For her fan letter, star-crazy New York teenager Virginia Weidler (as Joan Lyons) receives a thank you note from pretty MGM starlet Lana Turner. A zealous collector of movie star signatures, Ms. Weidler gets even more excited when she learns Greer Garson is in town. Weidler and best friend Jean Porter (as Patricia "Patsy" Drew) are determined to get Garson's autograph. In the process, they meet Walter Pidgeon. Weidler is dramatic enough for father Edward Arnold (as Burton V. Lyons to call her "Miss Garbo," but gossipy governess Agnes Moorehead (as "Feather" Featherstone) is the one who falls into a dead faint when Robert Taylor visits. Weidler also crosses paths with William Powell, after seeing him at the movies with boyfriend Raymond Roe (as Schuyler) and little brother Scotty Beckett (as Junior)...
"The Youngest Profession" is autograph collecting, but this story does have another plot...
Encouraged by Ms. Moorehead, Weidler becomes convinced that her wealthy lawyer father is having an affair with pretty secretary Ann Ayars (as Susan Thayer). Weidler sets out to save her parents' marriage by hiring John Carroll (as "Hercules") to show an interest in mother Marta Linden (as Edith Lyons). All of this is typical situation comedy material, and it's done well by Edward Buzzell and the MGM crew. Raising it significantly above average are some winning performances and witty dialogue. Weidler and Ms. Porter handle the material like younger versions of Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance. Since "I Love Lucy" hadn't yet hit the TV stands, that's a high compliment. Moreover, the Lyons family might have made a good movie series, had the girls been a few years younger.
******** The Youngest Profession (2/26/43) Edward Buzzell ~ Virginia Weidler, Jean Porter, Edward Arnold, Agnes Moorehead
"The Youngest Profession" is autograph collecting, but this story does have another plot...
Encouraged by Ms. Moorehead, Weidler becomes convinced that her wealthy lawyer father is having an affair with pretty secretary Ann Ayars (as Susan Thayer). Weidler sets out to save her parents' marriage by hiring John Carroll (as "Hercules") to show an interest in mother Marta Linden (as Edith Lyons). All of this is typical situation comedy material, and it's done well by Edward Buzzell and the MGM crew. Raising it significantly above average are some winning performances and witty dialogue. Weidler and Ms. Porter handle the material like younger versions of Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance. Since "I Love Lucy" hadn't yet hit the TV stands, that's a high compliment. Moreover, the Lyons family might have made a good movie series, had the girls been a few years younger.
******** The Youngest Profession (2/26/43) Edward Buzzell ~ Virginia Weidler, Jean Porter, Edward Arnold, Agnes Moorehead