Take Care of My Little Girl ** (1951, Jeanne Crain, Mitzi Gaynor, Dale Robertson, Jean Peters, Jeffrey Hunter) – Classic Movie Review 11,722

Mitzi Gaynor signed a seven-year contract with 20th Century-Fox at the age of 17 and made her film debut in the musical My Blue Heaven (1950), followed by the college drama Take Care of My Little Girl (1951), with Gaynor playing Adelaide Swanson, the roommate of Liz Erickson (Jeanne Crain).

Director Jean Negulesco’s 1951 Technicolor film Take Care of My Little Girl is based on the 1950 novel by Peggy Goodin, and stars the nice team of Jeanne Crain, Mitzi Gaynor, Dale Robertson, Jean Peters and Jeffrey Hunter.

Liz Erickson (Crain) hates the stupid snobbery of her college sorority and is persuaded by boyfriend Joe Blake (Robertson) to quit. Joe is a college senior and former soldier opposed to sororities and their snobbish cliques.

The atmospheric comedy drama is specialised, marginal entertainment, somewhat overplayed and rather underwhelming.

Nevertheless, it is well meaning and basically thoughtful, though, and there are pleasing early glimpses of faces more familiar later with a few wrinkles.

Mitzi Gaynor stars in Take Care of My Little Girl (1951).

The film was the subject of controversy, as being critical of fraternities and sororities, with many sororities protesting against it and pressurising the studio not to release it, though most of the complaints were dropped because of the publicity they were giving the film. It has been noted that the novel’s objections to sororities’ religious or racial prejudice have been carefully filleted from the screenplay by Julius J Epstein and Philip G Epstein. Their work impressed Fox boss Darryl F Zanuck, who increased the budget to allow additional scenes to be shot. It was well received and enjoyed decent box office, with $1,850,000 in US cinema rentals.

Also in the cast are Betty Lynn, Helen Westcott, Lenka Peterson, Carol Brannon, Natalie Schafer, Beverly Dennis, Kathleen Hughes, Peggy O’Connor, King Donovan, Harry Harvey, Gail Davis, Margia Dean, John Litel, Grandon Rhodes, Irene Martin, Judy Walsh, Mary Thomas, Janet Stewart, Pamela Shard, Jean Romaine, and George Nader.

Jean Peters was cast by Negulesco after impressing him with her sewing.

 © Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,722

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com