The Truth About Youth: A Bit of a Muddle, But Myrna Loy Shines

“The Truth About Youth” isn’t one you just stumble upon these days, especially if old, old films aren’t your usual thing. Is it worth tracking down? Maybe, if you have a soft spot for early talkies trying to figure themselves out. People who enjoy seeing how melodrama used to hit differently might get a real kick out of it. But if you’re expecting something fast-paced or super slick, you’re going to be bored stiff. Seriously, like, stiff. 😴

So, the setup is pretty classic: Richard Carewe, a kind of guardian, raises this young guy, Albert. He’s also got his housekeeper, and her daughter, Phyllis. The whole plan is Albert and Phyllis will marry, a nice, neat little future. But then Albert goes and meets “The Firefly,” a nightclub singer. And, well, plans change. As they often do.

Albert is just… a mess of impulses. You can see him trying to be noble, but he just kinda drifts into trouble. His whole thing with “The Firefly” feels so sudden. Like, one minute he’s got this quiet, planned life, the next he’s completely swept up.

He really doesn’t think things through. At all. 🤦‍♀️

Phyllis, on the other hand, she’s the rock. You really feel for her, watching everything unfold. There’s a scene where she just quietly watches Albert making his bad choices, and her face says so much without a single word. It’s pretty good acting for the era, honestly.

Myrna Loy as Phyllis, she carries a lot of the emotional weight. You can see the glimmer of the star she'd become, even in this somewhat simple role.

“The Firefly” herself, played by Yola d’Avril, is exactly what you expect. All flash, no substance. She’s got this quick, sharp way about her. It’s almost too quick how she bails once Albert’s money situation is clear. Like, did she even like him, or just the idea of what he could give her? Probably the latter. 💸

The film tries to show this big contrast between the quiet home life and the glitz of the city. But the nightclub scenes, they feel a little… staged. The energy just isn’t quite there. It’s like they’re trying to tell you it’s exciting, but the camera just kinda sits there, watching.

There's this one moment where Richard Carewe, played by J. Farrell MacDonald, has this look on his face. It’s when he realizes his carefully laid plans for Albert and Phyllis are just shattered. It’s not a big, dramatic outburst. Just this sinking realization that hits you. You almost feel the weight of his disappointment.

Some of the dialogue is quite stiff, even for the time. People say exactly what they mean, sometimes in a way that feels unnatural. There’s a lot of telling, not showing. But then, you get these little flashes, like Phyllis’s quiet dignity, that really stand out.

I kept wondering about the housekeeper. She’s there, always in the background, but you don’t get much from her. What did she think of all this? Did she want Phyllis to marry Albert? The movie just doesn’t care, I guess. 🤷‍♀️

The scene where Albert proposes to Phyllis, before The Firefly shows up, feels almost obligatory. Like, it just happens. No real spark there at all.

The pacing is definitely a thing. It takes its sweet time, then rushes certain parts. You can feel the shift, especially when “The Firefly” is introduced. Everything picks up for a bit, then slows right back down. It’s not a smooth ride.

Also, the whole idea of a “firefly” singer. It’s a fun nickname, but she’s not really given much to *do* beyond being a plot device. She sparkles, then she’s gone. Poof.

I remember thinking during one scene, when Albert is just moping around, that the light looked really nice through the window. It's a small detail, but it just gave the scene a bit of depth, despite Albert's general helplessness.

And speaking of helpless, Albert’s financial situation is just kinda *there*. He’s broke, which is the catalyst for “The Firefly” leaving, but you never really get a sense of his struggles, just that he’s suddenly without funds. It’s a convenient plot point, nothing more.

The ending feels a bit… too neat. After all that melodrama, it wraps up maybe a little too quickly. You wish they’d let some of those consequences linger a bit more. It almost felt like they ran out of film, or decided “that’s enough drama for one picture.”

It’s a curious watch if you’re into the history of film and want to see some early performances from actors who would become bigger stars. Myrna Loy is especially good here. You can definitely see her potential.

Don’t go into this expecting a masterpiece, or even a super engaging story. It’s more like a peek into a different time, a different style of storytelling. The “truth about youth” here seems to be that young people can be kinda foolish. Who knew? 😉

It’s fine. It exists. And for what it is, an old melodrama, it does its job. Just not with much flair. It's an interesting piece for a niche audience, but not for everyone.