Kathy O'

Apart from a sappy opening song, this film took me by surprise. It's charming and well worth your time.

Back in 1956, Patty McCormack starred in "The Bad Seed"...the story of an incredibly evil and dark child who is superficially charming but a demon inside. Well, at the beginning of "Kathy O'" you might think it's "The Bad Seed II", as Patty plays an awful child actress who treats those around her like dirt. It's so bad that the studio has had to switch public relations workers, as she assaulted the last one! So Harry Johnson (Dan Duryea) is NOT thrilled when the case is dropped in his lap. He's also not particularly happy that he has to try to get this hellion child actress to be nice and do an interview for a magazine...done by Harry's ex-wife (Jan Sterling)! What's next? See the film.

For the first half of the film, you could easily think it's the story of a man cheating on his second wife with his first. After all, the ex-Mrs. Johnson seems very interested in Harry and it's obvious she missed the family she never had with him...something Harry now has with wife #2. But this is NOT where the film ends up...nope, it really caught me by surprise where the film went next...and I'll say no more other than I liked where it went AND you might want to have some Kleenex handy if you watch.

Exquisitely well written and acted, I am surprised I never heard of this film before nor that it's not particularly famous. It's a shame, as McCormack is great here...really, really amazing.

When I read a synopsis for "Kathy O'" and learned it was about a bratty child star who keeps adults rushing around to please her, I pictured something screechy and inane. "Kathy O'" is actually a plush little comedy-drama that does nearly the impossible: it illustrates how the pressures of Hollywood can be painful and frustrating even for a child-actor in the midst of her success. Kathy is not a little tyrant, she's tired and anxious and cranky. A publicist (also all of the above!) reintroduces her to family life and normalcy, and she begins to brighten. Movies about personal redemption always tend to work if the build-up is right, and here it's done tastefully and emotionally. By the end, I was enamored of this youngster who blossoms under the right circumstances. Movies about the movies are usually a little coy, but "Kathy O'" is an exception. It understands the movie world and is quite wise (but not ugly) about actors' lives off-screen. It also recognizes everyday life in suburbia for the grind it can be, but also how much more wonderful it is when shared with people you care about. Kathy learns to care, and, in turn, I came to care about her. *** from ****

I realize this was made in the 1950s but so was the Bad Seed. This is just schmaltz. I'm sorry. It was boring and I thought it stunk.

When I watch a movie about a brat, I at least want to see one adult get kicked in the shin.

I saw this movie in a theater in 1958 or 1959 and I never forgot it. Tonight I watched it again on a tape that I recorded from AMC many years ago. Unfortunately, it is a pan and scan version of a CinemaScope picture. Patty McCormack was such a natural actress whom I fell in love with when I was 11 years old. The musical score was beautiful, especially when they played "Where Are You?" in the scenes where Dan Duryea and Jan Sterling were together. If only Universal would release this in a widescreen DVD, I'd be the first to buy it. It is perfect for the whole family and it has a Christmas theme. It's a shame that they don't make clean, entertaining family pictures like this today.

Patty McCormack who zoomed to stardom playing the ultimate of bad girls in The Bad Seed gets a chance at something a whole lot different in Kathy O. This film used to be broadcast a lot during Christmas time and has strangely been unavailable for years.

Kathy O'Rourke played by McCormack is a Hollywood child star all sweet as sugar candy on screen but one holy hellion off screen. Her career is managed by her aunt Betty Jane Croft, McCormack being an orphan. McCormack is quite the meal ticket and Croft controls every aspect of her life.

Dan Duryea plays the studio publicity man and he's assigned to work with his ex-wife Jan Sterling on a feature story. Duryea is now married to Mary Fickett and I have to say they have one civilized relationship as Fickett and Sterling used to be girl roommates back in the day.

McCormack is good, she can turn the charm on and off. But she's a troubled kid and she sees what she's really lacked when she's with Duryea, Fickett, and their two kids Ricky Kelman and Terry Kelman at Christmas time.

McCormack delivers a standout performance. It's also nice to see Dan Duryea in a sympathetic role. Mary Jane Croft best known for being a foil for Lucille Ball has a nice turn herself her as the business minded aunt who will protect her interests at all costs.

Sterling and McCormack have some nice bonding scenes as well. Away from all of her handlers McCormack let's her hair down. Later on her hair comes literally down.

Kathy O' still a nice family film which should resume being broadcast regularly.