On aime à tout âge

I didn't know what to expect when I first started watching. Soon I was literally laughing out loud. Ronald Reagan is married (Ruth Hussey) with two children, one a teenage daughter the other a twelve yr old son. They all live together with his mother, who starts dating the towns grocer. Ronald Reagan starts behaving like a typical child who doesn't approve of his mother dating anyone but his deceased father of ten years. Oh, but wait...a love triangle ensues between this grandmother, the grocer and Ronald Reagan's boss. Their antics and jealous behavior is simply outrageous and hilarious. This love triangle between Spring Byington, Edmund Gwenn and Charles Coburn is so charmingly funny, being they're all in their sixties and behaving like teenagers in love. All of the actors are perfect in their roles and play their parts quite believable. I've seen them all in so many movies, yet I can't forget that Edmund Gwenn is really Santa....lol (Miracle on 34th Street).

This movie is in black and white, which I think ads to its charm. I highly suggest you watch this one.

Despite the name at the top of the billing, this film belongs fairly and squarely to the elderly folks - Spring Byington ("Louisa"), Edmund Gwenn ("Hammond") and Charles Coburn ("Burnside"). Both men are vying for the affections of the former - the mother of aspiring architect "Hal" (Ronald Reagan). The story moves along quickly and amusingly with the two resorting to more increasingly outlandish methods to secure the hand of "Louisa". Meantime, their antics are playing havoc on her son and on his family with whom she lives. Though the ending is a bit far-fetched, the joke still holds up remarkably well. Reagan portrays the role of the increasingly frenetic son quite effusively and the family of supporting cast - including Piper Laurie and Scotty Beckett who are having their own relationship issues - all contribute well to this enjoyable story that clearly validates the theory that life begins at 50, or 60, or....

It's a pity this one isn't available on video or otherwise, I'd acquire it at the drop of a hat!

Thoroughly delightful comedy about romantic seniors (Ch. Coburn and Edmund Gwenn) competing for the love of a sweet granny, Louisa (Spring Byington) who still has much to offer in charm, grace and joy of living.

There's heated rivalry between the two older men, and there's frustrated annoyance from the younger teen set (Piper Laurie and her beau, Scotty Beckett), and the middle-aged family members (Ronald Reagan and patient wife Meg, played by Ruth Hussey). Inevitably there are clashes, tempers flare and varied misunderstandings arise, but all comes right in the end, of course. This is a scintillating comedy with never a dull moment.

I love that delightful scene of Ch. Coburn as Abel Burnside, wading into the pond, trousers soaked, and gallantly picking flowers to offer his lady love, "Louisa", which is also the title of this movie.

Top grades for this one.

... and I don't mean the 1960s. Spring Byington is in the title role living with son Ronald Reagan and his family. Louisa is urged to get some interests outside the family, but be careful what you ask for.

Louisa ends up getting fought over romantically by charming grocer Henry Hammond (Edmund Gwenn) and Type-A tycoon (and Ronnie's boss) Abel Burnside (Charles Coburn). This puts Ronnie in a delicate dilemma. The guys are wonderful as immature cut-ups and Louisa's teen-aged granddaughter, Cathy (Piper Laurie, in her screen debut) and her brilliant geek boyfriend Jimmy,(Scotty Beckett) are a great contrast in young love. It all takes place in a town ironically called Pleasantville. Watch for the charming bit of Americana with the Community Square Dance and the 'dancing under the bar' competition. It's a hoot!

When Louisa finally picks one of the guys, the other one investigates and finds out that the winner has been married four times! And never divorced! Is this feel good film about to turn into a film noir? Watch and find out.

Recommended as a great film that proves some good things happened at Universal after the Laemmles lost the studio in 1936, and before Rock Hudson and Douglas Sirk showed up, besides just Abbott and Costello.

This seems to be the only place where this film is acknowledged, and it seems that elsewhere it has dropped out of existence. A pity because it is a charming film mainly about people over sixty falling in love with each other. This is not a usual focus, even now, and the acting is excellent. Ronald Reagan is given top billing where the great Spring Byington is not. Supported by Charles Coburn and Edmund Gwenn as her suitors the three make a wonderful trio. Which one will she marry ? This causes disruption in the very conservative household of Ronald Reagan and the sadly unused Ruth Hussey who was so good in ' The Philadelphia Story ' Piper Laurie is their daughter and Scotty Beckett her ' intellectual ' boyfriend. But it is Spring Byington who steals the film, and very good in other films she glows with charm and intelligence in this. The dance sequence where Charles Coburn and Edmund Gwenn wrestle literally for her attention is a gem of a scene, and for that alone this elusive film is worth tracking down. Is it dated ? Yes, in many ways but there is a remaining freshness about its approach to the elderly in love which brings humanity and understanding to a subject not treated enough in the cinema. I would give it more points but Reagan's weakness as a lead actor prevents me.