teenage behavior. Ironically, the plot reminds me of Shirley Temple's Kiss and Tell-a rambunctious teenage girl has a silly boyfriend next door but longs to grow up, the parents and neighbors fight about whose kid is a bad influence on the other, and they were both based off fast-paced, situationally comedic Broadway plays-which Niven starred in the sequel to.

Yes, the plot is a little dated, since teenage problems have changed since the 1960s, but as long as you remember how things were, or can imagine, you'll be able to appreciate the hilarity behind the script. The quick-paced jokes, silly gags, and set-ups that pay off are all extremely funny, but again, without David Niven, it would have dragged. He's energetic, flawless without coming across as rehearsed, and utterly believable as a frazzled dad who can't get a handle on his kids. This could become your favorite David Niven movie, and if it's the first of his you watch, this role will be the one you always associate him with. Taking off my love goggles for a moment, because I'm the first to admit I'm biased when it concerns The Niv, this is still an incredibly funny movie starring a very talented comic actor. Hands down, it's one of my favorite of his movies. But if you watch it, get ready to put on your own pair of love goggles.

Maltin was right

[estabansmythe · 3/10 · 7 January 2005]

I believe it was critic Leonard Maltin who called this, "the most obscene G-rated film of all time." He was right. And on top of that, it's a terrible film. It falls right in there with some of Bob Hope's late '60s and early '70s disasters. And that it corralled good old Ozzy Nelson to boot adds insult to injury.

Sorry folks, but he only thing really worth watching are young Christina Ferrare, who at 17 or 18 was a genuine knockout, and Lola Albright, who played her mother opposite an incessantly befuddled and fit-to-be-tied David Niven.

By the early-to-mid 1970s, this movie's morals were already dated. Dig it out every now and then so people could see a genuine curio from a by-gone era. But as for me, if I'm going to watch a comedy from that time,I'd rather watch The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes or Now You See Him, Now You Don't or something equally deep.

Sixties Kyeee-comedy Romp

[Gargantua7 · 5/10 · 23 January 2024]

Aging David Niven is married to a woman young enough to be his daughter and is fretting over a firstborn who could be his granddaughter. Filmed in 1968, no one associated with the production seemed to have been aware of what actual hippies looked like. Possibly they were unaware of their existence? Niven's character, a university professor in psychology , is in a fervor to keep his eldest child (a girl just a month from turning 18) a pure virgin. She and the other daughter, a 15-16 year old spend most of their waking hours in bikinis...Dr. Niven has a pool. The eldest was deeply devoted to her high school boyfriend, a character who is rutting and grasping but seems unaware that she has any sexual features below her collarbone. She loudly protests against his behavior, as well she should. His seductive technique recalls a young Donald Trump, who'd have been in his early 20's at the time this was made.

At a rare moment when adults took possession of the backyard pool and patio environs (for a faculty cocktail soirée, w. Prof. Niven resplendent in a white dinner jacket). At this point, sixties physical comedy shifts into high gear. Story professors in formalwear get into unintentional fist fights, fall into the pool, have high speed car chases...

I was a boy in those days and I recall the comedic tropes of Hollywood yuk-fests in those days.

The only thing they left out was a large soap container falling into the pool and generating towering amounts of soap suds that grew to comical heights and somehow caused panic in bystanders and pompous middle aged people. Other than that, this movie has EVERYTHING!

Just get to "IT"

[brefane · 1/10 · 26 October 2015]

Perhaps the smuttiest "G"-rated film ever, The Impossible Years is a tiresome, unfunny series of innuendos centering around a father's determination to find out who deflowered his not-yet-18 year old daughter. The girl's idiotic parents cannot conceive that their daughter "may no longer qualify as a spinster" let alone utter words like pregnancy or virginity. This dilemma is treated like a 60s Doris Day movie i.e. a big screen sitcom complete with Ozzie Nelson as an unprofessional medical doctor, a typical Darlene Carr as the kid sister, Medical Center's Chad Everett, and Lola Albright as Donna Reed. Talented Albright is wasted, just watch Lord, Love a Duck (66), Joy House (63) or A Cold Wind in August (61) to see how misused she is. David Niven playing a psychiatrist who seems in need of counseling cannot make his character's actions palatable. Direction, pacing and purpose don't exist here. And though Christina Ferrare is a decidedly mature and attractive late teen, The Impossible Years is a decidedly immature and unattractive film.

