The Kid Sister (1945) User Reviews

Kids Say The Darnedest Things

[boblipton · 5/10 · 29 May 2019]

Judy Clark wrangles with her older sister, disobeys her mother, and gets involved with burglar Frank Jenks and millionaire Roger Pryor in this rote but competently rendered comedy from PRC. Although the pratfalls are not rendered with an grace, they are certainly amusing.

Miss Clark suggests Betty Hutton in looks and behavior, that early icon of the hyperactive teenager, although her delivery of lines seems much more mechanical. Mr. Pryor was pretty near the end of his screen career. He would make five more movies in the same year as this one, then retire, to eventually become an ad executive.

Miss Clark's screen career would continue on for a couple of decades in a desultory manner. She had been born in 1924, would eventually marry twice and die in 2002 -- although not before playing Sophie Tucker in an episode of the BURNS & ALLEN show.

It's by PRC....so it's going to stink, right?!

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 3 October 2015]

Of all the so-called 'poverty row studios' perhaps the worst was tiny little PRC. Most of their films were very cheaply made and very forgettable. So, when I saw that "The Kid Sister" was from PRC, I assumed the worst but gave it a look anyway.

Joan (Judy Clark) is the forgotten daughter in the family. Her mother dotes on Joan's older sister and Joan is tired of being left out. So, when her family is having a party and Joan is told to stay in her room, she sneaks out by disguising herself as a maid. Then, though a series of crazy mistakes, she ends up getting hooked up with a thief, being chased by cops and hiding out in neighbors' homes. What's going to happy with kooky Joan?!

Overall, this is a silly and inconsequential film--sort of like an extended episode of some TV sit-com. Now this isn't to say it's bad...just silly and easy to forget--but it DOESN'T stink at least! I did like the befuddled guy who ends up befriending Joan...otherwise not a lot to make this a must-see--more just a mildly interesting time-passer. A score of 4 is great for a PRC film.

She ain't no beloved brat.

[mark.waltz · 3/10 · 17 April 2019]

It is obvious from the start that sisters Judy Clark and Constance Worth absolutely hate each other. They argue over everything even though they share a bedroom, and while Constance is uppity and pretentious, Judy just obviously loves baitng her into an argument. Because of that, society matron mother Ruth Robinson grounds her, so what does Clark do? Runs off, and invades another party, disguised as a maid and discovering that there is a burglar on the loose. Is it guest Roger Pryor whom she ends up in a game of kick the hat with? Or is it Frank Jenks, who seems like something out of a Damon Runyon story? it only takes an hour to unfold, but if you don't feel like putting your hands through the screen and folding them around Clark's neck, you have probably fallen asleep.

The only truly memorable part of this PRC programmer is the presence of veteran character actress Minerva Urecal who plays the shrieking housekeeper who has a hearing problem. She argues with everybody in her own household, and never stops screeching. Clark and Pryor seem to have no business becoming romantically involved, as he is older and wiser and obviously on to her game, and she is too shrill for any man like that to strike an interest in, outside of striking that is. It is one of those rushed grips that has one or two laughs, but ends up just being so obnoxious that it is a chore to just get through it. considering that Clark's house is close by to where she ends up working as a maid, it is amazing that nobody recognizes her, adding more curiosity to how this script ended up getting filmed.