Too Young to Kiss
1951 comedy film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Too Young to Kiss (also All Too Young)[1] is a 1951 American comedy film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Van Johnson and June Allyson. The film, in which Allyson's Cynthia Potter masquerades as a 14-year-old child prodigy, was directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
| Too Young to Kiss | |
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| Directed by | Robert Z. Leonard |
| Screenplay by | |
| Story by | Everett Freeman |
| Produced by | Sam Zimbalist |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| Edited by | Conrad A. Nervig |
| Music by | Johnny Green |
Production company | |
| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $1.4 million |
| Box office | $2.3 million |
The monaural, black-and-white film clocks in at 91 minutes long. In theatres, Too Young to Kiss earned 164% of its budget, and received mixed critical reviews. Allyson won a Golden Globe for her work on the film, and four crew were nominated for an Academy Award.
Plot
Cynthia Potter is a skilled pianist trying to catch the eye of concert promoter Eric Wainwright, who is only looking for young talent. Potter (in her 20s), masquerades as her own fictional younger sister, 14-year-old Molly Potter. Wainwright is captivated by her skills, and as the two work together, Wainwright develops a paternal affectation towards the young performer, while Potter becomes romantically attracted to him.[2]
Cast
The cast of Too Young to Kiss included:[3]
- June Allyson as Cynthia/Molly Potter
- Van Johnson as Eric Wainwright
- Gig Young as John Tirsen
- Paula Corday as Denise Dorcet
- Kathryn Givney as Miss Benson
- Larry Keating as Danny Cutler
- Hans Conried as Mr. Sparrow
- Esther Dale as Mrs. Boykin
- Jo Gilbert as Gloria
Production
The 91-minute-long,[4] monaural, black-and-white[1] Too Young to Kiss was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer with a crew of:[5]
- Robert Z. Leonard - film director
- Frances Goodrich - screenwriter
- Albert Hackett - screenwriter
- Sam Zimbalist - film producer
- Frederick de Cordova - film director
- Everett Freeman - story author
- Joseph Ruttenberg - cinematographer
- Conrad A. Nervig - film editor
- Johnny Green - music director
Release
Too Young to Kiss premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on November 22, 1951.[6][1] It was distributed by Loew's Inc.[1] and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[5] In 2015, the film was available on DVD.[4]
Reception
At the box office, Too Young to Kiss earned US$2.3 million on a budget of $1.4M (equivalent to about $28.5M and $17.4M respectively in 2025).[7]
Upon the film's release, The New York Times' Bosley Crowther was unimpressed with Allyson and Johnson's adolescent antics and the excessive suspension of disbelief required.[6] Over a week later, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported that the comedy had been critically acclaimed,[8] and while the Los Angeles Times' Philip K. Scheuer decried the Too Young to Kiss' length, he complimented Allyson's performance as a pianist and the film's "amusing sequences."[9]
Hal Erickson described the film as "fluff", and noted that despite retreading 1942's The Major and the Minor, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett's scriptwriting kept the material "fresh and funny throughout".[2] On a four-star scale, Leonard Maltin rated the film at 2.5 stars, calling Allyson's Potter "fetching".[4]
Awards
Five people who worked on Too Young to Kiss were nominated for film awards, with only Allyson winning hers:[10]
| Award ceremony | Date | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9th Golden Globe Awards | February 21, 1952 | Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical | June Allyson | Won |
| 24th Academy Awards | March 20, 1952 | Best Black-and-White Art Direction |
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Nominated |
