Junior Miss

This is a movie I remember from those days back in the late 50's when I was a teenager myself, staying up late to watch it on TV. It was a delightful period piece and, I think, nearly on a par with "The Bachelor and Bobby-Soxer". It is not as lively as Bobby-Soxer, but the sympathetic treatment of what it meant to be a teen girl back in 1945 New York City is charming. It doesn't contain an A-List cast like Bobby-Soxer either but those wonderful second string character players really shine. Peggy Ann Garner is excellent but Mona Freeman and Barbara Whiting, as the wise-cracking sister and her best friend(respectively), steal the picture, in my opinion. But then Mona Freeman steals the picture in "Dear Ruth" too. A sadly underrated actress. I see "Junior Miss" is not available on either VHS or DVD and I have not seen it broadcast on TV in many years. It would be a shame if this was a "lost" film.

Utterly charming lightweight comedy about two teenage girls coming of age in 1940's Manhattan. Director Seaton and the writers add a number of expert touches that lift the 90- minutes above the ordinary. I love the way the luckless teenage suitors keep shuffling in and out of the apartment as the girls' grouchy dad (Joslyn) gives them the better-be-home-by-ten evil eye. And was there ever a more beguiling early teen than Garner (Judy). What I like most is her utter lack of affect. She's a natural, not particularly pretty, but with a winning personality.

Here Judy has a bouncy neighbor Fluffy (Whiting) to conspire with. Their project is to get recovering alcoholic Uncle Willis (Dunne) together with the lovely Ellen (Marlowe) in order to save what they believe is Judy's parent's marriage. Naturally, complications arise, particularly when it looks like Dad will lose his good job because of the girls' shenanigans.

The movie's adapted from a stage play, which is apparent since nearly all the action occurs in the Manhattan apartment. But notice how things never drag as Seaton keeps moving people in and out with lots of sassy dialog, particularly between Judy and older sister Lois (Freeman). Also, catch a very young Mel Torme as one of the obnoxious suitors in an early walk-on. Hard to believe teens were ever like this, but then it is a movie, and though dated, is still quite entertaining, thanks mainly to the wonderful Miss Garner. In my little book, it's an unexpected sleeper.

I saw this movie as a pre-teenager living in New York, so I really identified with the main character played by Peggy Ann Garner. The location shots at the ice-skating rink at Rockefeller Center and Central Park in the winter (when Judy and Fuffy are sitting on a park bench eating cookies in their winter coats) are charming indeed. The story will keep movie fans interested. There is romance, generation gaps, family situations all centered around a couple of teen-age pals living in the same apartment building with a big sister thrown in for fun. Every time I see this movie, I am back in 1945 as a ten year old seeing this movie during the summer with my father.

Junior Miss paints such a vivid picture of life for a middle-class family living in New York City in the mid-1940s, yet its subject matter is easy to relate to even now. The storyline revolves mostly around two young teenage girls who are "bosom friends", and who are constantly getting themselves and others into trouble and mostly just behaving like typical 13-year-olds. As entertaining as they are together, much of the humor is supplied by Judy's long-suffering father and his priceless reactions to his daughters and their friends. The sarcasm is great! This is a great film to watch around Christmas and New Year's Eve, as the storyline is based around that time of year. I have been pestering TCM for years show this movie but, so far, to no avail. As my old Beta copy (taped long ago on AMC) is rapidly dying, I can only hope that someday TCM will honor my request.

It didn't take long for "Junior Miss" to hook me in. The dialogue in this light family comedy is unusually lively and laugh-worthy, likely owing to its origins as a play adapted from Sally Benson's autobiographical short stories. Peggy Ann Garner is perfect as wannabe matchmaker Judy. She's a very natural actress for her age: although precocious, she knows knows when to keep it low-key and is never overly spunky in that grating kid actor way.

The movie's best bits are Judy's scenes with her best friend Fuffy Adams, played by Barbara Whiting. Fuffy is a total hoot, reeling off endless movie references and snappy lines while scheming with Judy. Although Fuffy fits the "homely best friend" stock character typically played by someone like Nancy Walker, the movie never mocks or derides her. Fuffy just gets to be Fuffy!

Set during Christmas and New Year's, there's plenty of fun seasonal content, making this a nice addition to any Old Hollywood Christmas playlist. It's puzzling that this this forgotten gem has managed to avoid finding an audience for so long!