Her First Romance

. . . what's a child star to do? This in-between age is tough for most youngsters, and Margaret O'Brien isn't an exception. The actress known as "Tootie" from the now-classic "Meet Me In St. Louis," and who warmed up the screen in many a 40s film, must now become a teen lead moving to adult roles.

"Her First Romance" tries very hard to accomplish this transition and, as others have pointed out, it comes off only so-so. They've added some extra hair to her coiffure as well as some more mature makeup. And, I must say she's quite pretty, talented and engaging.

Stil, the B-script/production lets her down, and she's saddled with a part in a film that probably no actress could improve upon. Thus, this effort represents a swansong to O'Brien's bid for continued starring roles.

However, in her personal life she hasn't done too badly. In a recent TV round table interview featuring former child stars Jane Withers, Dickie Moore and Darryl Hickman, O'Brien more than held her own. Perhaps it's her continued positive attitude that carried her through her MGM years and beyond. She's done as well as or better than the average child actor, and for this accomplishment, I say, "hat's off."

I saw "Her First Romance" today, and was impressed by how Margaret O' Brien, at age 16, still could entertain an audience despite her getting a little older. Her Betty Foster was a girl who goes through the things that young teen-age girls go through...dating the guys, competing with other girls for the attention of a guy, and so on. What I found strange was her robbing her father's safe to get her boyfriend's attention. Elinor Donahue, who had co-starred with O'Brien in 1947's "The Unfinished Dance," dyed her brunette hair blonde to play the girl who competes with O'Brien's Foster for Allen Martin, Jr.'s Bobby Evans, the athletic young heartthrob they fight over at their summer camp.

Ann Doran and Arthur Space did a manageable job as Foster's parents. While the film comes during O'Brien's post MGM days, leading to public opinion of her not being as entertaining as she was as an adorable child star, and in spite of her chubby figure at the time the movie was filmed, there was no mistaking that lovely innocent face and sweet demeanor. I felt entertained by "Her First Romance." Hope to see it on video. Also, if you liked O'Brien in "Her First Romance," you'll also like her, at age 21, in 1956's "Glory," a musical about a girl who helps to raise a thoroughbred to championship status. It was O'Brien's last film, to my knowledge, and also a little entertaining.

This attempt to continue Margeret O'Brien's starring roles into her teens is completely unengaging to me -- although it is possible that in an earlier era, when magazines like TIGER BEAT appealed to pre-teens anxiously awaiting the onset of adolescence, it might have actually found an audience. But, speaking as a man in his fifties more than half a century later, it all seems too coy and calculated to be very interesting.

Miss O'Brien's performance, as always, is excellent, but not at all suited to a comedy where she must carry the emotional weight herself -- her earlier roles, such as in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS come off as comic because no one took her very seriously. Here it would require some very delicate work in all departments for the audience to care deeply about Miss O'Brien and yet not take her seriously, and it doesn't show up here.

This B-movie from Columbia is obviously an attempt to create a teen "star" of Margaret O'Brien, Oscar-winning child actress of several MGM classics from the 40s. It plays like a glorified 50s sitcom episode, complete with Elinor "Princess" Donahue in a supporting role. (Bizzarely, the story is by Herman "Winds of War" Wouk!)

The production is pedestrian, and not surprisingly, ended the feature teen-actress career of O'Brien, who has gone on to numerous TV guest spots throughout the years, and a current and unfortunate alliance with some performer named Randal Malone. (Check out her IMDb listing for further details.)

One would hope that some casting agent or producer out there, could find her a great episode of "ER" or "Law & Order," or some such series. I've purposely avoided her last two Z movies, as she deserves considerably better than the direct-to-video, no-budget "Dead Season."

I've never been a big admirer of MARGARET O'BRIEN, so it should come as no surprise that I disliked this dull teen-age story about a budding romance at summer camp (based actually on a Herman Wouk novel about a Jewish boy growing up in New York City)--but even I have to admit that there was very little she could do to overcome such a weak script. She was at the so-called "awkward age" for this outing at Columbia and it shows.

Nor does the rest of the cast do anything to lift the picture from the ordinary. ELINOR DONOHUE is unpleasant as her rival at camp and ANN DORAN does her usual competent job as Margaret's mother, but nothing really helps although LLOYD CORRIGAN lends some sturdy support.

It's a trite and banal script and it's a shame that studios couldn't find better material for child stars once they reached that certain age.

Best to skip this one, unless you're a real O'Brien fan.