Take Care of My Little Girl
| Take Care of My Little Girl | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Jean Negulesco |
| Produced by | Julian Blaustein |
| Written by | Peggy Goodin (novel) Julius J. Epstein Philip G. Epstein |
| Starring | Jeanne Crain Dale Robertson Mitzi Gaynor Jean Peters Jeffrey Hunter |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Harry Jackson |
| Editing by | William H. Reynolds |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | July 16, 1952 |
| Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Take Care of My Little Girl is a 1951 drama film directed by Jean Negulesco. The film, shot in Technicolor, is based on the 1950 novel of the same name written by Peggy Goodin.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Liz Erickson (Jeanne Crain) is a young, naive woman who has recently graduated from high school. Along with her best friend Janet Shaw (Beverly Dennis), she leaves her parental home to join the same college - Midwestern University - where her mother was once a legendary alma mater. Liz and Janet dream of being pledged by the elite group of girls who call themselves Tri-U Sorority. Liz thinks that joining a sorority is more important than her education, and is surprised that her fellow roommate Adelaide Swanson (Mitzi Gaynor) is not interested in Tri-U.
During her first weeks in college, Liz has no trouble befriending Tri-U's members, including Dallas Prewitt (Jean Peters), Marge Colby (Betty Lynn), Merry Coombs (Helen Westcott) and Casey Krausse (Carol Brannon). Janet, on the other hand, does not make an impression on the snobbish girls. Neither does shy Ruth Gates (Lenka Peterson), whose mother was a respected Tri-U, but she is - unlike Janet - admitted to the pledge due to her family name. Liz is pledged as well, and feels guilty for seeing her dream come true, while Janet, crushed by the rejection, is leaving the college.
Meanwhile, she meets Joe Blake (Dale Robertson), a senior at college and once a member of the army who is opposed to sororities due to its snobbish cliques. Liz is also pushed by arrogant Dallas to date Chad Carnes (Jeffrey Hunter), the most popular fraternity boy whose reputation as a drunken womanizer is not unnoticed by Liz. She initially does not take a liking in him, but Chad wins over her affection and convinces her to help him cheat at an important exam. Her sorority sisters acclaim her as a hero for her actions, but Joe feels disappointed in her lack of ethics.
Soon after, 'Hell Week' begins, which includes humiliating and taking pranks on the new pledges. On insistence of Dallas, Ruth is released from the pledge, while Liz is assigned to make silly errands. She runs into Joe, and agrees to accompany him to a party. Chad also attends this party, and chastises Liz for ignoring her duties. Joe sticks up for her, and gets into a fist fight with Chad. Realizing that Joe is the one she wants to be with, she rejects Chad and returns to Tri-U.
There, she is disgusted to find out that Ruth has been de-pledged. She goes out to look for her, and finds her wondering on the streets. Liz takes Ruth to the hospital, where she is diagnosed with pneumonia. Ashamed for being part of a clique that has done this to Ruth, Liz heads back to Tri-U to return her pin. The girls feel that she is out of her mind for doing this, but Liz castigates them for their hypocrisy and snobbishness. She leaves with Joe, wondering how her mother will react.
[edit] Cast
- Jeanne Crain as Elizabeth 'Liz' Erickson
- Dale Robertson as Joe Blake
- Mitzi Gaynor as Adelaide Swanson
- Jean Peters as Dallas Prewitt
- Jeffrey Hunter as Chad Carnes
- Betty Lynn as Marge Colby
- Helen Westcott as Merry Coombs
- Lenka Peterson as Ruth Gates
- Carol Brannon as Casey Krausse
- Natalie Schafer as Mother Cookie Clark
- Beverly Dennis as Janet Shaw
- Kathleen Hughes as Jenny Barker
- Peggy O'Connor as June
- Marjorie Crossland as Olive Erickson
- John Litel as John Erickson
[edit] Production
In February 1950, it was announced that Anatole Litvak was set to direct and produce the film.[1] Even before, in January, a press report was released in which it was revealed that either Susan Hayward or Jeanne Crain was set for the leading role.[2] The role was eventually played by Crain.
Jean Negulesco later took over the direction. Darryl F. Zanuck was very enthusiastic about the film, and allowed for the budget to be increased so Negulesco could film additional scenes.[1] Jean Peters was cast in October 1950.[3] She was given the role by Negulesco after impressing him with her sewing.[4]
By late 1950, the film was the subject to much controversy. Along with another film critical of fraternities and sororities, For Men Only (1951)[5], many sororities in the country protested against the film and pressured the studio, 20th Century Fox, not to release it.[1] One reviewer noted that "even before the film was made, het-up sorority sisters blasted it like fruit growers protesting The Grapes of Wrath."[1] Most of the complaints were later dropped due to the publicity it was receiving for the film.[1]
[edit] Reception
The film received generally favorable reviews, although it was discredited by some reviewers for being "too one-sided".[1] In addition, a critic of Newsweek complained that "no hint of the novel's objection to religious or racial prejudice sneaks into the movie."[1]
Crain and Robertson later reprised their roles for a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Notes for Take Care of My Little Girl (1951)". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=92229&category=Notes. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ "In Hollywood" by Erskine Johnson, The Register-Guard, January 29, 1950. p. 9C
- ^ "20th-Fox Casts Jean Peters in 'Take Care'", Los Angeles Times, October 10, 1950. p. A6
- ^ Independent Long Beach - November 30, 1950, Long Beach, California. p.52
- ^ Review Summary The New York Times
[edit] External links
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