"Young Man's Fancy" is getting slammed by the other reviewers, and unjustly it seems to me, for being unrealistic and poorly acted. Judgment over the acting is a matter of taste I suppose; so all I can say is that the performances aren't really all that different than anything else I've seen in the average range from that time period. They are generally credible, given the situation as it has been created by its authors, if a bit over the top. And as for the situation itself being "preposterous" as one reviewer put it, let's look at that. A young girl is attracted to a visiting young man but is having trouble catching his attention. In order to finally break through she resorts to feigning interest in one of the young man's hobbies. Is such a scenario really so outlandish? The only thing about that I found difficult to accept is the constant references to the miracle of electric appliances. That might have been the way people would have reacted twenty years earlier, but did anyone in America really need to be convinced of the value of an electric dishwasher or range in 1952? Yes, I know MST3K had a field day with this short; but if you're looking for outlandish propositions, try another short they skewered, "Out of This World", where a demon and an angel fight for the soul of a bread delivery man. Now that's preposterous, in spades!
11 Reviews
Does Alex like girls? I kinda doubt it.
planktonrules12 June 2019
"Young Man's Fancy" is, essentially, a half hour commercial by the Edison Electric Institute...an association that represents the American electric companies. Because of this, it's not at all surprising that it comes off as a bit hokey AND preachy about the joys of modern electrical appliances. And, I can only assume audience members who were in theaters when it was shown used that time for a bathroom or snackbar break!
Judy is a man-hungry teen who is helping her mother with the housework at the start of the film. Soon, they get word that Judy's brother is bringing home a friend...and Judy assumes he's some drip. But when Alex turns out to be dreamy, Judy falls all over herself trying to impress the guy. As for mom, she periodically appears to spout salesroom jargon about the joys of modern electricity...and none of it sounds the least bit realistic. For example, at one point she says "...no trouble...everything is easier with an electric range"! No human being (apart from a salesman) would talk like that....and repeatedly she talks about how swell life is now that they have electric water heaters, refrigerators and the like (there is no mention, however, of marital aids...which would have made the film MUCH more interesting).
It's hard to rate this one, as it's not intended to be entertaining...and it certainly isn't! Instead, it's just an ad...and an unintentionally funny one. Most of this is the writing...and the pap they have mother and Judy spout (mom, talking like a salesperson and Judy using every possible 1950s jargon a teen could have uttered). Worth seeing for the curious....but also pretty dumb.
Judy is a man-hungry teen who is helping her mother with the housework at the start of the film. Soon, they get word that Judy's brother is bringing home a friend...and Judy assumes he's some drip. But when Alex turns out to be dreamy, Judy falls all over herself trying to impress the guy. As for mom, she periodically appears to spout salesroom jargon about the joys of modern electricity...and none of it sounds the least bit realistic. For example, at one point she says "...no trouble...everything is easier with an electric range"! No human being (apart from a salesman) would talk like that....and repeatedly she talks about how swell life is now that they have electric water heaters, refrigerators and the like (there is no mention, however, of marital aids...which would have made the film MUCH more interesting).
It's hard to rate this one, as it's not intended to be entertaining...and it certainly isn't! Instead, it's just an ad...and an unintentionally funny one. Most of this is the writing...and the pap they have mother and Judy spout (mom, talking like a salesperson and Judy using every possible 1950s jargon a teen could have uttered). Worth seeing for the curious....but also pretty dumb.
Where's The Electric Toilet Paper?
Calaboss1 March 2010
I'm not sure who this was shown to in the 1950's. I can't imagine this was shown in theaters. Maybe it was a classroom film to get the kids "hooked on electricity." And the amount of 1952 slang employed leads me to believe this one was intended for the kids. I was a tad confused as to why a healthy young man would pass up a swim with a pretty young woman for a lecture on fungus, then I realized, maybe he's just gay. Or, perhaps "horny" hadn't been invented yet. But, eventually, he falls for her and takes her to a dance, once she seduces him by using enough electricity.
Incredibly hammy acting was combined with having as many electrical appliances crammed in as possible. I counted 12 either mentioned or used. What, no electric hats or forks?
Maximum useless viewing. You'll learn nothing but what over-acting means.
Incredibly hammy acting was combined with having as many electrical appliances crammed in as possible. I counted 12 either mentioned or used. What, no electric hats or forks?
Maximum useless viewing. You'll learn nothing but what over-acting means.
