The Impressionable Years: American Children and the Public Library
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Peter Elgar
Henry Fonda
M. Cimino
Julius Edelman
Peter Elgar
Gerald Hirschfeld
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In the Nathan Straus branch of the New York Public Library, six-year-old Kathy, admonished by her brother to wait for him downstairs, is enticed to enter the children's room during story hour. There, the librarian helps her to meet other children, read and listen to stories. In the main reading room, Kathy follows the example of the older children by taking out a book to read. The children, exercising their freedom of exploration and choice, gain knowledge through the world of books available to them at no cost. One brother and sister learn about their new turtle in a book about amphibians, while others watch a puppet show. Kathy wants to take her book home, but has not yet learned to write and so cannot fill out a library card application. Soon, however, she becomes a regular visitor, and brings a smaller friend, proudly showing off the library's wonders. On that day, one boy reads Robin Hood and imagines himself as the hero, while another girl dreams that she is Madame Curie. Each child has his own book and his own dream, and many share their new knowledge with the group. By opening up exotic and faraway worlds to American children, books serve as messengers of other lands. Kathy, meanwhile, has taught herself to write her name, and succeeds in signing her new library card.
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The opening credits include the following written statement: "The aid of the New York Public Library and the help of the children who stopped reading long enough to play themselves are gratefully acknowledged." The action in the film occurs silently, with intermittent voice-over narration by Henry Fonda.
Although the The Exhibitor review stated that noted poet Carl Sandburg appeared in the film to sing folk songs, he was not in the viewed print. According to a March 23, 1952 New York Times article, The Impressionable Years was produced for the Information Service of the State Department, which planned to distribute the film abroad. The The Exhibitor review, which rated the film "excellent," added that it was "only available for non-theatrical showings." The child featured in the film is identified only as "Kathy." It is not known if that was her own name, or the character she portrays.
