The Plastic Age (1925)

Hugh Carver is an athletic star and a freshman at Prescott College. He falls in love with Cynthia Day, a popular girl who loves to go to parties. He finds that it is impossible to please ... See full summary »

Director:

Wesley Ruggles

Writers:

Percy Marks (novel), Frederica Sagor (adaptation),

Stars:

Donald Keith, Mary Alden, Henry B. Walthall

Cast

Cast overview:
Donald Keith	...	Hugh Carver
Mary Alden	...	Mrs. Carver
Henry B. Walthall	...	Henry Carver
Gilbert Roland	...	Carl Peters
Clara Bow	...	Cynthia Day
David Butler	...	Coach Henley

Storyline

Hugh Carver is an athletic star and a freshman at Prescott College. He falls in love with Cynthia Day, a popular girl who loves to go to parties. He finds that it is impossible to please her and still keep up with his studies and his athletic training, and soon the two face some difficult decisions.

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Plot Keywords:

college | american football | flapper | based on novel

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 1925 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Idade de Amar

Filming Locations:

Pomona College - 333 N. College Way, Claremont, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

B.P. Schulberg Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Bill Elliott.

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Connections

Edited into The American Experience: Mary Pickford (2005)

User Reviews

Yet another college film from the 1920s

This is one of a very long string of college athletics films made in the 1920s. They all had a lot in common: a gifted athlete who falls on his face due to either their ego or carousing, eventual maturation and redemption AND none of the students ever seem to go to classes! It seems in these films the number one priority is the team--and in most cases, like this one, it's the football team. And, of course, in this film it all boils down to "the big game" at the end of the movie. So this film is pure formula--through and through.

However, despite this, the film is worth watching for many reasons. First, unlike similar films like BROWN OF HARVARD, the hero never quite sinks to the same depths--so it seems a bit less clichéd. Also, it's a fascinating film for who's in it. While not yet stars, Clara Bow co-stars as the, what else, "party girl with a heart of gold" and Clark Gable is in a tiny part as one of the athletes. You'll really have to look closely to see him--as he's very young and thin and not at all the manly "he-man" he later was seen to be! Just look for the trademark ears--they're big enough it's hard to miss! So the overall verdict is that this is a lovely but very formulaic college film. If you've seen a bunch of 'em, then it's pretty skip-able unless you are dying to see Gable or Bow in early roles.