The way to a man's heart is through the electrical socket
johnny_burnaway10 May 2017
If you hang out with the Ricardos, the Cleavers, or that "Father Knows Best" gang, you'll feel right at home with the...the...come to think of it, we never do get the name of the family in this thing. Let's call them the Cumberdales.
The story is a basic one: Smarmy Bob Cumberdale brings home a college chum, Alexander Phipps, for a few days. Sister Judy falls hard for Alex but he's not having any, being more interested in hydraulics, time and motion study, and mushrooms than girls. Judy brings Alex around by harnessing the power of electric kitchen appliances, and by playing extremely dumb, as was the custom at the time. Convinced at last that Judy can cook, and that she's willing to listen to him prattle endlessly on about the configuration of a modern kitchen, Alex invites her to go dancing. We're spared the jump cut to later in the evening, as Alex goes into his third hour of explaining the art of efficiency and Judy silently wills the car to get her home a little faster.
This is really just a sitcom-shaped commercial for the wonders of electrical appliances. I suppose people needed to be sold on such things in the early 50's, or at least be made aware of their new purchasing opportunities, and the producers must have thought that the new medium of the situation comedy was the way to reach the most people. The MST3k guys pummel it mercilessly, although they fail to capitalize on the line "You'll give her the reds" by making a joke about the anti-Communist hysteria of the time. Regardless, it's a fine time with Mike and the bots.
The story is a basic one: Smarmy Bob Cumberdale brings home a college chum, Alexander Phipps, for a few days. Sister Judy falls hard for Alex but he's not having any, being more interested in hydraulics, time and motion study, and mushrooms than girls. Judy brings Alex around by harnessing the power of electric kitchen appliances, and by playing extremely dumb, as was the custom at the time. Convinced at last that Judy can cook, and that she's willing to listen to him prattle endlessly on about the configuration of a modern kitchen, Alex invites her to go dancing. We're spared the jump cut to later in the evening, as Alex goes into his third hour of explaining the art of efficiency and Judy silently wills the car to get her home a little faster.
This is really just a sitcom-shaped commercial for the wonders of electrical appliances. I suppose people needed to be sold on such things in the early 50's, or at least be made aware of their new purchasing opportunities, and the producers must have thought that the new medium of the situation comedy was the way to reach the most people. The MST3k guys pummel it mercilessly, although they fail to capitalize on the line "You'll give her the reds" by making a joke about the anti-Communist hysteria of the time. Regardless, it's a fine time with Mike and the bots.
The clue to this dog is in the credits.
Gryfffyn3 January 2003
The clue to why this short is so strange--why a young man's fancy is so complicated by an almost erotic fascination with electrical appliances--is in the credit line "Presented by Edison Electric Institute" (no doubt obscured by the cast of MST3K, but plain in IMDb's listings).
Now why Jam Handy made such an unholy alliance to make this film, that's still a mystery.
Now why Jam Handy made such an unholy alliance to make this film, that's still a mystery.
Unbearable.
rmax3048238 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This will send your nociceptors into a frenzy. A normal family -- normal as of 1952 -- has Dad away at work, mother doing the housekeeping, and teen ager Judy going "all squishy" when her brother brings home a friend from college. The handsome but improbably named Alexander Phipps is studying ergonomics. For about half an hour -- no kidding -- the two women brag about their electric appliances and Phipps explains why they're so important to women in "a modern kitchen." The teen aged girl is allowed to prepare dinner for the family and for Phipps. Everyone kvells over Judy's baked ham. I couldn't get through the entire experience. After all, it doesn't take a mental giant to figure out that Judy, who is practically salivating over the cheerful vacuity of Phipps, with visions of an all-electric home dancing in her head, will wind up with the man of her dreams.
Man, will she be bored in another ten years. All those appliances will do the housework for her and she'll join the labor force out of ennui and bring down wages for all the male workers. She does have two points in her favor, produced by a 1950s brassiere with the conformation of traffic cones.
If you like late-night Infomercials, you'll love this.
Man, will she be bored in another ten years. All those appliances will do the housework for her and she'll join the labor force out of ennui and bring down wages for all the male workers. She does have two points in her favor, produced by a 1950s brassiere with the conformation of traffic cones.
If you like late-night Infomercials, you'll love this.
This short was either used to tout electricity or fungus.
