Gale Storm became famous in two hit television series of the 1950's, "My Little Margie," and "the Gale Storm Show" Except for Lucille Ball, she probably did more 1/2 hour episodes (294 total) on national television than anybody other actress. Before hitting it big on television in the Summer of 1952, she had been a star in some thirty movies starting at age 18 in 1940. She seems to have been under contract to Monogram, one of the poorest film studios in the early 40's, but did work her way up to doing some movies for majors like Columbia and Universal in the late 40's.
In the mid 50's, during the time of her television triumphs, she also had a half dozen or so hit records.
I was born in the 50's and I was one of her television fans, although I got to watch her series mainly in reruns in the mornings in the early 1960's.
This was the first movie I have seen her in and she is just as delightful as she is in her television series. The only difference is that she is ten years younger. Surprisingly, she plays a singer in this movie. It is strange that she didn't have a record contract until the 1950's, her voice is sweet and natural. With all the talent scouts in Hollywood, you would have thought that one would recognize her singing talents.
Being a Monogram picture, its technical quality is not much above a 1950's television sit-com. However, it is pleasant enough and does provide lots of amusing moments.
The plot is Gale Storm as a radio singer signed to Crunchy-Wunchy breakfast cereal. She wants to break away and go to college. One has to imagine that she really wanted to break her contract with Monogram Pictures. She escapes to a college, but Crunchy-Wunchy starts a national campaign to find her.
Storm was born about two months before Judy Garland in 1922. I couldn't help thinking of her as a low-rent Judy Garland here. They're both cute, talented and energetic.
Ge Ge Person and Candy Candido provide some nice comic relief.
