This Modern Age

Val is a socialite and the daughter of divorced parents who travels to Paris and becomes entangled in a romance with Bob. She grapples with her mother's influence and a rising awareness of loyalty, love, and personal happiness. Her glamour conceals a growing resolve to understand where her own future should lie.

Tony is a fun-loving and alcoholic member of Diane's circle. He adds boisterous energy to Val's Paris visit and fuels the tumult that surrounds Val's relationships. His presence helps drive the story's impulsive, risky social world.

Bob is a Harvard football player who falls in love with Val and seeks to protect her happiness. He pushes for a quick marriage when he believes Val's well-being is at stake and later reveals the truth about Diane's situation to win Val's trust again. He embodies steadfast affection amid social pressure.

Val's mother who lives in Paris as André de Graignon's mistress. She navigates romance and ambition, and her choices propel the central conflict as Val discovers the truth about her mother's life. Her actions have lasting consequences for Val's sense of loyalty and trust.

A wealthy Parisian figure involved with Diane. His life appears to be on hold for Val, and his relationship with Diane drives much of the film's conflict and social maneuvering. He embodies the world of old-world wealth and social obligation.

Bob's mother who disapproves of Val's relationship with Tony and of her mother's lifestyle. She represents conservative social expectations and the pressure to maintain appearances within the upper-class circle.