THAT CERTAIN AGE

MOVIE INFORMATION:
Universal Studios – 1938
1 Hour, 35 Minutes
Black & White

MAIN CREDITS:
Producer…Joe Pasternak
Director…Edward Ludwig
Screenplay…Bruce Manning
Music…Charles Previn

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Alice Fullerton…Deanna Durbin
Vincent Bullit…Melvyn Douglas
Ken Warren…Jackie Cooper
Gil Fullerton…John Halliday
Dorothy Fullerton…Irene Rich
Tony…Jackie Searl
Mary Lee…Peggy Stewart
Grace Bristow…Nancy Carroll
Butch...Juanita Quigley

MOVIE SYNOPSIS:
Vincent Bullit is a reporter who has just returned from Spain where he was covering a war for his boss, Gil Fullerton. Vincent was hurt during his time in Spain, so Gil gives him three weeks vacation before sending him on his next assignment. Gil has a guesthouse on his property, and he organizes Vincent to rest there. Alice Fullerton, Gil’s teenage daughter, is unhappy about the arrangement because she and her friends are using the guesthouse for rehearsals for a play. To get rid of the unwanted guest, Alice and Ken Warren hatch a plan to make Vincent’s first night as uncomfortable as possible. Before long, Vincent realizes what is going on. He tells the kids that he would rather be in New York City. They decide to join forces and come up with an idea to get him out, but the plan comes unstuck when Alice falls crazy in love with the dashing Vincent even though he is much older than she. Alice turns her back on Ken and drops out of the play. Mary Lee is given the lead role and Ken is so disillusioned that he decides to join the Navy. When Alice’s diary is discovered by Butch, she delivers it into the hands of Ken. After reading it, he becomes very jealous of Vincent. Alice gets the impression that Vincent loves her, but she doesn’t know that Grace Bristow is his real girlfriend. After Vincent has a man-to-man talk with Ken, he learns of Alice’s love. Vincent tells Alice’s parents about their daughter’s affections for him so they hatch a plan when Grace returns to New York. Grace poses as Vincent’s wife and Alice storms off in a rage. She tears up the diary and goes back to Ken.

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Be A Good Scout written by Jimmy McHugh & Harold Adamson is sung by Alice Fullerton (Deanna Durbin).



The lyrics are very inspirational and no doubt sung at many Boy Scout camps in the late 1930's soon after the movie was released.

Les Filles De Cadiz written by Leo Delibes & Alfred de Musset is brilliantly performed by Alice at rehearsals for the local play.

Vincent Bullit (Melvyn Douglas) can't believe how bad the "bugs" are biting.



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Alice soon changes her mind about getting rid of the handsome Vincent Bullit.

Alice beautifully sings You're As Pretty As A Picture written by Jimmy McHugh & Harold Adamson.



When Deanna's character sings You're As Pretty As A Picture, you'll notice she performs it with a beautiful smile as it should be done. But what the audience didn't see during the filming of that scene was Melvyn Douglas standing next to the director making funny faces at Deanna.

As you watch the video, see Deanna finding it hard not to laugh - she even had to look away longer than normal to avoid looking at Douglas.

"It's serious business - not mere play," Douglas said.

That's right," Deanna agreed. "He's supposed to make me smile - otherwise I'd be too serious while singing."

INTERESTING NOTE: Notice how Gil says "bravo" instead of the correct "brava" when Alice finishes singing.

Ken Warren (Jackie Cooper) is confused when Alice tells him that she is torn between two fires.



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Alice lands on Vincent's chest after falling off her "runaway" horse.

Ken tells Alice that he is giving the part of Lady Iris to Mary Lee (Peggy Stewart).



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The local Jeweller (Grant Mitchell) helps Alice select a gift for Vincent that will last forever.



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Dorothy Fllerton (Irene Rich) is upset with Alice for not acting her age.



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Ken pretends not to be in love with Alice when he returns her diary.

Alice has Vincent on her mind as she performs My Own written by Jimmy McHugh & Harold Adamson.

Gil Fullerton (John Halliday) tries to turn Alice against Vincent, but he fails to convince her.



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Alice and Grace Bristow (Nancy Carroll) both love Vincent, but in the end, he gets wacked by Alice!



Melvyn Douglas felt THAT CERTAIN AGE ended on a sour note. He believed that Alice should have been allowed to keep her illusions: "It didn't ring either true or sweet to me having the kid think the guy was a heel. I'd have cured her some other way. And I'd have left the man wondering wheather the story might not have ended differently if she'd been five years older."

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Ken is over the moon when he learns that "Mrs. Bullit" has arrived and that Alice wants to be back in the play.

Je Veux Vivre from Gounod's ROMEO AND JULIET is the final aria Alice performs in THAT CERTAIN AGE.



