Discuss Young and Innocent
Discuss → Movies → Young and Innocent → General
Well-done, entertaining innocent-man tale from near end of Hitch's British period
posted by genplant29STAFFMOD on November 2, 2021 at 6:36 PM
This was Alfred Hitchcock's first movie made after his much better known and more highly regarded The 39 Steps (1935). I'm a huge fan of both films, and have long loved this one, that has so much about it that's not only entertaining but also endearing and charming.
The talented leads, Nova Pilbeam and Derrick De Marney, give wonderful, first-rate delightful performances, each very believable and likable. De Marney's Robert Tisdall, innocent of the murder he's been charged with, is on the run from the law; Pilbeam's Erica Burgoyne - after initially doubting Robert's innocence - is the caring young woman who's secretly (besides before long falling in love with him - which is mutual) doing whatever she can to help him clear his name.
It's a shame that Pilbeam and De Marney didn't wind up with more successful screen careers and stardom, as each definitely had the talent and the special-extra-something.
Much of the supporting cast in this winning often-smile-inducing lite crime-solving adventure is comprised of top-rate performers who knew how to not only act and entertain, but also to steal a scene. Some cast standouts are Mary Clare and Basil Radford who play Erica's paternal aunt and her husband, also multiple of the boys who play Erica's younger brothers, ditto Percy Marmont who plays her and the boys' widowed father, and J.H. Roberts who plays Robert's bespectacled court solicitor. Oh - and absolutely hilarious is little Pat Fitzpatrick, who plays Harold (apparently a cousin) in the birthday party scenes at Erica's aunt's and uncle's house; that Harold cracks me up every time!
Terrific movie. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys classic films and who likes to be entertained, amused, and charmed. My rating: 8/10.
FYI: This is also known as The Girl Was Young. Incidentally, the better known The Lady Vanishes (1938) was Hitchcock's next movie; Jamaica Inn (1939) followed that. Hitch then relocated to Hollywood, where Rebecca (1940) - his next release - began his decades-long chain of American-made hit films.
A tie-in TMDb discussion: Nova Pilbeam
Please check out the following list of titles and celebrities I've created TMDb threads for: https://www.themoviedb.org/list/118052
Reply by rooprect
on August 15, 2023 at 8:27 PM
Nice tip! I'm totally pumped to see this. I've been watching the Criterion extras for The Lady Vanishes, and they mention this film a number of times. Hitchcock aficionados talk about his Classic Spy/Thriller Sextet:
I'm suddenly remembering I had a 'Hitchcock Early Years' DVD set with all of these, but the quality was so lousy (public domain) I returned it without watching any. I'm currently hunting the MGM Deluxe release you mentioned in the other thread, but all I'm finding are cheap looking copies. It's usually a tipoff when they cram 2+ movies on a disc 😒
Reply by genplant29
on August 15, 2023 at 9:36 PM
Here, via ebay, is the excellent precise MGM Premiere Collection DVD I have. Here it is via Amazon.
I've actually owned this MGM Premiere Collection DVD of this movie TWICE, as years ago I had my first one, lent it to someone, never got it back (they loved the movie, too!), so I the other year finally got myself a replacement!
Incidentally, the print and audio is pretty much pristine.
FYI: Here are the Amazon "Verified Purchase" reviews for this release. (That said, a small number of the reviews somehow clearly are for inferior-quality other DVD or laserdisc releases of this film, or for the streaming feed of the Premiere Collection release, not specifically for the actual MGM Premiere Collection DVD.)
Reply by rooprect
on August 15, 2023 at 11:26 PM
It occurred to me: if the cops decide to grab my computer and check my google history, I’m sure a dozen searches for “young and innocent” won’t help my case 😅
Reply by genplant29
on August 15, 2023 at 11:29 PM
LOL!