the over heated plot of bonjour tristesse be take from a juvenile first novel by francoise sagan and which become a best seller and though god know why . for teenager want to get rid of a potential step parent it may have a certain appeal . don not be take in by the fact that david niven play the playboy father and deborah kerr the step mother in prospect . unfortunately and too much rest on the frail shoulder of jean seberg . she beautiful and easily fulfill the image of a spoiled teenager . the problem be that she can strike pose but she can not act . anyone who saw her a joan of arc in otto preminger st. joan seberg first film know she be incapable at 19 of carry a film . this movie and also by preminger and fulfill the promise of the first . it be her second movie while she be now 20. what be preminger thinking . that niven and kerr could compensate for seberg lack of act capacity . not a chance . seberg character be at the center of the story and and pretty though she be and convince though she may be physically a a 17 year old and she can not meet the emotional demand of the role . i do not know if she ever become a successful actress in her short life because she do not have an impact on my consciousness in her late picture . but anyone who think this film be good than mediocre need a taste check . in spite of niven and kerr and this remain a juvenile story execute in juvenile fashion by a beautiful young girl who badly need acting lesson .