I saw "Her First Romance" today, and was impressed by how Margaret O' Brien, at age 16, still could entertain an audience despite her getting a little older. Her Betty Foster was a girl who goes through the things that young teen-age girls go through...dating the guys, competing with other girls for the attention of a guy, and so on. What I found strange was her robbing her father's safe to get her boyfriend's attention. Elinor Donahue, who had co-starred with O'Brien in 1947's "The Unfinished Dance," dyed her brunette hair blonde to play the girl who competes with O'Brien's Foster for Allen Martin, Jr.'s Bobby Evans, the athletic young heartthrob they fight over at their summer camp.
Ann Doran and Arthur Space did a manageable job as Foster's parents. While the film comes during O'Brien's post MGM days, leading to public opinion of her not being as entertaining as she was as an adorable child star, and in spite of her chubby figure at the time the movie was filmed, there was no mistaking that lovely innocent face and sweet demeanor. I felt entertained by "Her First Romance." Hope to see it on video. Also, if you liked O'Brien in "Her First Romance," you'll also like her, at age 21, in 1956's "Glory," a musical about a girl who helps to raise a thoroughbred to championship status. It was O'Brien's last film, to my knowledge, and also a little entertaining.
Ann Doran and Arthur Space did a manageable job as Foster's parents. While the film comes during O'Brien's post MGM days, leading to public opinion of her not being as entertaining as she was as an adorable child star, and in spite of her chubby figure at the time the movie was filmed, there was no mistaking that lovely innocent face and sweet demeanor. I felt entertained by "Her First Romance." Hope to see it on video. Also, if you liked O'Brien in "Her First Romance," you'll also like her, at age 21, in 1956's "Glory," a musical about a girl who helps to raise a thoroughbred to championship status. It was O'Brien's last film, to my knowledge, and also a little entertaining.