Marjorie Morningstar

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

Eighteen year old Marjorie Morgenstern is a proverbial New York Jewish-American princess on the cusp of womanhood. While she has in the back of her mind that she would like to become a stage actress, she is less certain about her personal future. While she has burgeoning sexual feelings for her boyfriend Sandy Lamm, who she is expected to marry eventually in he being a nice Jewish boy, she isn't sure if she truly loves him. Marjorie wants some time away to discover in part if she should accept Sandy's proposal of marriage. In doing so, she meets several wannabe suitors, who will enter, leave and reenter her life over the course of her young adulthood, the one who she believes she is truly in love with being Noel Airman, fourteen years her senior, he the social director of South Wind, a summer resort in the Catskills, when they first meet. Much like Marjorie's chosen life path is against the tradition envisioned by her opinionated mother, Rose Morgenstern, in Rose hoping that acting is just a phase and that Marjorie will settle into a life as housewife and mother, Noel has taken a similarly unconventional life path, bucking an envisioned professional life for one in the arts, he adored as a genius by those at South Winds as he is writing a Broadway musical. What those at South Winds do not see is Noel's time away from South Winds, he who has a tendency not ever to finish what he starts, which may be in part the reason why he never sees himself getting married in his romantic relationships only lasting the short course of his time in any one given place. What may be more egregious in Rose's mind about Noel as a potential husband for Marjorie is the fact that he has turned his back on his Jewish heritage. As Noel contemplates settling into a more conventional life for Marjorie, the question becomes whether what they both see as the love they have for the other can overcome these many obstacles.

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At 18, Marjorie Morgenstern is the proverbial New York Jewish-American princess on the cusp of womanhood. While she has in the back of her mind that she would like to become a stage actress,... Read allAt 18, Marjorie Morgenstern is the proverbial New York Jewish-American princess on the cusp of womanhood. While she has in the back of her mind that she would like to become a stage actress, she is less certain about her personal future. While she has burgeoning sexual feelings f... Read allAt 18, Marjorie Morgenstern is the proverbial New York Jewish-American princess on the cusp of womanhood. While she has in the back of her mind that she would like to become a stage actress, she is less certain about her personal future. While she has burgeoning sexual feelings for her boyfriend Sandy Lamm, a nice Jewish boy whom she is expected to marry eventually, s... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 5 wins & 3 nominations total

Wally Wronkin
(as Marty Milner)

Carolyn Jones

Marsha Zelenko

George Tobias

Maxwell Greech

Martin Balsam

Dr. David Harris

Jesse White

Lou Michaelson

Edd Byrnes

Sandy Lamm
(as Edward Byrnes)

Paul Picerni

Philip Berman

Alan Reed

Puddles Podell

Ruta Lee

Imogene Norman

Ed Wynn

Uncle Samson

Beverly Aadland

Dancer
(uncredited)

Russell Ash

Harry Morgenstern
(uncredited)

Howard Bert

Seth Morgenstern
(uncredited)

Leslie Bradley

Blair
(uncredited)

Director
- Irving Rapper
Writers
- Everett Freeman
- Herman Wouk
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Paul Newman was initially offered the role of Noel Airman that eventually went to Gene Kelly. Danny Kaye was also offered the Airman role, but turned it down as being "too Jewish."

Goofs
At Marsha's wedding, Marjorie extinguishes her cigarette twice.

Quotes
Marjorie Morgenstern: Were you in love with Papa when you married him?
Rose Morgenstern: When I met your father I was in love with Rudolph Valentino.

Crazy credits
There is a credit for the perfume worn by the leading players.

Alternate versions
The Warner Bros. logo and the WarnerColor credit are cut from television and video prints.

Connections
Featured in Legends of World Cinema: Natalie Wood

Soundtracks
A Very Precious Love
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster

User reviews33

Review

Featured review

6/10

Good Adaptation of A Great Novel

Herman Wouk's classic coming of age novel about a young Jewish girl who wants to be an actress is faithfully brought to the screen by director Irving Rapper.Natalie Wood was,without a doubt one of the most beautiful women to ever grace the silver screen,and although her performance here is not nearly as good as the one audiences would be treated to two years later in "Splendor In The Grass",she's just so goshdarned gorgeous that it doesn't matter.A competent supporting cast,with Ed Wynn,and his bullfighting skit at the Mexican fiesta being one of the highlights.And the Passover Seder,with the little kids fidgeting,and the looks on everyone else's faces letting you know that everyone was ready for the food to be brought out hours ago definitely brought back memories.See the movie,and if you've never read the book,try to find a copy.I think I must have read it about 5 times when I was a kid.