My first thought in viewing this quite adult film of the real victims of divorce was - how could this film have been made in the 1940s??? But RKO was an unusual studio - it was a big studio rather than a major one and could afford to take chances - which it often did with film noir etc.
Sharyn Moffatt was an exceptional little actress, who, I think, won an award (not an Oscar) for her portrayal of the vulnerable "Bobby".
Apart from Una O'Connor, who played the maid, Regis Toomey was the only "name" adult star. He plays Ray Carter, who is away for weeks at a time on business. Joan, his wife, is bored and has found some- one else. Bobby, their daughter, sees them together in the park, is teased by her school friends and so her torment begins. Her parents get divorced and after a traumatic court appearance where she is badgered by both sides, Bobby finds she is to stay with her mother part of the year and her father for holidays. Staying with her mother, she finds it difficult to adjust to her stepfather (who is portrayed, not as a villain but as a nice guy). She eagerly goes home to her father (to whom she has always felt closer) only to find he is about to remarry.
Sharyn Moffatt has a wonderfully expressive face and does an exceptional job as Bobby, who comes close to a break down because of family pressures.
The ending is very confronting and not the happy ending that a major studio would have insisted upon. Bobby goes to boarding school and her room-mate Peggy ( an exquisite Ann Carter in a too brief role) "puts her wise". "first your parents will come every week - then their visits will get fewer and then they just don't come".
Peggy is used to being disappointed and "just deals with it" - Bobby is still hopeful about the future. The film ends as the two young girls discuss what they want out of life. The ending is very hard hitting and will take you by surprise.
Sharyn Moffatt was an exceptional little actress, who, I think, won an award (not an Oscar) for her portrayal of the vulnerable "Bobby".
Apart from Una O'Connor, who played the maid, Regis Toomey was the only "name" adult star. He plays Ray Carter, who is away for weeks at a time on business. Joan, his wife, is bored and has found some- one else. Bobby, their daughter, sees them together in the park, is teased by her school friends and so her torment begins. Her parents get divorced and after a traumatic court appearance where she is badgered by both sides, Bobby finds she is to stay with her mother part of the year and her father for holidays. Staying with her mother, she finds it difficult to adjust to her stepfather (who is portrayed, not as a villain but as a nice guy). She eagerly goes home to her father (to whom she has always felt closer) only to find he is about to remarry.
Sharyn Moffatt has a wonderfully expressive face and does an exceptional job as Bobby, who comes close to a break down because of family pressures.
The ending is very confronting and not the happy ending that a major studio would have insisted upon. Bobby goes to boarding school and her room-mate Peggy ( an exquisite Ann Carter in a too brief role) "puts her wise". "first your parents will come every week - then their visits will get fewer and then they just don't come".
Peggy is used to being disappointed and "just deals with it" - Bobby is still hopeful about the future. The film ends as the two young girls discuss what they want out of life. The ending is very hard hitting and will take you by surprise.