That Certain Age
| That Certain Age | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Edward Ludwig |
| Produced by | Joe Pasternak |
| Written by |
|
| Screenplay by | Bruce Manning |
| Story by | F. Hugh Herbert |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Frank Skinner (uncredited) |
| Cinematography | Joseph A. Valentine |
| Edited by | Bernard W. Burton |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
That Certain Age is a 1938 American musical film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Deanna Durbin and Melvyn Douglas.[1] Based on a story by F. Hugh Herbert, the film is about a dashing reporter who returns from covering the Spanish Civil War and is invited to spend time at his publisher's home, where his adolescent daughter develops a crush on him. The family does their best to sway the young girl's feelings away from the reporter, but it is a challenge, as she is at "that certain age". Distributed by Universal Pictures, the film received Academy Award nominations for Best Music and Best Sound Recording.[1][2]
Plot
Alice Fullerton is the 15-year-old daughter of newspaper publisher Bill. She becomes involved with a group of boy scouts, who is led by Ken Warren. Ken wants to put on a show to raise money in order to go to scout camp. Alice helps him out with giving him permission to use the family home to rehearse. She is very helpful to them and is eventually given permission to be a part of the act. Meanwhile, Bill offers the house to reporter Vince Bullit, who intends on finishing an article in peace and quiet. Alice fears for her new friends being kicked out of the house and decides to try to scare Vincent away.
She tries to scare Vincent by pretending the house is haunted by evil ghosts. However, Vincent sees through the hoax and confronts Alice. She tells him the whole truth. Vincent sympathizes with them and decides to leave the house, but Bill doesn't want him to. Alice changes her mind when she discovers Vincent is ill. She takes care of him and develops a crush. Ken, who has a crush on Alice, becomes jealous and tries to infuriate her by replacing her with singer Mary Lee.
When an upcoming party is announced, Alice is determined to buy Vincent an expensive gift. She sells some of her stuff and buys a cigarette lighter. At the night of the party, she secretly borrows a dress from her mother to look older. She demands her to take her dress off. Enraged, Alice refuses to talk to anyone. Ken tells Vincent and Alice's parents that she is in love with Vincent. Alice's mother tries to discourage Alice, but she is determined to marry him.
At the night of the party, Alice's mother tells a lie to discourage her daughter. She tells Alice Vincent is married to a reporter called Grace Bristow. Alice finally gives up her crush and is allowed to take over the part in the show when Mary Lee becomes ill.
Cast
- Deanna Durbin as Alice Fullerton
- Melvyn Douglas as Vincent Bullitt
- Jackie Cooper as Kenneth 'Ken' Warren
- Irene Rich as Dorothy Fullerton
- Nancy Carroll as Grace Bristow
- John Halliday as Gilbert Fullerton
- Jackie Searl as Tony
- Juanita Quigley as The Pest (Butch)
- Charles Coleman as Stevens
- Peggy Stewart as Mary Lee[1]
Awards
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards:[3]
- Best Original Song (Jimmy McHugh, Harold Adamson, for the song "My Own")
- Best Sound Recording (Bernard B. Brown)
References
- 1 2 3 "That Certain Age (1938)". The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ↑ "Awards for That Certain Age". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ↑ "The 11th Academy Awards (1939) Nominees and Winners". Oscars. Retrieved August 10, 2011.