Search - Mad Youth on DVD

Like mother, like daughter INDEED !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/04/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mad Youth is one of those "exploitation films" from the 1930s that doles out a hefty morality message that being anything less than 100% pure, pragmatic and down-to-Earth will bring you nothing but the worst kind of trouble. The plot moves along well and it is entertaining even though the acting isn't the best--there are some dance scenes that impress me despite this being an Alpha Video release. Alpha Video did little to restore this film which is unfortunate; but that's Alpha Video for you! The script is not that well written but the casting was well done. It's really just an average story; but with those great dance scenes and that plot which moves along nicely it actually becomes a four star film.

When the action starts, we meet middle-aged divorcée Lucy Morgan (Betty Compson) and her daughter Marian (Mary Ainslee); and more often than not they certainly are at odds with one another. Lucy squanders her alimony money on "escort men" to the point where she has to ask her own daughter Marian for a midweek loan! Lucy eventually meets her latest escort, Count DeHoven (Willie Castello), and she falls for him completely. Lucy wants the Count to marry her; but after the Count meets Marian he wants little to do with the pushy Lucy as he prefers to spend more time with Marian behind Lucy's back. In addition, Lucy has no knowledge of Marian's wild parties (although for the most part they would look fairly tame by today's standards) which Marian and her friends enjoy when Lucy is out playing bridge--and more--with her "escorts."

Things heat up as Count DeHoven and Marian date more and more often behind Lucy's back; and when Lucy steals and reads Marian's diary things explode at once. Marian decides to visit her friend Helen (Betty Atkinson) who, she thinks, has run away to marry the man that she loves. Unfortunately, Marian soon discovers that Helen isn't exactly living with her new husband; Lucy has to face a big surprise as well.

Look also for Lorelei Readoux to play the role of Beth, one of Marian's friends; and Margaret Fealy has a good cameo as Helen's grandmother.

It may well seem as if I've given away much too much of the story; but I assure you that I haven't. The last fifteen minutes or so of the film offer up some interesting, unexpected plot twists and turns that should keep you entertained.

Mad Youth is a film I recommend for people who enjoy "exploitation films" and dramas, especially dramas with complicated mother-daughter relationships. I must say it's not the best film I've seen to date but with the dancing and the plot twists near the end it's not all that bad either."