First Love

First Love

Year: 1977

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: Joan Darling

RomanceDrama

The film explores the gap between physical attraction and true love. A talented college soccer player becomes infatuated with a beautiful campus student, only to discover she is secretly involved as the lover of an older, married attorney, forcing him to confront jealousy, desire, and the complexities of clandestine relationships.

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Timeline & Setting – First Love (1977)

Explore the full timeline and setting of First Love (1977). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

College campus, dormitories, cafeteria, Caroline's family estate, childhood playhouse

The story unfolds primarily on a US college campus, moving from dorm rooms to the bustling cafeteria where Elgin works as a busboy. Social spaces like the symphony and later Caroline's family estate provide backdrops for romance and confrontation. Key locations include a childhood playhouse on the estate, hinting at past traumas that influence present relationships.

🎓 College life 🏛️ Estate 🍽️ Cafeteria 🏠 Family home

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:06

Main Characters – First Love (1977)

Meet the key characters of First Love (1977), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Elgin Smith (William Katt)

A college student who falls hard for Caroline, joining her class and working as a busboy to be near her. He is hopeful, then increasingly insecure and jealous, a pattern that leads to impulsive decisions and emotional turmoil. His soccer-playing habit symbolizes a solitary outlet as he grapples with love, loyalty, and disappointment.

💫 Romantic 😟 Insecure ⚽️ Athlete

Caroline Hedges (Susan Dey)

Caroline is the object of Elgin's affection, conflicted by a past and by John’s marriage. She reveals her father's death, maintains complex loyalties, and resists Elgin's advances at times. Her choices drive the drama, balancing independence with vulnerability within a fragile love triangle.

💖 Complex 🧭 Complex relationships 🏛️ Wealth/estate

David Bonner (John Heard)

David is Elgin's friend whose girlfriend arrives during the dorm room confrontation, and who privately engineers the situation with Shelly. He acts as a catalyst for jealousy and conflict, complicating Elgin and Caroline's budding relationship. His actions reveal a casual, sometimes calculating approach to romance.

💬 Catalyst 🎭 Jealousy 🧩 Complication

Shelly (Beverly D'Angelo)

Shelly is the object of David's attention and later a recurring love interest for Elgin. Her motives are enigmatic, as she flits in and out of the dorm, declaring love and leaving mid-encounters. Her presence heightens tension and underscores the fleeting nature of some relationships.

💋 Affair 😮‍💨 Volatile 🗯️ Presence

John March (Robert Loggia)

A married man known to Caroline, whose complicated relationship with his wife and children adds tension to the love triangle. He represents a different kind of commitment and the possibility of choosing responsibility over passion. His actions influence Caroline's choices and Elgin's heartbreak.

👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Complicated marriage 🧭 Influence 🗝️ Power dynamics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:06

Major Themes – First Love (1977)

Explore the central themes of First Love (1977), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Love and Jealousy

A central tension arises from competing attractions, as Elgin falls for Caroline while navigating her relationships with John and David. Jealousy fuels misunderstandings, late nights, and reckless decisions, driving the plot toward heartbreak. The film examines how desire can blur boundaries, leading to possessiveness and pain rather than lasting connection.

🧭 Choice and Consequences

Characters pursue intense longing, but choices carry consequences: Elgin risks work and stability, while Caroline faces complicated loyalties between John and Elgin. The story traces how decisions shape lives, sever friendships, and alter futures, often leaving characters alone with the aftermath of their actions. It contrasts youthful ardor with the weight of responsibility.

🎭 Illusion vs Reality

Romantic fantasies clash with the realities of commitment, marriage, and past traumas. Caroline's guarded past and John’s shaky marriage challenge the idea of a perfect match, forcing Elgin to confront the limits of idealized love. The narrative suggests that affection without honesty can fade, leaving emptiness.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:06

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First Love Summary

Read a complete plot summary of First Love, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

First Love Summary

First Love Timeline

Track the full timeline of First Love with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

First Love Timeline

More About First Love

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