"This Modern Age" is a Joan Crawford film that looks like the picture was rushed into production before the script was finalized. It just seems to have some rough spots as well as an ending that isn't very satisfying.
The film begins with Val moving to France to see her mother--a woman who she hasn't seen in many years. That's because her parents divorced when she was young and Val was brought up by her dad in the States. While Val's desire to get to know her mother is reasonable, she doesn't realize that her mother is NOT the nice lady she thinks she is--she's a kept woman whose nice home actually belongs to her rich lover. In essence, she's an older prostitute--one whose current keeper is tiring of her.
At first, Val falls in with some vacuous party animals. When she's out with Tony one night, the car wrecks and she's rescued by a rich and handsome guy, Bob (Neil Hamilton). The pair begin dating and soon they are contemplating marriage. All they need to do is have her meet his parents. This goes just fine. But, when his parents come to her home, it's a bit of a disaster, as her old gadabout friends arrive and behave quite boorishly. However, that's NOT what bothers Bob--it's when he overhears a conversation with her mother and her lover--and he learns the truth. Bob is still interested in marrying Val, but he wants her to leave her mother and this raunchy life. She thinks he's just a snob (well, he IS a bit of a snob) and tells him to get lost. Then, when her mother realizes what's happened, she admits to Val that she is indeed a skank. What's next? See this and find out for yourself. However, be forewarned that the ultimate resolution comes WAY too quickly and isn't the least bit realistic.
Overall, this is an A-picture whose script make it look like a cheap B-movie. Predictable and a bit silly.
The film begins with Val moving to France to see her mother--a woman who she hasn't seen in many years. That's because her parents divorced when she was young and Val was brought up by her dad in the States. While Val's desire to get to know her mother is reasonable, she doesn't realize that her mother is NOT the nice lady she thinks she is--she's a kept woman whose nice home actually belongs to her rich lover. In essence, she's an older prostitute--one whose current keeper is tiring of her.
At first, Val falls in with some vacuous party animals. When she's out with Tony one night, the car wrecks and she's rescued by a rich and handsome guy, Bob (Neil Hamilton). The pair begin dating and soon they are contemplating marriage. All they need to do is have her meet his parents. This goes just fine. But, when his parents come to her home, it's a bit of a disaster, as her old gadabout friends arrive and behave quite boorishly. However, that's NOT what bothers Bob--it's when he overhears a conversation with her mother and her lover--and he learns the truth. Bob is still interested in marrying Val, but he wants her to leave her mother and this raunchy life. She thinks he's just a snob (well, he IS a bit of a snob) and tells him to get lost. Then, when her mother realizes what's happened, she admits to Val that she is indeed a skank. What's next? See this and find out for yourself. However, be forewarned that the ultimate resolution comes WAY too quickly and isn't the least bit realistic.
Overall, this is an A-picture whose script make it look like a cheap B-movie. Predictable and a bit silly.