Doris Day and her two sisters all fall for composer Gig Young in Young at Heart. However, even though his last name is featured in the title, Gig Young isn't the male lead. Doris wins out over her sisters, and she and Gig become engaged. In walks Frank Sinatra. He's Gig's musical arranger, and when he visits the family to help with some music, he clashes with Doris. She's sunshine and daisies; he's a dark raincloud. They bicker and banter as he tries to impart his cynical wisdom and she tries to brighten his outlook. I think you can guess what happens next.Ethel Barrymore, Dorothy Malone, and Robert Keith make up the adult family chaperones—would you leave your three daughters alone in the house with two strange men?—and a variety of composers contribute to the songs Frankie and Doris sing, although not every one was written for the film. "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)", "Someone to Watch Over Me", "Just One of Those Things", and of course the title song, are performed in the movie. While some scenes are cute, I found an equal number of scenes to be depressing. In real life, we've all found it tempting to try and cheer up a perpetually grumpy person, but in a movie, it's a little tiring. Yes, it's Frank Sinatra so we want to forgive him, but who really wants to see Doris "Ms. Sunshine" Day struggle so much to make him smile?

Quite a music fest, with the top male and female crooners of the time on display. Each got 4songs individually, plus a share of the very appropriate "You, my Love". However, I must say that Sinatra's songs, as a whole, were more memorable than Doris's. There has been much discussion on whether Sinatra's character, Barney, should have died in that head on collision, as in the original ending, or lived, without apparent lingering disabilities, as we see in the film. Barney's equivalent character in "Four Daughters", upon which the present film is based, died in a similar crash. Certainly , the playing of the title song in the fade out(as well as the beginning credits)was much more compatible with a hopeful ending. If there was to be a suicide attempt scene(and there needn't be), I believe some other means, more survivable and with less chance of lingering disabilities, should have been chosen. And what about the persons in the other vehicle?They had no desire to die in this manner.The screenplay generally was pleasant enough, if not very imaginative. Lots of pretty women and handsome men to experience. Ethel Barrymore was included as the family matriarch. This was her penultimate role in a Hollywood film. She is said to have been quite frail while participating in this film.The copy at YouTube comes in 5 installments, but otherwise was OK.

"Young at Heart" is a beautiful story about the more mature love that grows in the relations of 3 daughters, (Laurie, Fran, Amy) & their boy friends (Barney, Alex, Bob). Tuttle Home is where a sarcastic, angry Barney Sloan (Frank) decides to work as part of a composing team. He's the piano man. He believes that the "fates" are out to get him & destroy his life. Lovely Laurie Tuttle (Doris) doesn't. Who will be right? This is one dramatic, musical everybody should see. This 1954 movie musical with some beautiful songs, especially one of my favorites "Young at Heart". Doris Day as Laurie Tuttle; Frank Sinatra as Barney Sloan; Gig Young as Alex Burke; Ethel Barrymore as Aunt Jessie Tuttle; Dorothy Malone as Fran Tuttle; Robert Keith as Gregory Tuttle; Elisabeth Fraser as Amy Tuttle; Alan Hale Jr. as Robert Neary; Lonny Chapman; as Ernest Nichols.(7.5 out of 10 out of TCM)

FRANK SINATRA followed up his "From Here To Eternity" triumph by starring opposite DORIS DAY in a musical remake of "Four Daughters" called YOUNG AT HEART. He gets even better song material than Day, including memorable versions of "Young at Heart" and "One for My Baby", but Day is compensated by a nice dramatic role that gets her brand of warmth and sincerity, as well as a duet with Sinatra on "You, My Love".ETHEL BARRYMORE is the elderly aunt and ROBERT KEITH is the father, while GIG YOUNG plays the young man that Day almost marries until she discovers that her sister is broken-hearted over their upcoming marriage. Instead, she runs off with the loner, Barny (Sinatra), and has a rather tumultuous marriage that she's determined to salvage. This version of the tale has her succeed, avoiding the downbeat ending of the original in which the John Garfield character (played by Sinatra)died.It's pleasant, nostalgic and the kind of musical they never make any more. Particularly sensitive performances from Sinatra, Day and Gig Young under Gordon Douglas' direction. Worth seeing for fans of Day and Sinatra especially.The only big difference between this and the original is that color and music have been added. Otherwise, the script is pretty close to the 1938 version directed by Michael Curtiz.