MartinHafer "Young at Heart" is a reworking of the 1938 film "Four Daughters", though in the process one of the daughters was inexplicably lost and so there are only three in this remake. Plus, this time it is more of a musical. Both are quite pleasant films but not a lot more.The film begins with a musical family--a father (Robert Keith), an aunt (Ethel Barrymore) and three daughters (Doris Day, Dorothy Malone and Elisabeth Fraser). They are quite happy but now that the daughters have grown, love and marriage are bringing change. Gig Young plays the sort of role you'd expect for Ralph Bellamy--the nice guy who ends up, inexplicably, losing the girl. Just like in the first film, it's really not clear WHY Doris Day's character would jilt Young for Frank Sinatra's character since he isn't particularly likable. Still, despite this central relationship and the chemistry not working, the film does make up for this, a bit, with very nice songs. Day is very good but Sinatra's theme song is among his very best, so it's hard to hate the film. However, don't be surprised at the very end of the film--it was NOT the same ending from "Four Daughters" as apparently Sinatra hated this ending and insisted it be changed. Worth seeing but not especially memorable except for the title song...now THAT is terrific.

edwagreen There was a total of 4 present and future Oscar winners in this film. By 1954, Frank Sinatra and Ethel Barrymore had won and within 2 years Dorothy Malone would be running down the Oscar aisle. Gig Young would follow 13 years after that.This is a highly entertaining film and the singing by Frank and Doris will just woo you to no end. The flaws have to be that no one in her right mind would accept Frank as a husband here. As Barney Sloane, he depicted an embittered, brooding person who blamed society for everything that went awry in his life. Secondly, after jilting him at the altar on their wedding day,how could Gig Young subsequently show up at the family's house for Christmas? This was rather tacky.Amazing that all 3 sisters fell for Mr. Young, but no one wound up with him.Note that David Keith would co-star with Doris Day the following year, as Barney Loomis, family friend in the fantastic "Love Me or Leave Me," and then co-star with Dorothy Malone, as her father again, in Malone's Oscar winning "Written on the Wind." Of course, Malone wasn't as sweet there; she ultimately caused his demise. (Remember the staircase scene with the loud music blaring?)Aunt Jesse, played by the venerable Ethel Barrymore, was too sweet here. She looked more like Wistler's Mother in the scene on the beach with that huge hat.

LIND77777-1 A plot reminiscent of the Bennett family in "Pride and Prejudice," with, of course, Doris Day taking the role of Elizabeth Bennett. Similar ineffectual dad. All the daughters (three, this time) looking for Mr. Right. Only Ethel Barrymore as the aged aunt doesn't fit--she apparently mistook this for the set of "Long Day's Journey Into Night"--why is she there?But throw in a totally unlikely element--Frank Sinatra, and it works. Sinatra in his moody, intense prime, involved with--of all people--Doris Day. Does it get weirder than that? But Frank transfixes us with his soul, his magical voice and style, and we happily go along for the ride, and Doris' songs certainly aren't shabby, either.

Stormy_Autumn "Young at Heart" is a beautiful story about the more mature love that grows in the relations of 3 daughters, (Laurie, Fran, Amy) & their boy friends (Barney, Alex, Bob). Tuttle Home is where a sarcastic, angry Barney Sloan (Frank) decides to work as part of a composing team. He's the piano man. He believes that the "fates" are out to get him & destroy his life. Lovely Laurie Tuttle (Doris) doesn't. Who will be right? This is one dramatic, musical everybody should see. This 1954 movie musical with some beautiful songs, especially one of my favorites "Young at Heart". Doris Day as Laurie Tuttle; Frank Sinatra as Barney Sloan; Gig Young as Alex Burke; Ethel Barrymore as Aunt Jessie Tuttle; Dorothy Malone as Fran Tuttle; Robert Keith as Gregory Tuttle; Elisabeth Fraser as Amy Tuttle; Alan Hale Jr. as Robert Neary; Lonny Chapman; as Ernest Nichols.(7.5 out of 10 out of TCM)