Young Desire (1930) User Reviews

Early Universal Talky Weakened by Bad Line Readings

[boblipton · 5/10 · 5 May 2017]

Mary Nolan decides to leave the hootchie-cootch show at the carnival -- there are some rather broad hints that the barker has been pimping her for half her take. She heads off to Spencerville, where she fascinates young William Janney, grandson of the town's founder, and then falls in love with the young, innocent fool. Everyone is excessively noble and you know it's going to end very badly.

The problem is that while Miss Nolan is beautiful -- sometimes the camera views her in close-up and she is amazing to look at -- she is terrible at line readings. The only set of emotions I believed was when she was trying to be cynically sarcastic, and then only intermittently.

In case you think I am picking on the gorgeous Miss Nolan, I should note that Janney seems whiny, and Claire McDowall (as Janney's mother) seems to be uncertain the people in the balcony can hear her. Only George Irving, as Janney's father, and Mae Busch, as Nolan's world-weary fellow cootch dancer, speak their lines well. Clearly at Universal, they were still learning to deal with the sound era.

A corny carny "Camille"

[melvelvit-1 · 5/10 · 30 June 2010]

A carnival cooch dancer seeks to escape her sordid existence...

World-weary Helen Herbert (aka "La Belle Helene"), sick and tired of life in her barker Blackie's harem, packs her suitcase and hits the road. Bound for nowhere, she's picked up by wealthy, wet behind the ears Bobby Spencer who whisks her off to his hometown of Spencerville and stakes her to an apartment and a job. Next thing you know, they're in love but it isn't long before Helen's past catches up with her and his mother pays her a visit. Realizing she'll ruin young Bobby's life if she stays, Helen hightails it back to Blackie but her sweetheart's hot on her heels and when his father brings up the rear, Helen dodges her dilemma by volunteering for a daring trapeze act on a hot air balloon...

William R. Doyle's source play must have had Alexandre Dumas fils spinning in his grave but that didn't deter Universal from bringing the carnival-set CAMILLE to the screen as a vehicle for the beautiful, blonde Mary Nolan, star of stage, screen, and tabloid scandal. It wasn't as melodramatic or creaky as I thought it would be but it's still a nickel's worth of "penny dreadful" and too hokey by far. At times Mary's so beautiful it hurts and she tries her best with lines like "Now you know -I'm a carnival girl!" but she was better suited to the silent screen while perpetual juvenile William Janney spends his screen time either reacting to the stilted goings ons with a constipated mien or beaming like an idiot. It should be pointed out, however, that Hollywood's transition from silent to sound wasn't very smooth and if the stars seemed awkward, it wasn't entirely their fault -or the script's. Even so, Ralf Harolde and Mae Busch as shady, jaded Blackie and his midway mama come off best. The movie can be fun for those who like the era and/or the leading lady but it'd sure be a chore for anyone else.

Disappointing, but still worth seeing!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 19 January 2018]

Another of my favorite glamour girls of the early 1930s, Mary Nolan, stars in Universal's Young Desire (1930), opposite William Janney (as her youthful admirer) and Ralf Harolde (as the carnival boss from whom she vainly tries to escape).

Well handled by the prolific "B" director, Lew Collins, Young Desire is very convincing, thanks mainly to its extremely seedy atmosphere.

It's also good to note that Mary Nolan's great performance is remarkably true-to-life.

Unfortunately, there is one sour apple in this movie dish, namely that the play's concluding sequence, presumably reflecting the original play's turn of events, is something of a cop-out that was needless in this case as the iron hand of the censor had not yet descended on Hollywood.

(Formerly available on a very good VintageFilmBuff DVD).

Beautiful Mary Nolan Displays Real Talent in this Excellent Movie

[kidboots · 8/10 · 30 March 2010]

She was astonishingly beautiful but where ever Mary Nolan went trouble followed. In 1929 she made "Charming Sinners" and proved she was a natural actress who handled dialogue well and was quite at home among the likes of Ruth Chatterton, Clive Brook and William Powell. She was then given another chance at Universal and she made four good melodramas ("Young Desire" was one) but she was a trouble maker and when she quarreled with Carl Laemmle, only a few fly by night studios would have anything to do with her.

In "Young Desire" she plays Helen Herbert, a cynical carnival girl. In the initial scene, the conversation between Helen and May would have had a special significance for Mary. They are talking about Follies girls and Helen snarls "What's the difference between me and a Follies dame - the admission price, $5 for her and a dime for me"!!! Carnival barker Blackie (Ralf Harolde) threatens to beat her if she doesn't come out and perform. Nolan looks far from her glamorous self and the scene could have been taken from her real life.

Helen makes good her threat and quits the carnival. Blackie is furious and says ominously "I'll be seeing her sooner or later". A now beautiful Helen hits the road but is caught stealing oranges by rich kid Bobby Spencer (William Janney) who drives her to his home town - Spencerville!!! Helen falls for his sweet nature and when he innocently suggests that she stay on in one of his father's apartments - rent free - she secretly decides to take the family for whatever she can get!!! But she soon begins to fall in love with him and his parents get more and more upset at him and his "mystery" girl. When his father decides to lecture him - Bobby tells him he is quitting college, taking a job and getting married!!! The sight of Mary Nolan being domestic in the kitchen is worth watching the film for - what's more, she has found a job in Miller's Department store. She is enjoying her freedom and leaving the carnival life behind her. Unfortunately Blackie tracks her down and suddenly all her carnival girlfriends visit and she feels overwhelmed. Bobby meets them and is more convinced than ever that Helen is the girl for him - after all he reasons, she left the carnival.

After a visit from his mother, Helen tearfully agrees to give Bobby up and go back to the carnival. Blackie takes her back but Helen feels she cannot go on with life and impulsively agrees to take Fifi's place in a dangerous balloon stunt performed without a net. If you are expecting a happy ending you will be disappointed but not with Mary Nolan's performance. In a few scenes she shows real acting skill. Initially as the hardened Carnival girl she really talks tough - and looks tough. In the scene where all her friends visit, she displays great sensitivity as she begins to wonder whether she will ever be able to put the past behind her and in the scene involving Bobby's mother (the wonderful Claire MacDowall) she gives a true emotional performance. Mary Nolan's life was a real tragedy - she had the talent to be a major star, in my opinion.

Highly Recommended.