Young at Heart

Defying any expectations suggested by its title, this 1954 musical remake of Four Daughters (1938) is a dark redemption drama that is only buoyed by the sunny Doris Day and some great songs, including “Just One of Those Things,” “Ready, Willing, and Able,” and the title tune, one of Frank Sinatra's biggest hits. Day stars as Laurie, youngest daughter of a musical clan, who becomes engaged to Alex Burke (Gig Young), a supremely assured and gifted songwriter. Laurie's sisters, Fran and Amy (Dorothy Malone and Elisabeth Fraser, respectively), are likewise smitten with Alex, which causes a bit of underlying tension in the otherwise pleasant small-town surroundings. Enter Barney Sloan (Sinatra), a talented but self-pitying and cynical arranger. Laurie falls for him and breaks off her commitment to Alex, threatening a breach with her family. But that's not enough for Barney, who is neither convinced that she really loves him or confident that he's good enough for her. Day and Sinatra literally make great music together in their only joint appearance on the big screen, but this creaky melodrama, directed by Gordon Douglas, has not aged quite as well as the songs. Making its Blu-ray debut, this is a strong optional purchase. (D. Liebenson)