Young and Willing (1943): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1943, Young and Willing is a drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith, running about 83 minutes.

What it’s about. For those, if any, who have wondered why so many Paramount contractees appeared in United Artists' films during the war years, this is another one of the Paramount productions that was sold to United Artists in the early-40's when U.A. was having trouble meeting their exhibitor contracts because of lack of product, mainly due to their loss of production in England. A group of starving, but young and willing, actors band together to share finances and an apartment. Norman Reese (William Holden) orders no love nonsense between the boys and girls till they are set on broadway, but Marge Benson (Barbara Britton) and Tony Dennison (James Beown) are already secretly married. A friend drops in to see Dottie Coburn (Martha O'Driscoll) and is shocked to find the boys and girls sharing the same apartment and insists it is her duty to inform Dottie's father (Jay Fassett.)

Who’s in it. Young and Willing stars William Holden as Norman Reese, Eddie Bracken as George Bodell, Susan Hayward as Kate Benson and Robert Benchley as Arthur Kenny, among others.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Young and Willing page.

If you liked it. Fans of Young and Willing tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.