FIRST LOVE (1977)

Title: FIRST LOVE

Year of Release: 1977

Director: Joan Darling

Genre: Drama, Romance

Synopsis: College student Elgin Smith falls for fellow student Caroline upon seeing her one day in a restaurant, but the road to first love is paved with many obstacles.

Within a film history context: Movies which revolve around a soccer player protagonist have not been a common presence on American screens before FIRST LOVE in 1977. These pictures, though, appeared sporadically in mainly European films from the 1930s onwards. One of the first was Thorold Dickinson's British THE ARSENAL STADIUM MYSTERY (1939). In this movie, a soccer player is murdered, with his sporting teammates and girlfriend suspected of the crime. With the Russian TSENTR NAPADENIYA [CENTER FORWARD] (1947), directed by Semyon Derevyansky and Igor Zemgano, a soccer player's lives, both personal and professional, are depicted, particularly his relationship with his girlfriend. Kresimir Golik's Croatian film PLAVI 9 [THE BLUE 9] (1950) was about an egotistical soccer player who has a way with the ladies, but pursues a young woman, whose heart belongs to another. With the Italian GLI EROI DELLA DOMENICA [SUNDAY HEROES] (1952), directed by Mario Camerini,  a soccer player indulges in suspect behaviour with his lover that may work against him in the end. Zoltan Fabri's Hungarian drama TWO HALF TIMES IN HELL (1961), was based upon a real-life incident, being a soccer match held between German, and Soviet soldiers during World War II. 

Argentinian THAT FORWARD CENTER DIES AT DAWN (1961), directed by Rene Mugica, centered upon a talented soccer player whose transfer is purchased by a wealthy man, but their partnership ends in tragedy. Lighter in tone was Manuel Munoz and Alberto Mariscal's Mexican LAS CHIVAS RAYADAS (1964). Here, a young man aspires to play for a soccer team, while his siblings have other sporting ambitions. In contrast, intrigue was at the core of Polish film SWIETA WOJNA (1965), directed by Julian Dziedzina. Two soccer fans scheme to kidnap a player from their opposition team to skew the game in this comedy. Comedy was instead on the agenda in Kostas Karagiannis' Greek movie YVES! YVES! (1972). Members of an opposing soccer team scheme to derail a successful soccer player through the attentions of a woman, which works in the short term, but events conspire for the truth to emerge. FIRST LOVE differed from the above movies about soccer players for a number of important reasons.

As with entries such as CENTER FORWARD, THE BLUE 9, SUNDAY HEROES, THAT FORWARD CENTER DIES AT DAWN, LAS CHIVAS, and YVES! YVES!, FIRST LOVE focuses specifically upon a male character who is a soccer player. There is also the depiction of the character's romantic pursuits in addition to his professional life. In comparison to the other entries, though, FIRST LOVE does not an overriding soccer background. Elgin is a college soccer player whose main occupation is his studies, and, secondarily, his job as a waiter in the campus café. The soccer theme takes up a much smaller part of FIRST LOVE, with Elgin's personal life spotlighted instead. There are several scenes where Elgin either plays soccer in a match, or practices on his own, but they are the exception here rather than the rule. It could be said, though, that there is a nice contrast implied between Elgin's personal life, and its uneven manner, with his greater success on the soccer field. Other aspects of FIRST LOVE also differentiate it from others in the genre.

FIEST LOVE lacks the comedy aspects which were present in YVES! YVES!, but concentrates more on the intimate amorous, and sexual life of Elgin. This is the predominant area where FIRST LOVE runs counter to all the other movies, although CENTER FORWARD and THE BLUE 9 do look at the personal lives of their main soccer player in some detail. FIRST LOVE also diverts in the area of plot, which marked pictures such as THE ARSENAL STADIUM MYSTERY, SUNDAY HEROES, and THAT FORWARD CENTER DIED AT DAWN. There is a lack of suspense in FIRST LOVE, instead a leisurely sojourn into Elgin's comings and goings. No red herrings or twists and turns, but a more character-driven view of the life of a soccer player. One of the most measured, direct films revolving around a soccer player, FIRST LOVE distinguishes itself with its down-to-earth presentation and execution.

Overview: Joan Darling has been an actress and director on many television series over the years, with several film acting credits. Miss Darling directed two motion pictures in her career, with THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL (1986) her second movie. A man decides upon a life change by living off the grid, under difficult conditions, but finds his life is anything but idyllic in its new incarnation. With a cast including Brian Dennehy in the lead, and support from Anne Archer as his wife, it has sunk into oblivion. FIRST LOVE, though, was Joan Darling's first picture as a director, and her best-known film.

