Plastic Age

Plastic Age
Customer Review: I Love This Movie!
A perfect example of a teen movie from the 20s, The Plastic Age is my favorite Clara Bow film and a great movie to watch over and over. Hugh Carver (Donald Keith) is on his way to college for the first time. He will be playing football for Prescott, which immediately puts him in line for hazing. A group kidnaps him and a few other freshman and forces them to sing songs in front of a group of attractive girls including popular Cynthia Day (Clara Bow). Hugh knows her from his casanova roommate's (Gilbert Roland) wall of women, but he is smitten with her despite her reputation. The rest is all fun. The two go on dates 1920s style complete with flappers and bootleg booze. There is a rousing climax at the big game where the players all barrel into each other with hardly any padding and leather helmets. Keith is one of my favorite youthful stars of the silent era, and it is too bad that he didn't have a more successful career in the talkies. His boyishness really works to his favor, and he is obviously a great star opposite Bow, who he often appeared with. Bow is delightful as always with her spunky personality that just embodies the Jazz Age. Also look for a brief Clark Gable appearance in the background of three scenes including a shirtless one in the locker room. And yes, that is him with the girl whose shoe falls on Clara's head. This VHS edition includes a silent short featuring Carole Lombard as an athletic beauty who causes plenty of problems for her gym teacher/coach.