Her First Romance

Unlike the other reviewers I thought this movie was good fun, but then I've always enjoyed the older movies from the 40's and 50's. Yes, this movie is not an Academy Award contender but one must also remember the time period in which this was filmed. It was a much different world then and the types of situations the characters in this movie find themselves in were very "serious" back then. Margaret O'Brien more than holds her own, as did Eleanor Donahue in her role. I didn't realize she was ever a blonde! All in all, if you find yourself in the mood to watch a movie from a much simpler time in our history then I'd suggest you pop some popcorn, grab a quilt, sit back and enjoy the movie for what it is.

Margaret O'Brian was an absolutely luminous child star, very sweet and amazingly cute, also able to handle roles of some emotional depth.

As a teenager, she still has echoes of these qualities, but, while they were amazing in her younger years, they are only a little above average as a teen.

It's really too bad...she might have succeeded in a better, deeper and more demanding role, but this piffle would have torpedoed Elizabeth Taylor.

Too bad. After her successes in childhood, it would have been quite satisfying to see her succeed as a teen and an adult. It's hard not to be fond of her as a child star.

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 came as a fan of the novel to this adaptation, not as a fan of one of the actors or actresses. Though the others found this movie using an actress at an awkward time in her life, I felt the movie awkward in it's adaptation of the novel.

In "The City Boy" Herbie Bookbinder is the main character whereas the film focuses on his older sister. This was extremely disappointing. My introduction to the book was at school. We read a large excerpt of the book that was billed as "Herbie's Ride". Although it was only the middle part of The City Boy, it was enough to get me to seek the entire novel.

The movie is not really about Herbie nor his friend Cliff. The novel parallels, though not equals, Tom Sawyer in it's intention, perhaps as a prequel to a coming of age tale. The movie spends a great amount of time in the city before camp, thus for me, losing it's great boyhood adventure appeal.

On it's own merit, aside from loving the novel, I give the movie 3 of 5 stars. It's fine. There are enough details taken from the novel to give that sense of familiarity without complete failure.

I am glad Herman Wouk says he never saw the movie. He would have been greatly disappointed in it's approach to the story. I now believe the other reviewers have it correct when they indicate the movie was made for a child star and not for integrity to the book.

. . . 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."