Unassuming but surprisingly enjoyable Americana with an authentic feel for its 1920s small-town setting (encompassing high-school life, teenage romance, musical styles, politics, etc). Fox stalwart King here shows he was as much at home in an intimate environment as an elaborate one; the result is an extremely handsome-looking Technicolor production further blessed by a most appealing young cast. This is led by Jeanne Crain in a star-making role as the titular character (embarrassed by Father's profession or when her undergarments gets unfastened in public places!) but also highlighting Glenn Langan as the dashing French professor (who ends up marrying her!), pretty blonde Barbara Lawrence as her popular best friend/neighbor (a nimble dancer and skater yet jealous of Langan's attentions for Crain) and a debuting Alan Young as the heroine's mild-mannered but devoted poet beau. While there were a few too many songs for my tastes, the warm humor and amiable characterizations eventually won the day; albeit well-loved, the film is oddly unavailable on DVD – so that I had to make do with a TV-sourced French-subtitled copy of variable quality!
Review of Margie
