JohnHowardReid Copyright 1955 by Paramount Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Criterion: 25 August 1955. U.S. release: August 1955. U.K. release: 14 November 1955. Australian release: 30 December 1955. Sydney opening at the Capitol (ran one week). Nationally re-issued by Paramount in the U.S.A. on a double bill with "The Caddy" in 1963. 9,250 feet. 102 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Escaping a pursuing gangster, an adult poses as a 12-year- old in order to travel half fare on the train.NOTES: The original movie starred Ray Milland and Ginger Rogers in the roles now played by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, respectively.As a team, Martin and Lewis never achieved anything like the success overseas that they enjoyed in the United States. Their most successful features in foreign shores were in order: Sailor Beware (1952), Hollywood or Bust (1956 — their last movie together), My Friend Irma (1950), Living It Up, Three Ring Circus (both 1954), Pardners (1956), Money From Home, Scared Stiff (both 1953). Even these were only moderately popular at the box-office. My own favorite is Artists and Models (1955), which like The Stooge (1953) and You're Never Too Young failed miserably outside America. That's My Boy (1951) and The Caddy (1953) barely recovered overhead and advertising costs, while My Friend Irma Goes West, At War with the Army (both 1950) and Jumping Jacks (1952) returned a modest profit.COMMENT: Thanks to the presence of Raymond Burr, this one is a fair deal funnier than the average Martin and Lewis vehicle. Fans will enjoy the slapstick chase ski finale despite the use of obvious doubles in which Lewis (real name Joseph Levitch) has one good joke when he discovers his picnic sandwich is ham. The color photography is always nice, there are lots of girls milling around (who join Dean and Jerry in one high-stepping production number). Dean also has the usual number of obligatory songs which he renders in his usual pleasant style.Unfortunately it is just impossible to accept Lewis as a child which undermines a lot of the comedy, especially when Diana Lynn tries so valiantly to play it straight. Nina Foch (pronounced "Forsh') has another of her characteristically acidic, other-woman roles and Veda Ann Borg makes her usual effective moll. Hans Conried has some moments as a French barber. Lewis mugs away with his usual abandon but thanks to the script and Mr. Burr is occasionally amusing. Taurog's direction rates as a great deal livelier than usual.

tavm With this movie, Martin & Lewis have a reunion with a couple of co-stars from their first feature-My Friend Irma: Diana Lynn, Jane Stacy in that and its sequel, is not only Dean's girl here but also a crush of Jerry's. And Hans Conried plays Jer's barber mentor, Francois. Then there's a couple of cameos from other of M & L's flicks-Nancy Kulp, from The Caddy, as a lady with a "12"-year-old son and Bobby Barber, from Money from Home, as a newsstand clerk. With that out of the way, I'll just say the plot of a jewel robber (Raymond Burr) trying to get the diamond out of Jerry's coat pocket-which the latter doesn't know about-as Jer tries to pass himself off as a minor in order to get a half-fare train ticket with him ending up at a girls school where Martin and Lynn teach is perhaps the most ridiculous story yet for the boys' movies but darned if I didn't find myself constantly laughing anyway! As usual, plenty of Lewis' mugging and doing impersonations provide plenty of fun entertainment along with Martin's smooth crooning on many romantic ballads. And seeing the latter get constantly hit and bumped into by his partner just adds to the fun. So despite the many nonsense shenanigans, I heartily recommend You're Never Too Young.

MartinHafer I have watched Billy Wilder's "The Major and the Minor" twice--not because I liked it but because my impression was so poor compared to the film's very good reputation. Here in "You're Never Too Young", the same terribly flawed plot is recycled but with no originality and A LOT of Jerry (whether or not this is a good thing depends on your feelings about his style of comedy). I actually think I am generous in giving this disappointing film even a 4. Here are some reasons I disliked the film: 1. The plot has to get the viewer to suspend disbelief to the point where the viewer has to be stupid! Who would believe that the almost 30 year-old Jerry could successfully pose as a 13 year-old?!? Not only did he sport a 5 o'clock shadow, but he was 6 feet tall!! And his version of a kid is loud, shrill and annoying.2. Jerry is loud, shrill and annoying. I frankly wanted to see him shut up and stop overdoing every scene. Subtle he wasn't--which is a shame, as Lewis could be subtle and funny if properly directed.3. There is no originality at all about the film. It's simply a copy of "The Major and the Minor" and does not improve on it in any way. Dean Martin's songs are pleasant but do not make up for this deficiency.So, if you love Jerry Lewis films and think he's a genius AND can believe he can pass for a kid, you'll probably enjoy this film. Otherwise, beware!

deanna9 I was watching this movie and suddenly thought it seemed very familiar!! I then realized it was a re-making of the 1942 movie "The Major and the Minor" starring Ginger Rogers! There is a sub-plot that is different,but many of the scenes are identical except for the fact that now it is Jerry Lewis playing a 12 year old boy instead of Ginger as a 12 year old girl.Another pairing of Lewis and Martin-lightweight but enjoyable.