Too Young to Kiss

In Too Young to Kiss, a concert pianist,desperate to get a record deal, hears that a major record executive is staging a youth talent show. So, she pretends to be a child prodigy … and wins! But now she finds herself trapped in her own lies.

Too Young to Kiss (1951) starring June Allyson, Van Johnson, Gig Young

In short, Too Young to Kiss has the same basic story as The Major and the Minor — but it’s more believable. Simply because June Allyson can more likely pass as a young girl than the more full-figured Ginger Rogers. Having said that, both films are enjoyable — in different ways.

Cast of characters

• June Allyson (Two Girls and a Sailor) … Cynthia Potter. Oddly, she was 34 years old at the time she was playing Cynthia (age 22), who in turn was pretending to be her own younger sister Molly (age 12).
• Van Johnson (In the Good Old Summertime) … Eric Wainwright. The concert promoter. He begins falling in love with the “older” sister. And feels protective and paternal towards the “younger” sister. And feels betrayed and used, when the truth comes out.
• Gig Young (The Three Musketeers 1948) … John Tirsen. Cynthia’s love interest at the start of the picture. Third leg of the romantic triangle.
• Paula Corday (You for Me) … Denise Dorcet
• Kathryn Givney … Miss Benson
• Larry Keating (The Incredible Mr. Limpet) … Danny Cutler
• Hans Conried (Sleeping Beauty, Blondie’s Blessed Event) … Mr. Sparrow
• Esther Dale … Mrs. Boykin
• Jo Gilbert … Gloria

Product Description 

Concert pianist Cynthia Potter (June Allyson) has impeccable musicianship, yet the chance of her gaining the attention of busy impresario Eric Wainwright (Van Johnson) hovers somewhere between none and never. But circumstances change – and comedy complications follow – when she adds bobby-sox and bows to her attire and innocence to her manner, and then passes herself off as a l2~year-old prodigy.

The story of a woman posing as a younger person in order to turn events to her liking had already worked well for Katharine Hepburn in Quality Street and Ginger Rogers in The Major and the Minor when June Allyson delivered a Golden Globe®-winning* Best Actress portrayal in this 1951 rom-com scripted by the Father of the Bride team of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. Comedy highlights include Wainwright’s reaction to a report that his “prodigy” was seen sharing a cocktail with a man (Gig Young) who, unknown to Wainwright, is her fiancé.