The Plastic Age

About the production

The film was shot on location at USC to capture authentic college atmosphere. Clara Bow's performance was so compelling that it directly led to her casting in 'It' (1927), which would cement her status as the 'It Girl'. The production faced challenges with finding appropriate college locations that would allow filming during the academic year.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Made in 1925, The Plastic Age reflects production norms of late silent cinema and the transition toward sound—shorter runtimes, regional audiences, and limited preservation infrastructure.

Why this film matters

Historians reference The Plastic Age (1925) when discussing 1925 film.

Making of

Director Wesley Ruggles was known for his ability to work quickly and efficiently, completing this film in just three weeks. Clara Bow, though not the top-billed star, stole every scene with her natural charisma and modern sensibility, which resonated with Jazz Age audiences. The cast spent time on college campuses observing student behavior to ensure authenticity. The party scenes were particularly challenging to film due to the need to coordinate dozens of extras and create the illusion of wild revelry while maintaining silent film discipline. Many of the college athletes in the film were actual USC students recruited for their athletic abilities. The chemistry between Bow and Keith was so genuine that rumors of an off-screen romance circulated, though both denied it.

What critics said

Trade and revival screenings have kept The Plastic Age (1925) on the map for collectors and scholars rather than mass first-run promotion.

Did you know?

• This was Clara Bow's breakthrough role that established her as a major star and led to her being dubbed 'The It Girl'
• The film was based on a novel by Percy Marks titled 'The Plastic Age', which was controversial for its depiction of college life
• Donald Keith, who played Hugh Carver, was a former college football player himself, bringing authenticity to his athletic scenes
• The title 'The Plastic Age' referred to what the author considered the artificial, moldable nature of modern youth in the 1920s
• Gilbert Roland, who played the rival, would later become a major star in Hollywood's Golden Age
• The film was considered quite daring for its time due to its depiction of college parties, drinking, and sexual innuendo
• Paramount heavily marketed the film to college students, organizing special campus screenings across the country
• The movie's success spawned a wave of college-themed films throughout the late 1920s
• Clara Bow's distinctive bob haircut and flapper style in this film influenced women's fashion nationwide
• The film featured synchronized sound effects using the Phonofilm process in some theaters, making it an early sound picture

Awards & recognition

• No major awards were given for this film, as it predated the Academy Awards

Visual style

The cinematography by James Wong Howe utilized innovative camera techniques to capture the dynamic energy of college life. Howe employed mobile cameras during athletic sequences to create a sense of movement and excitement. The party scenes used dramatic lighting with deep shadows to suggest the forbidden nature of the activities. The film made effective use of location shooting at USC, with wide shots of the campus establishing the setting and intimate close-ups capturing the emotional drama. Howe's work demonstrated the transition from static theatrical compositions to more fluid, cinematic movement characteristic of late silent films.

Innovations

While not a groundbreaking technical film, The Plastic Age utilized several notable techniques for its time. The film employed location shooting to achieve greater realism, a practice that was becoming more common but still required significant logistical planning. The athletic sequences used multiple cameras and editing techniques to create dynamic action scenes. Some versions of the film incorporated early sound-on-film technology for specific sequences, representing an early experiment in hybrid sound-silent production. The film's editing pace was notably faster than many contemporary productions, reflecting the energetic tempo of modern life it depicted.

Music

As a silent film, The Plastic Age featured a compiled musical score performed by theater organists or small orchestras. The typical accompaniment included popular jazz tunes of the era, college fight songs, and classical pieces appropriate to the mood of each scene. Some theaters equipped with early sound technology used the Phonofilm process to add synchronized sound effects during athletic events and party sequences. The musical direction emphasized the rhythmic energy of the Jazz Age, with ragtime and early jazz compositions prominently featured.

Famous quotes

Hugh: 'I've got to choose between you and my future, Cynthia. And that's the hardest choice any man ever had to make.'

Cynthia: 'Life's too short for books and rules, Hugh. We're young now, and we should live now!'

Coach: 'A man can't serve two masters, son. Either you're an athlete or you're a lover. You can't be both.'

Cynthia: 'They call this the plastic age because we're all being molded into something new. Something they don't understand.'

Memorable scenes

• The opening football game sequence where Hugh Carver demonstrates his athletic prowess, featuring dynamic camera work and authentic college football action
• The wild fraternity party scene where Cynthia introduces Hugh to the Jazz Age lifestyle, complete with jazz music, dancing, and illegal drinking
• The emotional confrontation between Hugh and Cynthia in the campus library, where they must face the consequences of their choices
• The climactic track meet where Hugh must prove he can balance his athletic responsibilities with his personal life
• The final graduation scene where Hugh and Cynthia make their life-altering decisions about their future together

What audiences thought

The Plastic Age was enormously popular with audiences, particularly college students and young adults who saw their own lives reflected on screen. The film played to packed houses in college towns across America and became a campus phenomenon. Clara Bow's performance generated tremendous fan mail and established her as a major star. The movie's controversial elements, including its depiction of partying and sexual innuendo, actually increased its appeal among younger viewers seeking more realistic portrayals of their generation. The film's success at the box office surprised Paramount executives and led to increased investment in youth-oriented programming.

Film connections

Influenced by

• College novels of the 1920s
• German Expressionist cinema (in lighting techniques)
• Contemporary youth culture films
• Stage plays about college life

This film influenced

• It (1927) - Clara Bow's subsequent major film
• College (1927) starring Buster Keaton
• The Freshman (1925) by Harold Lloyd
• Subsequent college-themed films of the late 1920s and early 1930s

Film restoration

The Plastic Age survives in its complete form and has been preserved by major film archives. A 35mm nitrate print exists at the Library of Congress, and the film has been transferred to safety stock. The movie has been released on DVD by several specialty labels and is occasionally screened at film festivals and revival houses. Some versions include the original color tints for night scenes and dramatic moments. The film is considered to be in good condition for its age, though some wear is evident in existing prints.

Where to watch

• Available on DVD from Kino Lorber and other classic film distributors
• Streaming on The Criterion Channel (occasionally)
• Available for digital purchase on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV
• Screened occasionally at film festivals specializing in silent cinema
• Accessible through some university film libraries and archives
• Available on YouTube through public domain uploads (quality varies)