FIRST LOVE borrows from Charles Perrault's classic fairy tale Cinderella, which means the audience is able to quickly see where the plot's headed. But with Deanna Durbin playing Cinderella, nobody's gong to complain. In addition to providing a basic romantic storyline, the film features musical numbers that showcase Miss Durbin's vocal skill. More importantly, the script allows her to grow up on camera. She gets her first kiss in this movie, something the studio milked for a lot of publicity when it was originally released. The prince charming who kisses her is 20 year old Robert Stack in his motion picture debut.
The story begins with Durbin's character graduating from an all-girls finishing school. She's an orphaned teen who has no real family of her own. Seeing the other girls' parents at a commencement ceremony causes her to have a meltdown. But with prodding from a crotchety headmistress (Kathleen Howard), she pulls herself together. She agrees to go to New York City for the summer to spend time with her uncle (Eugene Pallette) and his family. The uncle generously paid for her education.
The sequence where she arrives at the uncle's posh mansion presents her as a fish out of water, and also introduces a unique set of supporting characters. Through the servants, we see how household activities are conducted. We learn how the uncle is perceived by employees, and just as interestingly, how the uncle's wife and two bratty kids are viewed.
Durbin does her best to get along with them, but she's seen as a nuisance and hanger-on by her female cousin (Helen Parrish), who's a year older. The older male cousin (Lewis Howard) loafs around and seems to derive a sadistic pleasure from the way his sister treats everyone. Meanwhile auntie (Leatrice Joy) is an airhead into astrology, and there are good running gags with her. But I'd say the most interesting person at the mansion, aside from Durbin, is the uncle. He goes out of his way to avoid his wife and kids, and he hides in the den most of the time.
The love interest isn't introduced until the end of the first act. Stack's character is initially presented as the intended love interest of the female cousin. There is a mix-up at an equestrian club...Durbin is almost run over by a horse, gets mud on her face and makes quite an impression. But both of them are smitten.
In true Cinderella fashion, there's to be a ball held at Stack's home. Durbin's invited as a courtesy, but of course nobody expects she will want to attend. But she does, as it means she will be able to see that handsome lad again. Soon the household staff has helped come up with a beautiful dress, one that looks more exquisite than the cousin's gown. When the cousin sees it, her jealousy takes hold, and she devises a plan to ensure that Durbin stay home and miss the ball.
We know that Deanna Durbin's character will make it to the ball, because what's the point of the film if she doesn't go to the dance and get her first kiss. The household staff are upset by the cousin's schemes and are determined to do something. With everyone else at the ball, Durbin feels quite alone in this huge mansion.
The home's mausoleum-like quality is conveyed with spacious sets constructed on the Universal soundstage. Production designers have gone to great lengths to show how opulent, yet austere the home is. The mansion set is spectacular, and it's easy to see why the film was nominated for an Oscar for best art design. Director Henry Koster uses some elaborate tracking shots with characters going up and down the humongous staircase.
In the next part of the story, Durbin gets to the dance with asssitance from a police escort. This occurs while aunt, uncle and cousin are detained along the road in their car, supposedly driving without proof of ownership. Those three end up going in front of a judge.
Meanwhile Durbin shows up at the ball, makes new friends and sees Stack again. There's a particularly funny scene where an opera singer, the night's entertainment, is being introduced and Durbin thinks they heard she can sing. So she performs an aria, which is beautifully sung, while the temperamental diva storms off.
After the aria, it's clear that everyone's been charmed by Durbin. Stack has definitely fallen for her. This leads to a delightful waltz scene with other couples fading in and out of view...where it's just our young couple dancing alone.
Stack says there are too many people around, and he takes Durbin outside on the balcony for some air. And of course, that's where he kisses her. It's been a perfect evening. Until she realizes what time it is and how she needs to get home. Of course, she loses a slipper on the way out.
At the same time the female cousin has finally arrived. She glimpses Durbin running off and becomes incensed to learn Stack danced with her. She heads to the mansion for a big confrontation.
At the mansion Durbin learns that the undle had arranged for the police escort. He also arranged for his family to be jailed. Though he wishes they hadn't gotten out.
Durbin admits she went to the ball and that she loves Stack. In anger the cousin fires the staff and Durbin leaves the next morning. The whole household has been turned upside down. Astrology-minded auntie blames everything on a bad constellation. But she believes the stars will be back in alignment soon. Of course the stars will not be properly aligned until you-know-who finds the girl who lost her slipper.
The uncle storms into the room where his wife's astrology books and charts are located, and he trashes everything. He's upset his niece left the house and tells his wife to stop obsessing about the stars and get back down to earth, or she'll really be seeing stars! He then gives his spoiled daughter a spanking and kicks his lazy son so hard in the derriere that he flies through a set of French doors. A comeuppance for each one of them.
Meanwhile Durbin's taken a train to her old school to teach music. The headmistress welcomes her back to become a spinster like herself.
In the last sequence, Durbin meets some of the new students. She is asked to sing 'One Fine Day' from a Puccini opera. Of course we know she can't end up an old maid. Cinderella got her prince in the end, and so will she.
