I will stay forever young at heart,thinking about this fine movie.At the age of nine,having already been captivated by Doris Day in "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" and "Lucky Me",I was just old enough to appreciate her in this more mature outing.I had no knowledge of Frank Sinatra,the actor,other than mixed opinions as to his appeal.Therefore,my sympathy was with Doris all the way and this made the ambiguity of Sinatra's character all the more interesting for me.The real quality of "Young At Heart" is that it falls into a category all it's own.It is not real drama (until near the end),not a real comedy and not even what you might call a musical (there is always motivation behind the songs).It's a real credit to Doris Day that,in the face of real competition,she is able to shine brightly above the entire cast,and what a cast we have here.Ethel Barrymore,despite failing health,is the perfect 'Aunt Jessie',giving the story-line real focus and assurance.Dorothy Malone,in a relatively smallish role,has one affecting scene in the car where she admits to being unworthy of her husband (the amiable Alan Hale Jr.).Gig Young,never more charming than here,makes you sorry he loses the girl,even though one can almost understand where Doris is coming from.I'm not a Sinatra fan but he sings his songs inimitably and he is well cast as the melancholy,vagrant musician.Inwardly,I would have liked the alternate ending (hence my 9 rating) because Gig Young deserved better.However,I would not want to have missed the final duet between Doris and Frank ('You My Love' is a gorgeous song).All in all,a near perfect entertainment.

Young at Heart is directed by Gordon Douglas and adapted by Lenore J. Coffee, Liam O'Brien & Julius J. Epstein from a Fannie Hurst story called Sister Act. It stars Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Gig Young, Ethel Barrymore, Alan Hale Jr, Elisabeth Fraser and Dorothy Malone. Music is by Ray Heindorf and Ted D. McCord is the cinematographer. Out of Warner Brothers it's filmed in Warner Color with the print by Technicolor. Film is a remake of a 1938 film titled Four Daughters, which was directed by Michael Curtiz. Plot has the charming Alex Burke (Young) enter the lives of the musical Tuttle family, where each of the three daughters start to be attracted to him. It's Laurie (Day) who captures his heart and they become engaged, upsetting the applecart of the other two sisters. But when Barney (Sinatra) comes into the picture to help Alex with some musical arrangements, matters become complicated. Because even tho he has a cynical outlook on life, Laurie forms a close friendship with him. It's the start of something that will alter the lives of everyone in and around the Tuttle family.It all sounds a bit fluffy in plot synopsis, and at times it undeniably is. Packed with quality tunes and two musical stars pitching from the top of the mound, Young at Heart is every inch an old fashioned romantic picture. Yet it marries this up with some heavy drama, even venturing down the dark alleyways that the source contained, tho the change in ending, requested by Sinatra, plays safe and opens the film up for a more family friendly audience. It's also impeccably casted, Sinatra plays bitter and twisted to Day's sweet and straight, Young has charisma in abundance, and Barrymore is grand as the all seeing, all knowing head of the family, Aunt Jessie. Stand out songs are the title song, Just One Of Those Things, One for My Baby and Someone To Watch Over Me. A quality production harking back to a time when story was as important as style, simple yet retaining a serrated edge, Young at Heart is a classy bit of 50's cinema. 8/10

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.

There are some moments where the dialog seems untrue, almost forced. But you can forgive that, considering this is the 1950's we're talking about. Sinatra was great at portraying loners who are lonely, and he does a wonderful job here. Devastating at times, pure joy at other times, this is a pleasure to see. If you're wondering whether to spend your cash on this or, say, Cannonball Run 2, then, well, take a friend with you to help you decide. Unlike Cannonball, you will not have to endure a tasteless "movie" with an equally unwatchable Tony Danza. This film may not be included in the top ten list of Classics in the magazines and TV shows that rate movies, but it's certainly worth some recognition.