**”As Young as You Feel”** (1951) is a light-hearted comedy that showcases Marilyn Monroe in a supporting role during the early stages of her career. The film is notable for its humor and charm, and while Monroe’s role is not central, her presence further solidified her growing reputation as a rising Hollywood star.
### Film Details:
– **Title**: As Young as You Feel
– **Release Year**: 1951
– **Genre**: Comedy
– **Director**: Harmon Jones
– **Screenwriters**: Paddy Chayefsky (based on a story by Lamar Trotti)
– **Cinematography**: Joseph MacDonald
– **Production Company**: 20th Century Fox
– **Runtime**: 77 minutes
– **Main Cast**:
– **Monty Woolley** as John R. Hodges
– **Thelma Ritter** as Della Hodges
– **David Wayne** as Joe Elliott
– **Jean Peters** as Alice Hodges
– **Constance Bennett** as Harriet Hines
– **Albert Dekker** as Louis McKinley
– **Marilyn Monroe** as Harriet
### Plot Summary:
The film’s plot revolves around **John R. Hodges** (Monty Woolley), a 65-year-old printer who is forced into retirement by the company he works for due to their mandatory retirement age policy. However, Hodges refuses to accept his fate and comes up with a daring plan. He decides to impersonate the president of the parent company, **Mr. McKinley** (Albert Dekker), and makes a surprise inspection of the company where he worked for so many years.
During his charade, Hodges manages to impress everyone at the company with his wit and wisdom, convincing the executives to rethink their outdated policies, including the mandatory retirement age. Along the way, he interacts with a variety of characters, creating humorous situations as he navigates the corporate world.
### Marilyn Monroe’s Role:
Monroe plays **Harriet**, the beautiful secretary to one of the executives at the company. Although her role is small, Monroe’s appearance is memorable due to her glamorous looks and flirtatious nature. As Harriet, she adds a touch of charm to the office environment, embodying the confident and appealing young woman that Monroe often portrayed during this period of her career.
While Monroe’s role in the film is not central to the plot, her scenes helped build her image as a comedic actress with a magnetic screen presence. Her growing popularity was reflected in how her roles were increasingly highlighted, even in supporting parts.
### Themes:
– **Age and Wisdom**: The film humorously tackles the theme of ageism, showing that age should not dictate a person’s capabilities or their right to work. John R. Hodges’ character proves that experience and wisdom often outweigh the importance of youth in the workplace.
– **Corporate Criticism**: The story also subtly critiques corporate policies, particularly regarding the treatment of older employees. Hodges’ impersonation of the company president serves as a comedic vehicle for highlighting the flaws in the way companies treat their aging workers.
– **Deception for Good**: Hodges’ decision to impersonate the company president adds an element of fun and mischief to the story, showing that sometimes bending the rules can lead to positive changes.
### Reception:
**”As Young as You Feel”** was generally well-received as a light and entertaining comedy. Monty Woolley’s performance as John R. Hodges was praised for its warmth and humor, and the film’s clever premise kept audiences engaged. Although it wasn’t a major box-office hit, the film holds a special place for fans of 1950s comedies, particularly because of its witty dialogue and social commentary on aging.
### Marilyn Monroe’s Impact:
While Monroe’s role in **”As Young as You Feel”** was relatively small, she continued to capture the audience’s attention with her beauty, charisma, and growing comedic skills. This film is part of the period in Monroe’s career when she was making frequent appearances in supporting roles, contributing to her rising fame. Monroe’s ability to light up the screen in even minor roles demonstrated her potential as a major star, and soon after, she would break out into leading roles.
### Fun Fact:
The screenplay for **”As Young as You Feel”** was written by **Paddy Chayefsky**, who would later go on to become one of the most respected screenwriters in Hollywood, known for films like **”Network”** (1976) and **”Marty”** (1955).
This film was part of a series of light comedies produced by 20th Century Fox in the early 1950s, showcasing various talented actors and giving Monroe more screen time, further boosting her profile before her transition to major stardom.
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