"I stand on my constitutional rights!"..."Well, stand on 'em over there!"

[moonspinner55 · 2/10 · 19 June 2005]

Trouble in suburbia: the teenage daughter of a natty psychiatrist gets arrested for demonstrating on a college campus--holding up a sign with a "dirty word" written on it. This being a plushy, G-rated comedy-of-ills, we never learn the word, and the film has so little imagination that we can't even guess what that one word might be. David Niven is miscast as the girl's harried father. He's the wrong sort of actor for this part; clipped and dry, his impeccable manner never shows signs of sweat. Based on a hit play, the film is full of sitcom-static, with stagy and/or awkward supporting performances that are as irrelevant as the outcome of the plot. There's a kid next door who plays trumpet like Al Hirt, and Ozzie Nelson as his father, who stands "shaking" in his driveway because he wants to wallop the kid. Who wrote this stuff? It's filled with one-liners which ring out loud and empty. * from ****

Impossible Years?

[Dweezilaz · 1/10 · 28 October 2015]

Impossible to watch. But I managed to stick with it.

Like an R rated Brady Bunch episode and with much the same low brow comedy writing as that show provided.

This was dated in 1968 and looking at it in 2015 one can only wonder how did such an intensely unfunny, contrived and stupid film ever get made ?

I'm currently reading Dream Maker The Rise and Fall Of John Delorean and DVRed this to see Christina Ferrare, his eventual third wife. Jr High school grade acting ability.

Unfunny lines, ridiculous characters, lame slapstick: the only thing worth watching is David Niven's deftness in bringing believability to what he's saying.

Should be interesting to see David Niven in Eye Of The Devil introducing Sharon Tate and compare her debut with Ferrare's back to back.

The studio rock and roll tracks are typically annoying.

Not even fun as a period piece. The abounding stupidity all around is a total amusement killer.

my fav

[josowild · 10/10 · 27 February 2006]

just had to say, i saw this movie as a kid and i watch it now and then. it is one of my all time favorites! the teen is a little over dramatic. but i love this movie and if anyone knows where i can get it on DVD i would sure love to know! it is a good movie about a father and a daughter and how their relationship effects everyones lives around them. but no one more than the father himself. he is about to lose his mind. the daughter is getting out of control. and then when she poses for a nude painting he really flips. not realizing it is a nude he reveals the painting in front of all their friends at their home. the daughter is a little surprised herself since she had a bikini on when she posed for it. the movie is a real hoot! and just when the daughter gets what being an adult is about and is pulling herself together... they leave you with the fact that their second daughter has just turned into a teen! i love this movie! thank you, Shannon

I loved this movie!

[shemp47 · 10/10 · 27 April 2006]

I saw this one when it first came out in 1968. Loved it then although now it's as dated as a beach blanket bingo movie. David Niven actually throws a fit because his 17 year old daughter might have lost her virginity. Like, "Heavens to Betsy!" Pretty dated even then. Worth watching for the funny performances and the warm nostalgia for the 60's. Christina Ferrare is stunning and I'll never understand why she didn't become a bigger star. Film suffers from a cheap low budget back lot appearance. They even used rear projection for the beach scenes! Too cheap to go to the ocean? But I still recommend it for the warm nostalgic feeling for the times.

This is a sixties classic

[paradox252003 · 8/10 · 15 March 2006]

If memory is a testament to value then this is a really valued and fun movie for me. It was 1968 and I was 9 years old and I remember this movie well. Me and my friends went to the movies every Saturday and I saw this movie 5 times and enjoyed it every time. I loved Christina Ferrare (what a sweetheart),and her little sister Abby reading "Fanny Hill" I had no idea who that was but it sure upset the parents and lets face it, kids challenging old ideas with with free speech issues is what helps keep freedom alive. This movie may have seemed like a superficial romp yet it actually touched upon some very relevant issues and was a beautiful vignette of those times. It had spirit. It had heart and it was a lot of fun. It also brought out the humorous side to some tough issues, something that was needed in those days, and lets face it who couldn't love "smuts".

