The Impossible Years (1968)

Director:

Michael Gordon

Writers:

Bob Fisher (play)
Arthur Marx (play)

Release Date:

5 December 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The Battle of the Ages! The Undergraduates vs. The Over-Thirties!

Plot Keywords:

Catalina Island California | Sex | Elopement | Teen Angst | College Life

Cast

David Niven	...	Jonathan Kingsley
Lola Albright	...	Alice Kingsley
Chad Everett	...	Richard Merrick
Ozzie Nelson	...	Dr. Herbert J. Fleischer
Cristina Ferrare	...	Linda Kingsley
Jeff Cooper	...	Bartholmew Smuts
John Harding	...	Dean Harvey Rockwell
Rich Chalet	...	Freddie Fleischer
Michael McGreevey	...	Andy McClaine
Darleen Carr	...	Abbey Kingsley
Don Beddoe	...	Dr. Elliot Fish
Louise Lorimer	...	Mrs. Celia Fish
Karen Norris	...	Mrs. Rockwell
Susan French	...	Miss Hammer
Trudi Ames	...	Francine

Also Known As:

Minha Filha É Um Problema (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Alles was verboten ist (West Germany) [de]
Apithana neiata (Greece) [el]
Gli anni impossibili (Italy) [it]
Les années fantastiques (France) [fr]
Los años imposibles (Spain) [es]
Mahdottomat vuodet (Finland) [fi]
Pigebørn i løbetid (Denmark) [da]
Varför får inte jag, när alla andra får... (Sweden) [sv]

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:G

Company:

Marten Pictures

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 2 (1996) (V)

Protesting with The Cowsills

College psychiatry professor David Niven (as Jonathan Kingsley) and wife Lola Albright (as Alice) are shocked when beautiful 17-year-old daughter Cristina Ferrare (as Linda) is arrested at a campus protest. She is charged with disturbing the peace, inciting to riot, resisting arrest, and unlawful assembly on university property. Ms. Ferrare is also caught carrying a picket sign with an unsavory word written on its backside. She claims to have never turned the sign around to see the naughty word - an impossible plot detail, unless she's lying. Ferrare also smokes cigarettes, gets caught speeding, and keeps a messy room.

"The Impossible Years" comes across like it's daring to fight "the sexual revolution" along the "generation gap" front. But, like many 1960s sex comedies, nothing really untoward actually happens. It's a smoke and mirrors story with a good cast - including highly likable supporting TV stars Chad Everett and Ozzie Nelson. Near legendary photographer William Daniels and director Michael Gordon do a good job with the limited sets. Since Mr. Gordon is the grandfather of accomplished actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, you've got to wonder if, eventually, everyone in movies will be proved related.

The "picket sign" title sequence is nicely done, and features a catchy title song sung by The Cowsills. The tune was finally released on the underrated group's 1994 CD reissue of their first LP "The Cowsills"; previously, "The Impossible Years" was hidden away on a 45 RPM B-side. After the opening, you can stick around for beautiful bikini-clad Ferrare and her young friends. The comedy is dated, innocent, and not so funny, except for an occasional line; it's interesting to hear "I'm glad they passed Medicare!" was once a way to irk the family doctor.

***** The Impossible Years (9/13/68) Michael Gordon ~ David Niven, Cristina Ferrare, Lola Albright, Chad Everett