As Young as You Feel

Harmon Jones's 1951 American film follows a printer of sixty-five forced into retirement by an age rule. He devises a plan to get his job back: he visits the plant pretending to be the president of the holding company that owns it. The humour comes from nobody checking. As long as the man looks like high office everyone believes him; the narrative shows how far corporate hierarchy rests on appearance. Monty Woolley leads with Thelma Ritter in support. The narrative takes the retirement age and age discrimination as direct subjects, relatively unusual for American comedy of the period. The running time is short and the cutting fast. Who it's for: those who like fifties Hollywood comedy. Who it's not for: viewers expecting the social criticism carried through; the film endorses the order in the end.