Child Stars: Their Story (2000) (TV)

Directors:

Tony Dow
Melissa Gilbert

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

How young celebrities deal with fame, pressure, and wealth, including interview with Fred Savage, Patty Duke, Jerry Mathers, Danny Bonaduce and Todd Brides. |

Plot Keywords:

Celebrity | Children | Child Star

Cast

Hayley Mills	...	Narrator
Baby Peggy	...	Herself (as Diana Serra Cary)
Jeannie Russell	...	Herself
Angela Cartwright	...	Herself
Veronica Cartwright	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alison Arngrim	...	Herself
Danny Bonaduce	...	Himself
Todd Bridges	...	Himself
Jackie Cooper	...	Himself
Johnny Crawford	...	Himself
Tony Dow	...	Himself
Patty Duke	...	Herself
David Faustino	...	Himself
Kim Fields	...	Herself
Melissa Gilbert	...	Herself
Sara Gilbert	...	Herself
Billy Gray	...	Himself
Lukas Haas	...	Himself
Clint Howard	...	Himself
Jerry Mathers	...	Himself
Bill Mumy	...	Himself
Margaret O'Brien	...	Herself
Paul Petersen	...	Himself
Jon Provost	...	Himself
Fred Savage	...	Himself
Johnny Whitaker	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Child Stars (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Movie Connections:

Features "Diff'rent Strokes" (1978)

A (Pleasant) Journey For Margaret

I had to write and agree with the other message, that Margaret O'Brien seems completely out of place, even with her "own kind;" the other "Child Stars." I contacted of friend of Ms. O'Brien's and he said he had asked her not to do the show, assuming the program would convey a negative theme. Possibly wanting to correct this, Margaret O'Brien did appear, and seems to be more an observer than participant. This program recently aired again and I again was struck by Ms. O'Brien not being able to get a word in, or maybe just not wanting to comment. Once the viewer catches on to this, there is amusement in just watching her face, as everyone else whines out their story and she sits there with a smile on her face...in essence saying, "Get over it." The only real saving grace of this is the fairly extensive footage with Diana Serra Cary, "Baby Peggy," of Silent Films. There are some wonderful (and rare) vintage films clips, and insightful memories from her and her work experience. Although Diana's childhood wasn't "on the Good Ship Lollipop," she expresses her views and memories with a forthright attitude and ends by saying she now understands how the difficulties of her career have made her who she is today; and that she is good "...friends with Baby Peggy." The two major low points are: one of the boy "Child Stars" complaining he didn't get to have a paper route. Please. No, I guess there wasn't time for you to have a paper route since you had a job paying (at least) a four income salary per week. The channel has to be changed when Kim "Tootie" Fields bursts into tears because she had to "reinvent" herself. Newsflash: that is called growing from childhood to adulthood and everyone goes through it, not just "Child Stars." For the most part, these people suffer from what I call the "B and G Complex," that is, "Bitch and Gripe."