Kathy O'

Patty McCormack who zoomed to stardom playing the ultimate of bad girls in The Bad Seed gets a chance at something a whole lot different in Kathy O. This film used to be broadcast a lot during Christmas time and has strangely been unavailable for years.

Kathy O'Rourke played by McCormack is a Hollywood child star all sweet as sugar candy on screen but one holy hellion off screen. Her career is managed by her aunt Betty Jane Croft, McCormack being an orphan. McCormack is quite the meal ticket and Croft controls every aspect of her life.

Dan Duryea plays the studio publicity man and he's assigned to work with his ex-wife Jan Sterling on a feature story. Duryea is now married to Mary Fickett and I have to say they have one civilized relationship as Fickett and Sterling used to be girl roommates back in the day.

McCormack is good, she can turn the charm on and off. But she's a troubled kid and she sees what she's really lacked when she's with Duryea, Fickett, and their two kids Ricky Kelman and Terry Kelman at Christmas time.

McCormack delivers a standout performance. It's also nice to see Dan Duryea in a sympathetic role. Mary Jane Croft best known for being a foil for Lucille Ball has a nice turn herself her as the business minded aunt who will protect her interests at all costs.

Sterling and McCormack have some nice bonding scenes as well. Away from all of her handlers McCormack let's her hair down. Later on her hair comes literally down.

Kathy O' still a nice family film which should resume being broadcast regularly.

When I read a synopsis for "Kathy O'" and learned it was about a bratty child star who keeps adults rushing around to please her, I pictured something screechy and inane. "Kathy O'" is actually a plush little comedy-drama that does nearly the impossible: it illustrates how the pressures of Hollywood can be painful and frustrating even for a child-actor in the midst of her success. Kathy is not a little tyrant, she's tired and anxious and cranky. A publicist (also all of the above!) reintroduces her to family life and normalcy, and she begins to brighten. Movies about personal redemption always tend to work if the build-up is right, and here it's done tastefully and emotionally. By the end, I was enamored of this youngster who blossoms under the right circumstances. Movies about the movies are usually a little coy, but "Kathy O'" is an exception. It understands the movie world and is quite wise (but not ugly) about actors' lives off-screen. It also recognizes everyday life in suburbia for the grind it can be, but also how much more wonderful it is when shared with people you care about. Kathy learns to care, and, in turn, I came to care about her. *** from ****

I saw this movie in a theater in 1958 or 1959 and I never forgot it. Tonight I watched it again on a tape that I recorded from AMC many years ago. Unfortunately, it is a pan and scan version of a CinemaScope picture. Patty McCormack was such a natural actress whom I fell in love with when I was 11 years old. The musical score was beautiful, especially when they played "Where Are You?" in the scenes where Dan Duryea and Jan Sterling were together. If only Universal would release this in a widescreen DVD, I'd be the first to buy it. It is perfect for the whole family and it has a Christmas theme. It's a shame that they don't make clean, entertaining family pictures like this today.

I realize this was made in the 1950s but so was the Bad Seed. This is just schmaltz. I'm sorry. It was boring and I thought it stunk.

When I watch a movie about a brat, I at least want to see one adult get kicked in the shin.

I am still waiting for this movie to be brought out in DVD format. It is a *classic* Christmas story if there ever was one. I am surprised that it is still hidden away deep in some dark vault. I am still waiting for it to be shown on television around Christmas time also....but so far... This movie i have personally rated as my all time, most favorite movie. I was 3 years old when it was made and i watched it when i was around her age in the movie. To this day i still search every now and then hoping to see it has been brought back to the public. I believe even in today's world of a different value system for families that this movie would be well received and become a favorite with people even though it's over 50 years old.