Our Very Own (1950)

In the sun-drenched, picture-perfect world of Los Angeles, the Macaulays appear as the quintessential upper-middle-class family. Fred and Lois are the pillars of the household, anchoring their three daughters - high school senior Gail, precocious sixteen-year-old Joan, and the youngest, nine-year-old Penny. As siblings often do, they navigate through the currents of rivalry and love. Penny, the impish instigator, Joan, swathed in envy of her older sister, and Gail, teetering on the cusp of adulthood with her serious boyfriend, Chuck, a television installer. Joan, despite having her own smitten boyfriend Bert, is drawn to Chuck, who is looked upon favourably by Fred and Lois as a potential suitor for Gail. This seemingly typical family dynamic is pierced by a long-held secret, a skeleton tucked away in the family closet - Gail is adopted. The secret is cruelly exposed by Joan in a spasm of jealousy on Gail's eighteenth birthday, just days before her high school graduation, where she is slated to deliver a speech as class vice-president. The revelation sends ripples through Gail's world, altering her relationships with her family, particularly her parents and Joan, and casting a shadow over her bond with Chuck. It also complicates her impending graduation, as she grapples with her wounded psyche. However, amidst the turmoil, Gail embarks on a courageous quest - to meet her biological mother, a stranger not only to her but also to her adoptive parents. With a reluctant blessing from her family, Gail steps into the unknown, in search of her true identity and a deeper understanding of herself.

Our Very Own is a drama movie featuring Ann Blyth and directed by David Miller.

Our Very Own is currently streaming on DIRECTV.