Star Spangled Girl

In a sunlit Los Angeles neighborhood, Tony Roberts plays Andy Hobart, a resourceful but restless editor who fights to keep his two-man radical underground newspaper, the Nitty Gritty, afloat. He resorts to stealing food from the supermarket and lifting laundry from the dry cleaners, all while fending off creditors—especially his landlady, Elizabeth Allen (Mrs. MacKaninee)—and their printer, Mr. Karlson, Art Lewis. To appease his landlady, he agrees to join her on motorcycling, waterskiing, and surfing. He shares a bungalow with Norman Cornell, Todd Susman, a talented but nerdy writer who pens the entire paper.

One day, a perky Southern girl named Amy Cooper, Sandy Duncan, moves into the nearby bungalow. She has come to the big city to train for the Olympics with the country’s best swimming coach. Norman falls instantly in love with her (or, more precisely, with the way she smells) and begins neglecting his writing, giving Andy endless headaches. Norman’s over-the-top efforts to win her affection drive Amy to distraction. When he unintentionally gets her fired from her day job, Andy hires her as a secretary, just to keep Norman content (and writing).

Then something unexpected happens. Despite seeming to despise everything Andy stands for, Amy discovers (to her great disgust) that she is physically attracted to him and even likes the way he smells, which is awkward, since she is scheduled to marry another swimmer in a few weeks. When she asks Andy to kiss her to test the feeling, Norman walks in. Amy decides to return to Florida because Andy isn’t interested in her. Norman quits in a fit of betrayal, but quickly changes his mind and goes back to work, seemingly cured of Amy. Meanwhile, Andy discovers with horror that the smell of Amy permeates the room long after she’s gone. He chases after her and gets her to come back.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:20