With FIRST LOVE, Joan Darling made an interesting directorial debut. The tale of an idealistic college student seeking Miss Right, falling deeply in love with a young woman, but finding things are more complicated than first thought, is handled nicely by the director. The movie has a pensive tone, and graceful pace, which provides it with a warmth, and a lyrical feel. The storyline is fluid in its execution, reflecting life itself, with different characters moving in, and out of the narrative with assurance. There is an intimacy about this film, and how it manages to get to the heart of its characters' innermost thoughts and feelings. It views its characters with sympathy, and this allows the audience to judge them as real people, despite their many flaws. For a film that tackles the topic of love, it does not have a mushiness about it, but is more adult in nature than most. There is talk of poetry and literature which is in keeping with the movie's academic setting, and this suits the material. While this is all admirable to witness, the movie does have a number of shortcomings which hamper the overall impact the director has attempted to achieve.

Weaving characters in and out of the specific stories gives a naturalness to the proceedings, but sometimes, there is a wish that deeper knowledge of events would have been beneficial overall. This would have made characters even more three-dimensional than they already are. Caroline is a prime example of this. An interesting, complex character, and pivotal in the life of Elgin, her personal life has been glossed over in FIRST LOVE. There was some mention of her father, and his emotional problems, which seemed to influence her view on life, and men, but this was not explored in enough detail. More attention in the movie has been given to the various love scenes than getting into the mind of Caroline, which is dispiriting. Shelley suffers a similar fate here. She is a truckload of insecurities and neuroses that the movie hints at, but we only partially see these, even though the presentation of these is of a high standard. It seems as if Shelley is more about getting Elgin into bed, when things are much deeper than this. In addition, David and Shelley are not seen together as a couple which would have been a nice contrast to Elgin and Caroline. This would have imbued the movie with more balance, and something to bounce off. Despite these weaknesses, FIRST LOVE is a passable motion picture which deserves to be seen, and notable as a movie by a female director in 1970s Hollywood.

Acting: Five performers in FIRST LOVE are notable for their contributions to the movie. William Katt is perfect as Elgin, the film's lead character. His sheer belief in the material, creating a character who he transforms into a real person onscreen, Mr Katt's presence is the key to why the picture remains watchable despite some lulls. As Caroline, the young woman who captures Elgin's attention, Susan Dey makes what could have been a one-note, overly fey character into someone likable, with a shattering psychological makeup that makes Caroline a complex figure indeed. The needy and lovable Shelley has been given an expert interpretation by Beverly D'Angelo. An actress with a penchant for comedy, this is in evidence here, but with a dramatic backbone, giving Shelley an undertone of sadness. Shelley's other half is in the person of John Heard as David. As with Miss D'Angelo, Mr Heard has a way with comedy, and it is disappointing that they are not used together sufficiently. Another actor with a zany way of doing things is Tom Lacy as college Professor Oxtan. While his character has a small part in the movie, Mr Lacy is remembered for his subtle comic reactions to situations, such as when Elgin fails to serve him his coffee, which is priceless to witness.

Soundtrack: FIRST LOVE has a spare but effective soundtrack which exemplifies the thoughtful tone the movie does so well. Most prominent are Paul Williams' dreamy, ethereal song 'That's Enough for Me' which is played during the train scene with Elgin and Caroline, and Cat Stevens' 'Child For A Day'. The latter is employed both during the opening, and closing credits, something in common with many 1970s pictures, in seeking to display the change of events, and character knowledge, from the movie's beginning, to end.

Mise-en-scene: A number of elements have been successfully fused to create the lush aura which permeates FIRST LOVE. Cinematography by Bobby Byrne bathes the movie in a relaxing glow with his work here. Exteriors in particular are noteworthy, with the soccer field on which Elgin plays, the outside of the college, and the leafy areas where Elgin and Caroline meet all beautifully captured. Costuming by Donfeld is in keeping with the subtle tone of the movie, the cast all dressed in an elegant, low-key manner. The jackets and coats worn by Susan Dey are chic, indicating her high socio-economic standing in a stylish manner. Production design by Robert Luthardt is excellent, giving both a realism, and warmth, to areas such as the cafe where Elgin works, Caroline's family home, and Elgin's dormitory room, to name a few examples.

Notable Acting Performances: William Katt, Susan Dey, Beverly D'Angelo, John Heard. Tom Lacy.

Suitability for young viewers: No. Infrequent coarse language, male nudity, female nudity, adult themes.

Overall Grade: C

Link: IMDB Page