Little Darlings (1980)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Ronald F. Maxwell

Writers:

Kimi Peck (screenplay) and
Dalene Young (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 May 1980 (Brazil)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Don't let the title fool you.

Plot:

Two 15-year old girls from different sides of the tracks compete to see who will be first to lose their virginity while at camp. |

Plot Keywords:

Virginity | Camp | Virgin | Swimming Lesson | Canoe

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tatum O'Neal	...	Ferris
Kristy McNichol	...	Angel
Armand Assante	...	Gary
Matt Dillon	...	Randy
Margaret Blye	...	Ms. Bright (as Maggie Blye)
Nicolas Coster	...	Mr. Whitney
Krista Errickson	...	Cinder
Alexa Kenin	...	Dana
Abby Bluestone	...	Chubby
Cynthia Nixon	...	Sunshine
Simone Schachter	...	Carrots
Jenn Thompson	...	Penelope
Troas Hayes	...	Diane
Mary Betten	...	Miss Nichols
Marianne Gordon	...	Mrs. Whitney

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 (video re-rating) | UK:AA (original rating) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Norway:16 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Stephen Friedman/Kings Road Productions

Trivia:

Tatum O'Neal had a tendency to forget her lines during shooting.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the sequence on the tire-swings with Ferris, Angel's hair is being blown about by the wind coming from her right. But in the tight close-ups, her feathered hair is not only perfectly in place and very still, but much flufflier than in the long shot.

Quotes:

Dana: [to Angel on losing her virginity] And don't worry. It's not THAT bad. If it was, everyone wouldn't be doing it.

Movie Connections:

References "Sanford and Son" (1972)

Soundtrack:

One Way Or Another

McNichol delivers great performance

This is the popular film and now cult classic from 1980 and yes, this is the first time I have viewed it! The story is a familiar one, two girls from opposite side of the tracks are involved in a bet while at summer camp and they wager who loses their virginity first. Kristy McNichol is Angel, a girl raised by her mother in a bad neighborhood who is very tough. You can tell she's tough because she chews gum and when she smokes she blows smoke in your face! Tatum O'Neal is Ferris, a rich girl who's father is divorcing her mother. At the camp the other girls all say they have lost their virginity but Ferris and Angel admit they have not. The girls get their money together and make them agree to the bet. Ferris has eyes on an older camp counselor named Gary (Armand Assante) while Angel meets Randy (Matt Dillon) one of the boys from the boys camp across the lake. The film starts out with the usual bitchy banter from the girls and of course there's a food fight in the dining area. The film is not well made but the acting by McNichol is just top notch. Film has that low budget look about it and its not shot with any creative camera angles. But one thing that the film does well is keep the camera on McNichols face, when you think that the shot is going to change angles it does not. The camera lingers on her and it allows McNichol to vary her expressions during some scenes that require a lot from her. Film also does a good job of having this familiar material be from the perspective of a young girl instead of a young man. This is not a great film, most of the characters are badly written and just cardboard characters but when its time for McNichol to lose her virginity then the film becomes a compelling study of a young girl trying to cope with her first time. Its a very mature performance and one that most actress's of her age would not have handled this impressively. McNichol could vary her emotions at the drop of a hat, one moment she has tears in her eyes and in the next instant she gives you that smile that changes the complexities of the whole scene. You can make a case that its one of the best performances of the 80's. She's that terrific! Its also fun to watch a young Krista Errickson (The First Time) and a very young Cynthia Nixon (Sex in the City). I'm at odds with myself, I don't think its a great film but its one that I just can't stop thinking about. Not hard to figure out why. Thanks Kristy!