Main Cast: David Niven, Lola Albright, Chad Everett, Ozzie Nelson, Cristina Ferrare
Release Year: 1968
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
Plot
This situation comedy comes from a Bob Fisher and Arthur Marx play. Jonathan Kingsley (David Niven) is the teaching psychiatrist at the local university and is happily married to his wife Alice (Lola Albright). The couple has two teenage daughters, and the trouble begins when the oldest daughter Linda (Christina Ferrare) begins to take an adult interest in boys. Her misadventures corrupt her impressionable sister Abbey (Darlene Carr) and is driving the head of the university, Dean Rockwell (John Harding), absolutely crazy as he fears a scandal that could blight the school. Jonathan is put under review by the board of directors. Linda falls for Jonathan's teaching assistant Richard (Chad Everett) as her father receives neighborly advise from Dr. Fleischer (Ozzie Nelson), a hopeless hypochondriac. Linda is also pursued by a spaced-out hippie (Jeff Cooper) and another admirer (Michael McGreevey). Jonathan tries to stop his daughter's lustful yearnings before the reputation of the university and his family become fodder for the local gossip mongers. The title track is sung by The Cowsills. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Review
The Impossible Years is not impossible to sit through, but as each year passes, it does become a bit more of a chore. Dated? You bet, although it's not the situation that's dated: parents and teen-agers will always have problems related to independence and trust, and fathers and daughters in particular will be at loggerheads starting at a certain point. What makes Impossible dated is both the way this situation is handled and, more importantly, the inane dialogue that runs rampant throughout the movie. In addition to being inane, it's also a bit on the smutty side, which given the "family" circumstances, makes it a bit smarmy as well. Fortunately, David Niven is on hand, and his mere presence imparts a certain level of class -- which Impossible needs. He's as smooth and assured as ever, and few actors play crisis and tension for laughs as well as Niven. The rest of the cast ranges from adequate to acceptable, although Christine Ferrare's beauty deserves special attention all by itself. Michael Gordon's direction is workmanlike -- and unable to hide the fact that the film seems to have been made a bit on the cheap side. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Jeff Cooper - Bartholomew Smuts; John Harding - Dean Harvey Rockwell; Rich Chalet - Freddie Fleischer; Darlene Carr - Abbey Kingsley; Trudi Ames - Francine; Don Beddoe - Dr. Elliot Fish; Susan French - Miss Hammer; Louise Lorimer - Mrs. Celia Fish; Michael McGreevey - Andy McClaine; J. Edward McKinley - Dr. Pepperell; Karen Norris - Mrs. Rockwell; Ned Wertimer - Dr. Bodey
Credit
George W. Davis - Art Director, Preston Ames - Art Director, Arthur Jacobson - First Assistant Director, Michael Gordon - Director, James Newcom - Editor, Don Costa - Composer (Music Score), Tokens - Songwriter, William J. Tuttle - Makeup, Sydney Guilaroff - Makeup, William H. Daniels - Cinematographer, Lawrence Weingarten - Producer, Henry W. Grace - Set Designer, Hugh Hunt - Set Designer, Franklin E. Milton - Sound/Sound Designer, George Wells - Screenwriter, Arthur Marx - Play Author, Bob Fisher - Play Author