Aaron137516 April 2012
This short is about a guy returning home and bringing a friend to stay over. A friend who is also a guy and sends the sister into a frenzy. Apparently there were incredibly desperate girls back in the day ready to throw themselves at the first guy new in town. Well he does not quite take to her at first as he is more interest in devices and an upcoming lecture about fungus. So there is the problem, what is this short trying to accomplish? Hm, there are several mentions of electricity within this short, but there is also several mentions of the fungus lecture. One can also not rule out that this is some workshop meant to help young girls lure men into marriage by pretending to be interested in the same things. I am going to have to go with the electricity as there seems no need to mention how everything, including the water heater, is electric and how great all the electric stuff in the house is if it was not some vague short put out by the electric company about how wonderful electricity is. Still, they could be a bit more direct as there are some that are going to focus in on that fungus lecture and wonder if they too could grow and raise fungus in the basement. The acting is over the top, the sister comes across as very immature someone who should not be helped in her quest to find a boyfriend, and the parents wooden. Still, it was more entertaining than other shorts I have seen from this era.
Young Man's Fancy Crinkle-Cut Potatoes
pacificboy22 November 2005
Wow, what an expose of the suburbs this is. Mother (apparently blind) sings the praises of electrical appliances while daughter Judy eats bacon like it's going to get up and leave. Then the real drama begins. Brother brings home college buddy Alexander Phipps ("sounds revolting," exclaims sis), and the two of them head upstairs to take a shower. After that homoerotic tableau, Alex spends much of the rest of the film becoming closer to Judy's mother, with whom he shares a deep affection for all things electrical, while Judy throws out her back trying to impress Alex, who she ultimately found dreamy. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder how this one got past the censors. Dog bless the Satellite of Love.
A bad film and disaster
icehole419 January 2002
A Young Man's Fancy is a short to be missed. The whole thing is incredibly dumb and suffers from a severe lack of reality. Basically a young woman has the hots for a guy in her class. When her brother brings this guy to their place for a dinner, this "heart throb" is more interested in the gadgets in the kitchen than her. Plenty of bad acting here as well. Rightfully skewered on Mystery Science Theater 3000 for its preposterous plotline and bad acting.
Am I really the first to comment on this one? Wow! A #1!
Am I really the first to comment on this one? Wow! A #1!
Seducing A Man With An All-Electric House
boblipton22 January 2024
Here's an industrial film touting the benefits of an all-electric house: kitchen, laundry room, the entire panoply of modern home conveniences is pressed into service to allow a young woman to entice the handsome -- if rather serious-minded -- young man her brother has brought home from college.
It's produced by the Edison Electric Institute, which is the trade group for publicly owned electricity producers.
It's a rather message-driven show, which uses the attempts of Bonnie Baken to interest Robert Casey. The setting has her starting out as a sloppy young girl, but as the movie progresses, she cleans up, dresses up, and cooks a ham steak for her family, all thanks to the all-electric, all-American kitchen.
It's produced by the Edison Electric Institute, which is the trade group for publicly owned electricity producers.
It's a rather message-driven show, which uses the attempts of Bonnie Baken to interest Robert Casey. The setting has her starting out as a sloppy young girl, but as the movie progresses, she cleans up, dresses up, and cooks a ham steak for her family, all thanks to the all-electric, all-American kitchen.
Plays like a 50s era sitcom
bensonmum210 December 2015
Why all the hate? I actually quite enjoy the short Young Man's Fancy. To me, it plays a bit like a 1950s era sitcom - just a little longer. It's not perfect, but I think it's rather "sweet". The highlight for me has to be Bonnie Bakin as Judy. I'm surprised to see she didn't do more. She had a nice, all-American quality to her that worked on-screen. I love her use of the word "squishy". Another positive for me is the direction. The whole thing moves at a snappy pace. And, some of the comedy works as well in that 50s sort of way. It won't have your laughing-out-loud, but it does bring a smile to my face.
Young Man's Fancy isn't perfect by a long stretch. Problems include the friend's disturbing interest in electrical appliances (but it had to be included somehow) and some of the acting (particularly Jean Hayworth as the mother).
Like most people, I've seen this short courtesy of MST3K. It's one of my favorite things they ever did. I'd give the MST3K treatment a 9/10, but I'm rating and writing about the short itself. And, I think it would stand-up okay on its own. I'll give it a 6/10.
Young Man's Fancy isn't perfect by a long stretch. Problems include the friend's disturbing interest in electrical appliances (but it had to be included somehow) and some of the acting (particularly Jean Hayworth as the mother).
Like most people, I've seen this short courtesy of MST3K. It's one of my favorite things they ever did. I'd give the MST3K treatment a 9/10, but I'm rating and writing about the short itself. And, I think it would stand-up okay on its own. I'll give it a 6/10.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
