Complete credited cast: | |||
Lauren Bacall | ... | Julie Beck | |
Robert Stack | ... | William 'Bill' Beck | |
Evelyn Rudie | ... | Mehitabel aka Hitty | |
Lorne Greene | ... | Grant Allan | |
Anne Seymour | ... | Miss McMasters | |
Edward Platt | ... | Dr. Jim Miller | |
Joseph Kearns | ... | Mr. Rynicker |
Physicist Bill Beck meets and marries doctor's receptionist Julie. Five happy years later, she develops a heart condition. Afraid of leaving Bill alone by her premature demise, Julie adopts a sirupy, fantasizing orphan, Hitty. It's an uphill battle forging a relationship between the equally self-absorbed physicist and child: will she have time? Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
I just saw this movie for the first time on TCM and I'm an older adult. Why anyone would think this movie would appeal only to teenagers or younger is a little pessimistic to say the least. I love the movie - Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack and adorable little Evelyn Rudie are wonderfully talented. Of course, no one will ever compare with Shirley Temple - that's a given. Even tho there have been many talented young actresses, they threw away the pattern with Shirley. The storyline is - as it's supposed to be - rather melancholy - and for the period of time it was made it's rather marvelous I feel. The outcome of the story - which most of us could have guessed of course - is quite a lesson that teaches just how grief can make someone go off the deep end, dealing with just their own pain, and not considering the feelings and welfare of someone else, especially a child. Who knows, maybe Julie's spirit did come and encourage more searching for Hitty - it's possible.