Private Screenings (TV Series) Child Stars (2006) User Reviews

All Star Night

[Maleejandra · 9/10 · 30 October 2006]

Darryl Hickman, Jane Withers, Margaret O'Brien, and Dick Moore gathered together at the TCM set to discuss with Robert Osbourne their lives as children in film and the way their careers affected their later lives. Each are very different people with immensely diverse experiences and outlooks on their pasts. Hickman was a self-proclaimed character actor who never got to experience the secluded inner workings of the star system. Withers was a sweet and somewhat naive actress whose boisterous personality landed her bratty roles opposite Shirley Temple and other innocents. O'Brien was a dedicated actress whose enthusiasm and sweetness made her a poster-child of the second world war. Moore was an adorable little boy with large dark eyes who captured the hearts of a Depression weary audience.

There are so many subjects touched upon here and the information is so interesting that one wishes this program could go on forever. The four talk about the studio system, actors like Wallace Beery, Gene Tierney, Shirley Temple and each other, stage mothers, schooling, working after stardom, personal memories, current Hollywood, and their opinions on their own careers. Each have distinct personalities. Hickman is boisterous and a bit bitter about his past. Withers is child-like and grateful of her life and career. O'Brien is intelligent and sweet. Moore is precise and thoughtful, often taking breaks to listen to the others speak. Although one might be a bit disappointed that child stars like Mickey Rooney and Shirley Temple were not included, this group makes for an entertaining night with plenty of anecdotes that aren't already in print.

The Very Best In This Seris (So Far)

[Handlinghandel · 8/10 · 1 November 2006]

Robert Osborne regularly interviews stars of the movies Turner Classics shows. Often the have been specials, such as a recent, fine one on Bette Davis, which he does not moderate. This, for me, was the most intriguing of any: All four child performers look and sound great today. Dick (Dickie) Moore seems the least enthusiastic about his days in Hollywood. But he is articulate and has lot of fascinating stories. Darryl Hickman is perhaps the most outspoken. He has a dry, sardonic manner that is appealing. And the scene from "Leave Her To Heaven" illustrating his career is brilliant.

I don't know Jane Withers from her child roles. Of course I have seen her as Josephine the Plumber and I saw her in "Giant." She is bubbly and fun here.

Margaret O'Brien looks beautiful. She and Withers are perhaps slightly less open than the men about the exploitative side of being a child star under the Studio System. On the other hand, maybe they didn't find it to be exploitative.

All four have entertaining stories about their families, their roles, directors they liked and did not like.

This is very insightful, touching, funny, a little sad. But as Yvonne DeCarlo sang in "Follies," and many have followed in her footsteps in that role since: They can all say, "I'm still HERE!"

Darryl Whines, Margaret Shines

[OwMyFeet · 9/10 · 18 July 2009]

If not for the indisputable proof of his appearance in films of the 1930s, who would believe that Darryl Hickman was 75 years old when this interview was recorded? The man barely looks 50! But I can't grieve for Mr. Hickman when he whines about being the only boy among 25 girls at MGM's studio school. My buds and I growing up in the dreary Rust Belt would have committed serious felonies to spend our school days surrounded by movie starlets.

Hickman seemed ready to engage the panel in a tongue-sticking-out contest over perks afforded the more elite child actors in the Golden Days. It had only been gnawing at him for what, 65 years?

Margaret O'Brien, an irresistibly cute, dramatically gifted actress in her heyday, tried to console Mr. Hickman that in spite of any favors she received, she never felt superior to her fellow child actors.

Sidenote on Miss O'Brien: DENNIS HOPPER!?

Speaking of special treatment, Jane Withers' memories of working with the hygienically over-protected Shirley Temple were eye-opening. Let's all be as spunky and able to "get over it" as Miss Withers when we're 80.

I don't know much about Dick Moore, but his approach was mature and his reminiscences all the way back to Cecil B. DeMille were fascinating.

The "Child Stars" interview is now on YouTube in nine parts.

Wonderful

[estabansmythe · 9 October 2006]

Film expert & TCM movie host Robert Osbourne gathered four of the busiest child actors from the 1940s: lovely Margaret O'Brien, bubbly Jane Withers, serious Darryl Hickman (Dwayne's older brother) & the classic kid, Dickie Jones.

Each had dozens and dozens of films (and later TV appearances) to their credit and each continued to appear on-screen past their adolescence and well into adulthood. They saw Hollywood change as the dictatorial-yet-protective and nurturing "star system" died out and the era of independent management was introduced.

This four-some talks about all of it, including who were the good guys and who weren't.

Osbourne did little except introduce a question and then sit back and let the round table begin as classic memory after memory was related. For any film buff this 90-minutes of inviting, involving introspection and reminisces was simply wonderful.

Great

[Michael_Elliott · 17 May 2009]

Private Screenings: Child Stars (2006)

**** (out of 4)

Darryl Hickman (LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN, MEN OF BOYS TOWN), Jane Withers (PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES, GIANT), Margaret O'Brien (MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, LITTLE WOMEN) and Dickie Moore (THE SQUAW MAN, OUT OF THE PAST) are the guests in this episode of Robert Osbornes series that airs on Turner Classic Movies. This is without question the best episode I've seen even though many people might not know the names that I've just written. This is a rather incredible group of interviews and I might go even further by saying it's one of the greatest documents on child actors. All four had different types of careers but they were a part of Hollywood during the Golden Era and hearing their stories was great fun. There's a masterful story told by Moore about his insulting of Cecil B. DeMille on the set of THE SQUAW MAN that the director would remember years later when they'd meet again. There's also some great stories told by Hickman about how mean John M. Stahl and Gene Tierney were on the set of LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN. Other great topics include the pressures of being a child star, dating in Hollywood, the side effects of fame and other stories covering various stars including Elizabeth Taylor. This episode lasts nearly a half hour longer than other entries and this time is greatly spent with so many great stories that you can't help but get some feelings on what it was like for these kids to grow up in another world.