Marjorie Morningstar
Marjorie Morningstar is eighteen and very beautiful, an innocent young heart eager to explore the excitement of a career in the theater. She leaves her family and fiance for a season of summer stock at an east coast resort, where she meets and falls in love with a handsome but worldly producer, Noel Airman. Immediately attracted to her, he sweeps Marjorie off her feet and into a once-in-a-lifetime love affair. She follows Noel to Broadway, where he tries unsuccessfully to make the jump to the world of professional theatre. She remains infatuated with his charm and blind to his faults... until he teaches Marjorie her first lesson about theatre and love. Comedy or tragedy, romance or drama - there's always a closing act.
Member Reviews
A 50's kind of movie - Steady
This is a summer love movie gets carried away to the point of obsession. Wood plays, Marjorie, a college student who gets a summer job at a girl’s camp. Her friend Marsha convinces her to steal across the lake to a tourist resort where she meets Noel. Neither Noel, played by Kelly, nor David, played by Martin Balsam, are believable love interests for the beautiful Marjorie. And Wally is what would be referred to today as a nerd.
Still you stay with this one until the end, which is abrupt and not very satisfying. A typical 1950’s melodrama. I found the most interesting was all the recognizable actors in the film. Marty (shortly to be known as Martin) Milner would have appeared in this movie shortly before signing on for his role in the 1960’s Route 66 TV series.An entertaining mess - Crumit
With such a great cast you'd think this movie would be wonderful. Though it falls short, it is very watchable. Natalie Wood, Gene Kelly, Ed Wynn, Claire Trevor--everybody's doing their best to prop up this baggy story about a wannabe actress who falls in love with Noel (Gene Kelly), a cad with more ego than talent. Part of the trouble is the source material--Herman Wouk's bestseller that was relentless in denigrating Marjorie's dreams. (But not the dreams of Noel and his assistant, Wally.) At least Hollywood had the heart to give Marjorie a slightly happier ending.
I loved Carolyn Jones (aka Morticia) as Marjorie's friend. She really livens things up. It's too bad she didn't get more opportunities in major films.
So, it's not a great movie, but it's not a terrible way to spend two hours, either.
Member Reviews
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A 50's kind of movie - Steady
This is a summer love movie gets carried away to the point of obsession. Wood plays, Marjorie, a college student who gets a summer job at a girl’s camp. Her friend Marsha convinces her to steal across the lake to a tourist resort where she meets Noel. Neither ...An entertaining mess - Crumit
With such a great cast you'd think this movie would be wonderful. Though it falls short, it is very watchable. Natalie Wood, Gene Kelly, Ed Wynn, Claire Trevor--everybody's doing their best to prop up this baggy story about a wannabe actress who falls in ...