During the final scene, while she's singing from Puccini, Stack shows up (with the other slipper). We learn the headmistress arranged for him to find out where Durbin had gone. He comes into the room, and Durbin sees him while finishing the song. She rushes into his arms. They leave together...
The story begins with Durbin's character graduating from an all-girls finishing school. She's an orphaned teen who has no real family of her own. Seeing the other girls' parents at a commencement ceremony causes her to have a meltdown. But with prodding from a crotchety headmistress (Kathleen Howard), she pulls herself together. She agrees to go to New York City for the summer to spend time with her uncle (Eugene Pallette) and his family. The uncle generously paid for her education.
The sequence where she arrives at the uncle's posh mansion presents her as a fish out of water, and also introduces a unique set of supporting characters. Through the servants, we see how household activities are conducted. We learn how the uncle is perceived by employees, and just as interestingly, how the uncle's wife and two bratty kids are viewed.
Durbin does her best to get along with them, but she's seen as a nuisance and hanger-on by her female cousin (Helen Parrish), who's a year older. The older male cousin (Lewis Howard) loafs around and seems to derive a sadistic pleasure from the way his sister treats everyone. Meanwhile auntie (Leatrice Joy) is an airhead into astrology, and there are good running gags with her. But I'd say the most interesting person at the mansion, aside from Durbin, is the uncle. He goes out of his way to avoid his wife and kids, and he hides in the den most of the time.
The love interest isn't introduced until the end of the first act. Stack's character is initially presented as the intended love interest of the female cousin. There is a mix-up at an equestrian club...Durbin is almost run over by a horse, gets mud on her face and makes quite an impression. But both of them are smitten.
In true Cinderella fashion, there's to be a ball held at Stack's home. Durbin's invited as a courtesy, but of course nobody expects she will want to attend. But she does, as it means she will be able to see that handsome lad again. Soon the household staff has helped come up with a beautiful dress, one that looks more exquisite than the cousin's gown. When the cousin sees it, her jealousy takes hold, and she devises a plan to ensure that Durbin stay home and miss the ball.
We know that Deanna Durbin's character will make it to the ball, because what's the point of the film if she doesn't go to the dance and get her first kiss. The household staff are upset by the cousin's schemes and are determined to do something. With everyone else at the ball, Durbin feels quite alone in this huge mansion.
The home's mausoleum-like quality is conveyed with spacious sets constructed on the Universal soundstage. Production designers have gone to great lengths to show how opulent, yet austere the home is. The mansion set is spectacular, and it's easy to see why the film was nominated for an Oscar for best art design. Director Henry Koster uses some elaborate tracking shots with characters going up and down the humongous staircase.
In the next part of the story, Durbin gets to the dance with asssitance from a police escort. This occurs while aunt, uncle and cousin are detained along the road in their car, supposedly driving without proof of ownership. Those three end up going in front of a judge.
Meanwhile Durbin shows up at the ball, makes new friends and sees Stack again. There's a particularly funny scene where an opera singer, the night's entertainment, is being introduced and Durbin thinks they heard she can sing. So she performs an aria, which is beautifully sung, while the temperamental diva storms off.
After the aria, it's clear that everyone's been charmed by Durbin. Stack has definitely fallen for her. This leads to a delightful waltz scene with other couples fading in and out of view...where it's just our young couple dancing alone.
Stack says there are too many people around, and he takes Durbin outside on the balcony for some air. And of course, that's where he kisses her. It's been a perfect evening. Until she realizes what time it is and how she needs to get home. Of course, she loses a slipper on the way out.
At the same time the female cousin has finally arrived. She glimpses Durbin running off and becomes incensed to learn Stack danced with her. She heads to the mansion for a big confrontation.
At the mansion Durbin learns that the undle had arranged for the police escort. He also arranged for his family to be jailed. Though he wishes they hadn't gotten out.
Durbin admits she went to the ball and that she loves Stack. In anger the cousin fires the staff and Durbin leaves the next morning. The whole household has been turned upside down. Astrology-minded auntie blames everything on a bad constellation. But she believes the stars will be back in alignment soon. Of course the stars will not be properly aligned until you-know-who finds the girl who lost her slipper.
The uncle storms into the room where his wife's astrology books and charts are located, and he trashes everything. He's upset his niece left the house and tells his wife to stop obsessing about the stars and get back down to earth, or she'll really be seeing stars! He then gives his spoiled daughter a spanking and kicks his lazy son so hard in the derriere that he flies through a set of French doors. A comeuppance for each one of them.
Meanwhile Durbin's taken a train to her old school to teach music. The headmistress welcomes her back to become a spinster like herself.
In the last sequence, Durbin meets some of the new students. She is asked to sing 'One Fine Day' from a Puccini opera. Of course we know she can't end up an old maid. Cinderella got her prince in the end, and so will she.
During the final scene, while she's singing from Puccini, Stack shows up (with the other slipper). We learn the headmistress arranged for him to find out where Durbin had gone. He comes into the room, and Durbin sees him while finishing the song. She rushes into his arms. They leave together...