Loved it!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 2 July 2017]

Copyright 1968 by Marten Productions, Inc. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 5 December 1968 (ran four weeks). U.K. release: 15 September 1968. Australian release: 10 December 1968. 8,795 feet. 88 minutes.

COMMENT: "The Impossible Years" is not half as bad as its critics claim, thanks mainly to the work of a skilled and accomplished cast. David Niven, who is rightly top-billed, is absolutely tops. With his expert timing and amusing double takes, he manages to make even his feeble lines sound fairly funny. He is given expert assistance from the other players, particularly Ozzie Nelson (in a minor role as a hypochondriac doctor) and a great assortment of idiotic suitors for the lovely Christina Ferrare, who makes her film debut here (according to the credits anyway).

Miss Ferrare, in fact, was a great "find"! A pity she debuted in a film that, coming at the tale end of a whole spate of "generation gap" comedies, was a box-office failure in every territory but the U.S.A.

Trimming the movie would possibly help, but all the players are so convincing and compelling, it would be a difficult job. All the same, the film does tend to be dialogue-bound. Despite efforts to disguise the movie's stage origins by using jump cuts and multiple screens, it's quite obvious that the stage set for all three of its Acts was Kingsley's living-room.

The play was very well received. It opened on Broadway on October 13, 1965 and ran for a most successful 670 performances. The movie itself was one of M-G-M's top money-makers of the year in the U.S.A., but it failed in all other markets.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed it immensely. For the most part, Michael Gordon's direction displays some really expert timing. My only quarrel is that the climactic slapstick chase is not only feebly contrived, but its impact is considerably lessened by obvious under- cranking.

David Niven Finest

[katzmeow11 · 10/10 · 6 May 2020]

My mom took me to see this at Radio City Music Hall, it's one of my fondest memories. Of course I was probably too young to get all the meanings in this movie I totally enjoyed it because Ricky Nelson was in it and I adored him. If I had any teenage daughters this would definitely be the movie to give you a glimpse into all the havoc that will ensue. ENJOY ITS A WONDERFUL MOVIE...

Decent Father/Daughter Movie of the 60's

[Danni2009 · 21 December 2003]

Well, those not familiar with actor David Niven film work of worthy of awards is his role in a Oscar Award nominated 1958 "Separate Tables" psychological drama great cast American-British main actors American Burt Lancaster, Rita Hayward, British Deborah Kerr David Niven which won Best Actor as well in a romantic comedy "The Moon Is Blue." Also, appeared in latter part of "The Pink Panther" film series after Peter Sellers died in 1980 called " The Trail of the Pink Panther" "The Curse of the Pink Panther" last, which Niven was terminally ill. along with these movie flops, famous director Blake Edwards tried re-resurrect series. This father & daughter theme film does not measure up with others from "Fiddle on the Roof" to "Magnolia" or "Traffic." This situation comedy Niven plays a teaching psychiatrist (Jonathan Kingsley) at local university married to wife (Alice Kingsley) played by Lola Albright, have two daughters, oldest (Linda) played by Christina Ferrare and her sister (Abbey) played by Darlene Carr. Also, surprised me was Ozzie Nelson as an adviser/neighbor (Dr.Herbert Fleischer) who tries to help Niven's role as father, the difficulty of raising the two teens especially one of them. Geez, enough to GIVE YOU GRAY HAIR or GO BOLD! Yikes! Consider this was revolutionary sixties.1963 "Take Her She's Mine" is similar 6/10 as well.

Does anyone know what was on the back of the sign?

[Bernie4444 · 10/10 · 12 March 2024]

This is a great-underrated movie. Everyone does his or her part exceptionally well.

Jonathan Kingsley (David Niven) is a professor that gives out advice on how to raise a family until he has to deal with an adolescent daughter (Cristina Ferrare) himself. The next-door neighbor is always trying to disrobe Kingsley's other daughter, Linda Kingsley.

Bartholomew Smuts (Jeff Cooper) paints a nude picture of Linda. Linda turns up in a family way. So in a desperate attempt to discover who is the father, calls all the suspects into one room.

Just when everything is supposed to come out all right Jonathan Kingsley realizes that is another daughter is now coming of age.