To Find a Man

Darren O'Conner is marvelous as a shy teenage boy who helps Pamela Sue Martin get an abortion. The film is always completely realistic, glamorizing nothing, but never harsh or brutal. Pamela Sue Martin is perfect as the self-absorbed young lady befriended by O'Connor. Tom Ewell is surprisingly effective as the abortionist.

This is a terrific little-known gem that you will think about months after you have seen it.

The two teens, Pamela Sue Martin and Darren O'Conner, are the stars, and they give as realistic a portrayal of two teenagers in a dilemma that many have had to face countless times before them, but they don't know that. Ms. Martin is perfect as the teenage girl who despite her intelligence, never thinks before she acts in matters of love.

As for matters of honor, she knows she using O'Conner because he has a pubescent crush on her, and she's neither milking it for all its worth nor shying away from accepting his misguided but genuine kindness. For O'Conner's part, he really knows Martin's not going to stick with him after he helps her solve his problem, but the dignity with which he handles the entire situation is nothing short of masterful in his own perfectly awkward way. Lloyd Bridges and Phyllis Newman are marvelous as the clueless parents and Tom Ewell is surprisingly effective in a non-humorous role. This one is well worth seeing.

This story of a teenage girl getting pregnant is in itself not very sensational today (more so in the year the movie was made), but it's the acting that makes this film as excellent as it is. Especially Pamela Sue Martin is great. She appeared in soaps and some tv-movies, but never gave a better performance.