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Editorial Reviews
The original film that inspired the remake Victor/Victoria starring Julie Andrews. Jessie Matthews stars as a messenger girl and aspiring entertainer who meets Victor during a storm. Victor catches a cold, so she takes his place on a show - as a boy impersonating a girl, impersonating a boy! First a Girl was adapted from the 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By E. Kinney
Amazon Verified Purchase
This film isn't glitzy, it isn't slick, it isn't even in colour. However, none of that matters. Made in black and white in 1935, this British comedy is funny, and filled with an innocence many of us modern and more jaded filmgoers find refreshing. There aren't any special effects, just special, well acted, characters, and musical numbers to rival the American, Busby Berkley extravaganzas of that era. Though this is the precursor to our modern "Victor/Victoria", homosexuality was a "no no" in 1935. Therefore, we're asked to accept, among other things, the idea that a female impersonator is really a straight man who wants to act in Shakespearean plays. Despite great pains being taken, lest we suspect any of the characters of being gay, the film retains the fun aspect of the later "Victor/Victoria", and, without even trying to lower her voice, we find Jessie Matthews believable as a "boy". This is a film made when movies were new, and life was simpler. "First A Girl" is delightful.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
New RESTORED print of this gem of a 30s musical -the inspiration for "Victor/Victoria"
July 7, 2012
Format:DVD
First off, when reading the reviews for this film here on Amazon please NOTE THE DATE of the review. Amazon has a policy of grouping ALL releases of ALL prints of a film together. I noted that there are reviews from 2008 talking about inferior prints. Not so any longer. Read on...
I was not familiar with the film or Jessie Matthews for that matter until this DVD arrived from VCI. As their title page on all their DVDs (when you start one) "Good movies never go out of style". And that is certainly the case with this one. It was the film that inspired Blake Edwards hit musical film "Victor/Victoria" and the Broadway musical of that name. But this was made in 1935.
It is a true delight and anyone who loves the 1930s musicals directed by Busby Berkeley will want this. No, Berkeley didn't direct it but there are plenty of production numbers and the number "I can Do Anything With You" uses the kind of special effects that Berkeley was famous for and has LOTS of gorgeous female dancers. There is lots of music here with some great numbers by the lead character played by Jessie Matthews as an aspiring entertainer who can't get a job as woman entertainer so she pretends she's a man dressing up as a woman. (Don't worry, you'll understand when you see it.).
Her co-star Sonnie Hale (a male in case you weren't aware) is Matthews' match for performance. The finale with Hale in Matthews' role (again, it will make sense when you see it) is superb.
As I said at beginning, there were comments about previous prints. Well this print was restored to wonderful sharp black and white and there was not a scratch or glitch to be found when I watched it. This is now one of my Top DVDs from VCI.
The 88 minute film has only one bonus feature added. A photo gallery which plays for 1.5 minutes with one of Matthews songs as the soundtrack.
This film is part of the British film company, The Rank Organisation. That VCI is remastering and releasing.
I was smiling for hours after watching this DVD yesterday. You will be too!
I hope you found this review both informative and helpful.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
I was not familiar with the film or Jessie Matthews for that matter until this DVD arrived from VCI. As their title page on all their DVDs (when you start one) "Good movies never go out of style". And that is certainly the case with this one. It was the film that inspired Blake Edwards hit musical film "Victor/Victoria" and the Broadway musical of that name. But this was made in 1935.
It is a true delight and anyone who loves the 1930s musicals directed by Busby Berkeley will want this. No, Berkeley didn't direct it but there are plenty of production numbers and the number "I can Do Anything With You" uses the kind of special effects that Berkeley was famous for and has LOTS of gorgeous female dancers. There is lots of music here with some great numbers by the lead character played by Jessie Matthews as an aspiring entertainer who can't get a job as woman entertainer so she pretends she's a man dressing up as a woman. (Don't worry, you'll understand when you see it.).
Her co-star Sonnie Hale (a male in case you weren't aware) is Matthews' match for performance. The finale with Hale in Matthews' role (again, it will make sense when you see it) is superb.
As I said at beginning, there were comments about previous prints. Well this print was restored to wonderful sharp black and white and there was not a scratch or glitch to be found when I watched it. This is now one of my Top DVDs from VCI.
The 88 minute film has only one bonus feature added. A photo gallery which plays for 1.5 minutes with one of Matthews songs as the soundtrack.
This film is part of the British film company, The Rank Organisation. That VCI is remastering and releasing.
I was smiling for hours after watching this DVD yesterday. You will be too!
I hope you found this review both informative and helpful.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By keith medin
Jessie Matthews brings her talent for musical comedy to this tale of a stuggling young actress who pretends to be a man who dresses as a woman. The plot probably sounds familiar to anyone who's seen Victor/Victoria. This earlier version is campier and just as fun as the Blake Edwards film and is recommeded to all fans of old musicals or Victor/Victoria.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed it
It was enjoyable although it was not as entertaining or as funny as Victor/Victoria. I'll be adding it to my collection of older films.
Published 5 months ago by R. Nowosielski
5.0 out of 5 stars
Adorable and Fabulous Premake of "Victor/Victoria"
This movie is an adorable premake of "Victor/Victoria". The delightful British actress, Jessie Matthews, plays the part of Julie Andrews. If you liked V/V, you'll love this movie. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Elmer Cat
5.0 out of 5 stars
rare treat
This is a rare treat for JESSE MATTHEWS fans. Sound and picture are very good on this entertaining musical film. Her films are very rare and usually poor transfers. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jay Holder
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jessie Matthews is Charming!
During the 1930s, the charming dancer Jessie Matthews was known as the "Queen of the British musical". Read more
Published 10 months ago by Michael B. Druxman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth seeing...
I just saw this on Netflix by chance. Really enjoyed it, not expecting to. Great B & W dance numbers, fun period camp. Well woth checking out.
Published 14 months ago by Composer in LA
4.0 out of 5 stars
Makes for a good comparison to Victor/Victoria
This little British-made gem of a film was one of the last movies to be released exclusively on VHS format. Too bad it wasn't one of the first to be released on DVD. Read more
Published on November 8, 2008 by calvinnme
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Worthy Precursor To "Victor Victoria" (Julie Andrews)
"First A Girl" is a great film, expecially for it's original release date (1933-34), with above average cinematography, good comedy--some of it slapstick, and the star's... Read more
Published on November 2, 2007 by Jeffrey W. Nicholas
