In years in which many orphans were being made by the war I'm sure that Lost Angel held a special meaning for 1944 audiences. Although World War II is never mentioned it was the overwhelming event of the time and on everyone's mind as this film was seen in theaters then.
Margaret O'Brien stars and plays an orphan child who was given over to an institution to be raised scientifically without family. At the age of six she can read and converse in several languages, but in every one of them knows there's something missing she should have.
A human interest story where free wheeling reporter James Craig is just mentioning ordinary childhood experiences makes this very smart girl know there's something out there, some experiences she won't have makes her run away to Craig.
Craig is like Nathan Detroit to committed to his carousing lifestyle to settle down with his Adelaide, Marsha Hunt. But O'Brien does a great job in cementing that relationship.
The film really belongs to O'Brien who will melt one of the Gorgon's freshly made stone creations with her performance. There's also a nice one from Keenan Wynn as a gangster from one of Craig's other stories. He and O'Brien play well off each other.
Although the dimension of World War II is not there for today's audience Lost Angel still is fine entertainment.
Margaret O'Brien stars and plays an orphan child who was given over to an institution to be raised scientifically without family. At the age of six she can read and converse in several languages, but in every one of them knows there's something missing she should have.
A human interest story where free wheeling reporter James Craig is just mentioning ordinary childhood experiences makes this very smart girl know there's something out there, some experiences she won't have makes her run away to Craig.
Craig is like Nathan Detroit to committed to his carousing lifestyle to settle down with his Adelaide, Marsha Hunt. But O'Brien does a great job in cementing that relationship.
The film really belongs to O'Brien who will melt one of the Gorgon's freshly made stone creations with her performance. There's also a nice one from Keenan Wynn as a gangster from one of Craig's other stories. He and O'Brien play well off each other.
Although the dimension of World War II is not there for today's audience Lost Angel still is fine entertainment.