First Love

Connie, an orphan just out of boarding school, is sent to live with wealthy relatives. The household ignores her and her cousin openly looks down on her. She slips out to a ball and meets the young man her cousin has designs on. The film is not interested in the fairy tale. It is interested in a girl being treated as an adult for the first time: it uses the Cinderella pattern openly, but the real subject is Deanna Durbin leaving child stardom. The studio made an event of it. The form is studio musical: a wide ballroom set, operatic numbers and a servant ensemble carrying the comedy. This is Durbin's first screen kiss. Universal built the publicity on it, and the man chosen to give it was Robert Stack, making his film debut. The film was nominated for Academy Awards in art direction, music and cinematography. Henry Koster directed; he made most of Durbin's films and was the director keeping the studio afloat with the series. Who it is for: viewers who like thirties studio musicals and Deanna Durbin. Who it is not for: anyone looking for a story. The plot is entirely predictable and the film is chiefly selling a star growing up.