Loretta is lovely and Loy is lousy in this mawkish clunker about youthful infatuation and poor judgment. The 17 year old Young acts rings around the rest of the performers with a surprising emotional realism far beyond her years while they blusterly register their discomfort.
Richard Carewe has raised his friend's son Richard aka The Imp since childhood as well as form a father like relationship with his cook's daughter Phyllis. Having witnessed their closeness as children it seems inevitable to him the two should marry. But the Imp has other plans since he is bewitched by a nightclub dancer The Firefly. Impetuously he marries the Firefly who rejects him when she finds out she has no money. Oddly Phyllis is nonplussed by the matter since it has been Richard the father she holds affection for.
Aside from Young the rest of the cast in The Truth about Youth is pretty dreadful. Silent film star Conway Tearle should have remained so as he woodenly advises and admonishes his charges. In spite of her sincerity and maturity Phyllis's teen age crush with the dissipated 52 year old actor is a bit unsettling as they reverse the parent child dynamic. Miscast Myrna Loy dances badly and lip syncs even worse as The Firefly but does offer a glimpse of the glib Nora Charles that would rescue her career a couple of years down the line.
There are some eye-popping gowns and costumes mostly worn by Loy but like her performance far overshadowed by the Freudian frock Phyllis wears upon her introduction. Clothes however do not make the film and this one is better left in the closet.
Richard Carewe has raised his friend's son Richard aka The Imp since childhood as well as form a father like relationship with his cook's daughter Phyllis. Having witnessed their closeness as children it seems inevitable to him the two should marry. But the Imp has other plans since he is bewitched by a nightclub dancer The Firefly. Impetuously he marries the Firefly who rejects him when she finds out she has no money. Oddly Phyllis is nonplussed by the matter since it has been Richard the father she holds affection for.
Aside from Young the rest of the cast in The Truth about Youth is pretty dreadful. Silent film star Conway Tearle should have remained so as he woodenly advises and admonishes his charges. In spite of her sincerity and maturity Phyllis's teen age crush with the dissipated 52 year old actor is a bit unsettling as they reverse the parent child dynamic. Miscast Myrna Loy dances badly and lip syncs even worse as The Firefly but does offer a glimpse of the glib Nora Charles that would rescue her career a couple of years down the line.
There are some eye-popping gowns and costumes mostly worn by Loy but like her performance far overshadowed by the Freudian frock Phyllis wears upon her introduction. Clothes however do not make the film and this one is better left in the closet.