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THAT CERTAIN AGE contains these mistakes:

The candles change in length from one camera shot to another when Alice is singing in the guesthouse.

After leaving the guesthouse, Alice is speaking to Ken while wearing a hair ribbon. In the very next camera shot the ribbon has disappeared.

Ken and Mary Lee arrive at the Mt. Kisco Village poolroom by car and shut both doors. When they return to the car one of the doors is open.

When Alice writes in her diary, she writes on the right side in long camera shots, but on the left side in close-ups.

According to Alice's diary, Vincent arrives at the guesthouse on August 3. The next day they go horse riding and Alice writes about it in her diary. The date should be August 4, but her diary page indicates August 5. The actual year of the diary used by Alice was for 1936.

This is a photo of a 1938 diary which is the same year THAT CERTAIN AGE was produced:



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Cameraman Joe Valentine and his new invention gave photos a semi-stereoscopic quality for the filming of THAT CERTAIN AGE.

THAT CERTAIN KISS

Joe Pasternak faced the problem in THAT CERTAIN AGE if it was time for Deanna to receive her first onscreen kiss.

When Screen Guide asked its readers to decide, the vote was split.

At Universal Studios some people argued that Deanna in THAT CERTAIN AGE should have a romance which would lead to elopement and marriage, while others, headed by Joe Pasternak, argued that Deanna should do no such thing!

There was a flood of letters from angry fans when they read about the rumours that Deanna was to "grow-up" in the movie. Fans wrote to Deanna, her parents, and studio officials begging them not to make a picture portraying Deanna anything more than her own age.

Parents were concerned that if Deanna eloped in THAT CERTAIN AGE, that it would put ideas in their daughter's heads.

In the end, Ken and Alice remained kissless which was the right thing to do!

And just one more thing, young girls after seeing THAT CERTAIN AGE commented that Deanna had taught them about life!

Joe Pasternak and Edward Ludwig watch Deanna cut the special celebration cake on the completion of THAT CERTAIN AGE.

Deanna Durbin learned to ride a horse for a scene in THAT CERTAIN AGE, and she clearly remembered how sore she got. There was the question to ride sidesaddle or not. Melvyn Douglas and Irene Rich, who played Dorothy Fullerton helped with the teaching.

MEMORABLE LINES:

Gil tells Alice, "With your ideas of finance, you'll probably go to Washington as our first lady Senator."

But in actual fact, the first lady Senator was already in Washington. Her name was Hattie Caraway, and Deanna had met her in real life just before the production of THAT CERTAIN AGE.

Deanna Durbin rehearses sitting on Melvyn Douglas after she falls off the horse:

Deanna Durbin and Melvyn Douglas relax between takes on the set of THAT CERTAIN AGE:

In the movie, there is a scene showing Ken playing the drums. In real life, Jackie Cooper had his own Jitterbug Band and he was the nephew of Norman Taurog.

In this promotional still the cushions that Deanna is sitting on were not visible in the movie:

Jackie Cooper took lessons from champion billiards player, Harold Baker so he could perform the trick shot in THAT CERTAIN AGE.

Deanna Durbin tried her own trick shot during a break in filming:

Another photo showing Deanna Durbin having fun at the pool table between shooting scenes:

It's party time after the production of THAT CERTAIN AGE:

Melvyn Douglas pracitices riding tandem with Deanna Durbin for a scene in THAT CERTAIN AGE:



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Deanna Durbin and Jackie Cooper having fun riding tandem during a break in the filming of THAT CERTAIN AGE:



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Deanna Durbin with Melvyn Douglas and Irene Rich sharing a laugh during the production of THAT CERTAIN AGE:

The director of THAT CERTAIN AGE, Edward Ludwig called Deanna "Charlie" on the set - so Deanna called him "Edwig" and "Ludward" to get even!!



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Deanna Durbin goes for a stroll with Edward Ludwig and Melvyn Douglas during a break in the filming of THAT CERTAIN AGE:

Deanna Durbin reading her lines from the script of THAT CERTAIN AGE:

The actual filming of the opening song for THAT CERTAIN AGE:

Deanna Durbin helps Irene Rich put on her make-up:

Deanna Durbin prepares for a scene with Melvyn Douglas while being directed by Edward Ludwig with Joe Valentine behind the camera:

Deanna Durbin and Juanita Quigley having a bit of fun during the production of THAT CERTAIN AGE:

A happy Deanna Durbin relaxing between scenes:

A beautiful promotional photo of Deanna Durbin and Irene Rich:

Promotional photo of Deanna Durbin with Jackie Cooper and Melvyn Douglas:

Great photo of Deanna Durbin and Jackie Cooper:

Deanna Durbin & Jackie Cooper on the cover of RADIO MIRROR:



Jackie Cooper passed away on 3 May 2011.

ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS:
Best Sound Recording
Best Music Song