Janet Gaynor, Roland Young, Billie Burke, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. meet Minnie Dupree, who is "The Young at Heart" in this 1938 film. Gaynor et al are the Carltons, a family of con artists. When we first meet them, Richard Carleton (Fairbanks Jr.) has nabbed a live one, an unattractive albeit wealthy young woman, and George-Anne (Gaynor) has met a Scottsman (Richard Carlson), who is broke. However, they're found out and have to go on the lam. On the train, they meet an old lady, Miss Fortune, and when the train crashes, they get her outside. She credits them with saving her life. Realizing she's lonely, they move in with her for two weeks while they figure out their next destination. When they realize she has money, they decide to make their living situation permanent, figuring she'll put them in the will. Well, a funny thing happens on the way to the con.
This film might not be to everyone's taste - some will find it overly sentimental - but it is definitely to my taste. Vivid characters, funny scenes, and with good performances, "The Young in Heart" is a warm film. Paulette Goddard plays the young woman whom Fairbanks Jr. meets, and she's lovely.
Without this fine cast and the direction by Richard Wallace, this might have been a sappy movie. Janet Gaynor looked sweet, but she was also a very good actress. Here she's smart and believable. Fairbanks Jr. is always wonderful, as are Billie Burke and Roland Young. Minnie Dupree is delightful as Miss Fortune.
A very satisfying film, a nice ending - highly recommended.
