The Truth About Youth

"The Truth About Youth" is a 1930 film of special interest because of two of its young stars, Loretta Young and Myrna Loy. The story concerns a housekeeper's daughter Phyllis (Young) who is engaged to the young man of the house, "The Imp" (David Manners). He has just turned 21 and has been raised by a triumvirate of guardians, chiefly Richard (Conway Tearle). "The Imp" (whose real name is Richard) falls madly in lust with a man trap called Kara, who performs at a club and is known as "The Firefly." He writes her a passionate letter and when Phyllis finds it, the elder Richard claims it's his.

Because this is an early talkie, the film comes off as rather wooden. Both Loy and Young are gorgeous, Loy as a vamp and Young as a sweet young thing. Both had those short hairdos with the tight wave so popular back then. Loy has the better role as a money-grubber, and she's great. The gown she wears in performance is a knockout - an actress could wear it to the Oscars today.

The men are just okay, with the exception of two of the guardians, J. Farrell McDonald and Harry Stubbs, who provide some humor.

Before she became Nora Charles, Loy was cast as a vamp, usually an exotic one, until a producer who knew her personally decided to mine her humor. "The Truth About Youth" is an excellent chance to see her in an early role.