What if it's love? In the amusement park, a guy named Jim and a girl named Katie accidentally meet. There is mutual sympathy between them, and young people start dating. They are happy together and enjoy each other’s company. Suddenly, Katie discovers she is expecting a baby. Lovers cannot get married because they are too young, live with their parents and go to school. But the problem with pregnancy must somehow be solved, and Jim, in order to get the money for an abortion, is ready to commit a crime.
This is the plot of the melodrama Too Early for Love, which by modern standards can seem banal and predictable. But it's not that simple. One has only to look at the year the film was released, when the Hayes code was still in force, prohibiting the depiction of extramarital relationships and sexual violence. At that time, this teenage melodrama was quite bold and candid, but its overly moralistic nature most likely prevented success at the box office. Interestingly, almost at the same time in the USSR was filmed a film by Julia Raizman with a very similar plot, the title of which is in the title of the review. Apparently, at that critical time, some ideas were just floating in the air.
The film deserves attention not only because of the plot, but also because of its creators. First, the film became the directorial debut of Richard Rush, who subsequently directed such cult films as The Tracker and The Color of the Night. Secondly, one of the first roles in the movie was played by Jack Nicholson, who at that time was a young and little-known actor. He plays a guy named Buddy who tries to rape Katie. The film is recommended for viewing by fans of Nicholson and fans of old movies.
6 out of 10