This film features Edith Fellows...a diminutive singing star from the 1930s who appeared in several Gene Autry westerns. However, as she got older, she had difficulty finding roles in films because she was quite small, a couple inches under five feet tall. In fact, because of her size the roles she did get were generally juvenile ones. Here in "Her First Romance" she gets a rare chance to play someone who isn't a child...nor quite a grown woman, as she was 17 and budding into a lovely young lady. Despite this, the film finds her playing an ugly duckling sort of role...something which might have been distressing for Fellows to have to perform. Imagine a teen being told to play such a part!
When the movie begins, it's made very clear that Linda (Fellows) is plain and they dress her in ordinary clothes and glasses. It's hard to hide that she's really rather pretty....though all the young men in the film seem to think she's unattractive. Her half-sister, Eileen, who is also her guardian, however, is quite different. She's pretty, popular and a rather ugly person inside who loves telling Linda how unattractive she is...and discouraging her when she tries to improve herself.
Out of the blue, a young man asks Linda out to a dance. She's shocked, as she isn't at all popular. What she doesn't know is that he's only doing this because he was put up to it because he's a pledge to some dopey fraternity. She learns the truth just before the dance and although she is stunning, she vows not to go and tells her date to get lost. However, out of the blue, a famous singer (Wilbur Evans) who met Linda only the day before arrives and this handsome and talented man takes her to the dance. And, considering they both love to sing, they seem like a well-matched couple despite the age difference. Suddenly, she's a sensation with her peers! But now, she only wants this singer...which is a bit creepy due to him being twice her age. What's next for Linda?
Apart from a nice performance by Fellows, the other reason to see this film is to see Alan Ladd in one of his pre-stardom roles. He's only a supporting player, but for 1940 it was a plum role for him. On the negative side, the film is silly because when Linda is in before mode, she is ridiculously unpopular...and when she pretties herself up, she's like a hunk of meat thrown into a den of wolves she's so wanted by all the young men! Subtle it ain't! It's also a bit cringe-worthy when Linda becomes infatuated with the singer and she throws herself at him...a man twice her age. This aspect really severely impacted on the film...particularly the ending, which left me a bit confused and dissatisfied. Worth watching but nothing more overall.
By the way, although I enjoyed this film, I thought it was pretty hilarious how at the dance Linda and her date sang a VERY complicated duet...and it was perfect despite neither practicing it together. Only in films!
