Boring

A-maz-ing

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

"The Youngest Profession" is a cute but implausible story of celebrity-obsessed teenager Joan Lyons and her fellow autograph-hound classmates who spend their afternoons and evenings chasing down celebrities who happen to be in New York at the time. The main plot, however, involves the suspected infidelity between her father and her secretary and the lengths Joan goes to prevent a broken home. There are a few celebrity cameos with each of them on their best behavior, including Lana Turner, Greer Garson, Robert Taylor and Walter Pidgeon. It's hard to believe that in real life if they knew some teenage girls were manipulating circumstances and lying to others in order to see them that they would be so accommodating, but that's showbiz, I guess. The rest of the proceedings are mainly a farce involving the family drama misunderstandings that are entertaining enough, if a bit overacted. But overall the movie is good family fun.

Virginia Weidler, who usually gives decent performances in her pictures, seems to be at her least convincing in this narcissistic MGM romp. She plays a teen who disrupts the lives of movie stars with her best friend (Jean Porter) for just one more autograph, please! Clark Gable does not appear in this confection, because he's off at war. But countless other MGM contract players have been drafted into service, such as Lana Turner, Greer Garson, and Walter Pidgeon.Miss Weidler can be forgiven for being at that awkward stage of life known as adolescence, though someone has tried to glamorize her a bit too much in order to be taken seriously as an average American girl in this picture. But what is most distressing is that she has received direction that allows her to run the gamut from silly to sillier. And to say she is over-acting on occasion is putting it mildly. Secondary star Porter is not much better, and at times her Texas accent seems to rub off on Weidler, who hails from Eagle Rock, California. Several noteworthy character actors are present, but their talents are largely wasted. Agnes Moorehead as an out-dated governess has probably her most thankless role ever, and is permitted to shriek like Fanny Amberson in one of her other pictures. Edward Arnold, as Pop, tries valiantly but seems almost grandfatherly.There are several subplots, some more entertaining than others. But this writer was distracted by the fact that some of the stories were recycled from other MGM films, as were some of the sets. The kitchen and the dining room seem to have been left over from The Affairs of Martha, an earlier Weidler production. Speaking of Weidler, how come her character doesn't recognize the fact that the actors playing her family are also under contract to MGM? And how come Weidler's character doesn't realize that Weidler herself is an MGM actress? I guess that would mean she would have to ask herself for her own autograph, and then there wouldn't be much need to haunt hotels and cruise the streets until Mr. Gable returns to town.

Virginia Weidler and Jean Porter are part of a young girls' fan club of the stars who collect their autographs. In fact, Virginia is the president of the club, who outlines the rules and lengths one must go through to get the most famous and desired John Hancocks. They must live in a big city like New York, because how else could they come across celebrities like Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, and Robert Taylor! All these make brief appearances, plus another of whom Virginia has a crush on, but, while we get to see him, she never does, in a clever way of closing the film. But, we begin the film in Hollywood, as Lana Turner is dictating a response to a fan's letter, one that they call a very gracious letter. And, Lana calls the young stargazers "the youngest profession." The plot revolves around the escapades they go on to get their target and the appeal of the film is just how star-crazy they really are. Jean Porter is a hoot as she goes all agog over Walter Pidgeon and Robert Taylor. I'm surprised to see the low rating of this film, because it was a very funny film and I had a blast. Maybe it seemed rather trivial to everyone else, but sometimes the simpleness of a film is what makes it so enjoyable and laid-back. I do admit though that the humor was not very subtle as most of the characters here get really loud and outrageous, including child actor Scotty Beckett as Virginia's brother. Another plus is the presence and performance of Edward Arnold as Virginia's father, who through no fault of his own, is thought to be straying with his secretary. But that is encouraged by character actress Agnes Moorehead. If you want an old-fashioned and very funny film, then hang out with those of "The Youngest Profession."

Watch this movie with no expectations and you'll end up howling with laughter! The Youngest Profession sets it's silly tone early on and never threatens to take itself too seriously. It was clearly made for the hoards of young early 1940's fans who are here given center stage. Though the film does have a sit-com feel and plot, the witty writing and game cast make it all seem fresh and new. Poor Virginia Weidler may be grating at times but she's surrounded by such game pros (especially Agnes Moorehead) that it's a pretty moot point. The star cameos are publicist's dreams. Thankfully, they also do not seem out of place in the wacky world this film so fondly creates.