Young and Willing

Young and Willing is a 1943 American comedy film produced and directed by Edward H. Griffith and starring William Holden, Eddie Bracken, Robert Benchley, and Susan Hayward.[1] With a screenplay by Virginia Van Upp based on the play Out of the Frying Pan by Francis Swann, the film is about young, aspiring actors—three men and three women—who combine their resources and move into the same apartment, hoping to keep the landlady in the dark until they can become famous. Young and Willing was made by Paramount Pictures (as Cinema Guild Productions) and distributed by United Artists.[1]

Young and Willing
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEdward H. Griffith
Screenplay byVirginia Van Upp
Based onOut of the Frying Pan
by Francis Swann
Produced byEdward H. Griffith
Starring
CinematographyLeo Tover
Edited byEda Warren
Music byVictor Young
Production
companies
Paramount Pictures
Cinema Guild Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • February 5, 1943 (1943-02-05) (United States)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Struggling young actors (three males and three females) share an apartment to make ends meet. This scenario is pretty daring considering the conservative and censorious attitudes of that period. The landlady provides a play to the actors that turns out to have been left behind long ago by a destitute, evicted tenant (Robert Benchley). That former tenant is now a successful theater producer and playwright who has recently taken a room in his old haunts to recharge his creativity and try to rewrite his first play—one that the landlady had kept when he was evicted. The young actors attempt to sell his own play to him. Complications begin when Cousin Muriel (Florence MacMichael) visits and discovers the sinful cohabitation; she tattles to her folks, who charge over to investigate and drag the daughters home. Silliness and mayhem ensue, propelled by Muriel's actions and highlighted by her unique little-girl, tattletale voice.

Cast

Production

The play on which the film is based opened at the Windsor Theatre, New York City, on February 11, 1941, with Alfred Drake, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Mabel Paige in the cast.

Reception

The film was described as a "light farce comedy that has to do with a care-free group of young actors and actresses all living together."[2]

References
  1. "Young and Willing". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  2. National Board of Review Magazine vol. 18-23. 1943. p. 24.
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