Judy Foster (Jane Powell) is a teenager in Santa Barbara, California. Carol Pringle (Elizabeth Taylor) is her Queen Bee. Carol convinces her younger brother Oogie to cancel his dance date with Judy. Judy meets Stephen Andrews (Robert Stack) and falls head over heels. She brings him to the dance and all the other girls come after him. Carol has a scheme to get Judy back together with Oogie while she goes after Stephen herself. Judy's father (Wallace Beery) is taking dance lessons from Rosita Conchellas (Carmen Miranda).
The best scene is Stephen confronting Carol with some truth bombs. There is also a Say Anything moment. Some of this movie feels like snippets of a modern movie but solidly within the 50's morality of white bread America. It does feel a bit jumbled and a bit messy. It's hard to land solidly with Carol but she is a very compelling character. Of course, part of that is the presence of Elizabeth Taylor. She can't help but exude charisma. It all adds up to an interesting teen movie but not really for teens.
The best scene is Stephen confronting Carol with some truth bombs. There is also a Say Anything moment. Some of this movie feels like snippets of a modern movie but solidly within the 50's morality of white bread America. It does feel a bit jumbled and a bit messy. It's hard to land solidly with Carol but she is a very compelling character. Of course, part of that is the presence of Elizabeth Taylor. She can't help but exude charisma. It all adds up to an interesting teen movie but not really for teens.