Sunday, July 28, 2013

Movie review - "Kiss and Tell" (1945) **1/2

Shirley Temple enjoyed some success in the mid 1940s playing a series of lively, boy-crazy teenagers, often in support of adult stars (eg Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer, I'll Be Seeing You). Audiences seemed to enjoy her less when she was the actual star, but this was popular enough to lead to a sequel. I think this was in part due to the fact it was based on a popular Broadway hit, Kiss and Tell - which in turn was part of a highly popular genre: I guess you'd call it small-town-girls-and-GIs-rom-com, funny tales set in small towns where GIs on leave have romantic misunderstandings with teenage girls while flustered parents and jealous rivals interfere and everyone worries about sex and getting married (Dear Ruth was another one).

The plot has Temple and best friend Virginia Welles selling kisses and being romanced; Temple's brother Scott Elliot loves Welles and they get married in secret; Temple chases after another soldier despite being loved by the boy next door.

It's amiable enough with some funny lines, expert playing by Robert Benchley and Temple well cast. My main gripe was the parents were really annoying and pompous, worried about their kids' purity. It really got on my nerves and they became unpleasant to be around.

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