source: All Too Young

Moviecut—All Too Young

Too Young to Kiss

I saw a person who had an ambition, a desire to succeed but was not given the chance (based on the story) to prove herself. She reached the stage to try most anything (not recommended for all situations) to be heard and prove here ability. If a person is that talented and have exhausted all other means - then sometimes drastic measures are acceptable. The acting was wonderful but I was captivated by the piano music. Wonderful composer and musician (whoever played the music - I assume that June was that talented - if so - GREAT. As far as matters of the heart are concerned - it was was not that far-out and did not overstep the bounds of decency and permissiveness. June (the character) was aware and in control of her actions.

Didn't the maid played by Esther Dale have a strong resemblance to Eleanor Roosevelt? I thought I was seeing the former first lady in the role. An absolutely delightful film with June Allyson acting as a 14 year old so that her talents could be displayed. Van Johnson is the impresario, quite a character with so many clients, that hardly anything gets done. Gig Young portrays the reporter willing to go along with the story so that he can get his girlfriend Allyson and finally get a good scoop on a fantastic story of a hoax being perpetrated. Allyson is so cute as the masquerading 14 year old. She goes along with this since when she introduces her real self, Johnson couldn't care less, only wanting the young lass for musical fame. Keeping her in line becomes a focus and the two, even though he thinks she is still a child, develop feelings for each other.

In Too Young To Kiss Van Johnson and June Allyson play a classical manager and a budding pianist who has exhausted all efforts to get an audition. Frustrated Allyson pretends to be her own younger sister and gets heard. Johnson now thinks he has a prodigy on his hands. This gimmick worked very well for Ginger Rogers in The Major And The Minor and does OK here. One guy who doesn't appreciate it is Gig Young whom Allyson is seeing as her adult self. As for Johnson he can't quite explain the strange feelings he's developing, a whole lot like Ray Milland in The Major And The Minor. Too Young To Kiss falls short of being a comedy classic like the Billy Wilder film. But it is well acted and directed and still holds up well today.

It's a cute movie, but hard to believe a well-shaped and endowed 34 year old June Allyson as a 12 year old piano prodigy, Great storyline, great acting, but ...

While a cute and lighthearted movie, it's a little unsettling that the teacher almost instantly falls in love with Cynthia after he knows for sure she's not twelve...but I suppose I'm reading into this too deep. I got a dreadful feeling at the thought of myself in her shoes, being sentenced to stay inside and not be able to go anywhere, but, other than that, it's a nice film. I suppose. 6/10

To watch June Allyson fake playing the piano is hysterical. She is late on some banging of the chords and early on others...tentative. It's so obvious that they should have given up or practiced better. At least in La La Land, it looked like he was playing most of the time. Also, to believe that Van Johnson couldn't tell that June was the same person as an adult and a child is asking too much. This was done much better in The Major and the Minor (even then...Ginger Rogers didn't look like a kid, either). MGM took advantage of the audience believability in many their movies. Most people didn't sing for themselves and they obviously thought they could get people to believe that June could play piano in this film. Oh my gosh....terrible!!

I just saw this movie for the first time today. The description reminded me of "The Major and the Minor" which is a movie I have watched over and over. While neither movie is Oscar material both are fun & romantic. If you are in the mood for light fare find June & Van in this one and enjoy.