The first of 3 films about the adventures: romantic and otherwise, of a lonely, but lovely, bayou 'river girl', lacking formal education, but wise in the ways of love, despite being starved of romantic love. 25y.o. Established cinema star Debbie Reynolds plays the 17yo Tammy, in this first of the 3 films, while the 10 years-younger Sandra Dee plays her in the subsequent 2 films, which I have just finished seeing. Most people rate this film the best of the 3, perhaps preferring Debbie Reynolds over Sandra Dee as Tammy. However, the 3rd film clearly has the most humor, which is sparse in the present film. I don't fault Sandy for her portrayal of Tammy, although some do. Of course, Debbie and Sandy have different personalities. Debbie's Tammy is more carefree, less put off by outsider's criticism of her 'southern backwoods' lingo, and extreme lack of conventional sophistication, due to her isolation. ..........Having spent the early part of her childhood in west Texas, it was much less of a challenge for Debbie to adopt her moderate version of 'southern backwoods' lingo. On the other hand, Sandy was a New Jersey native. Perhaps that is the main reason for her adopting a more extreme, and often rather unnatural version, of 'river girl' lingo. Thus, some viewers, but not me, find fault with her lingo, which admittedly can sometimes be difficult to understand. Clearly, Sandy had to put a lot of work into creating this florid lingo. Also, clearly, her role as Tammy was her finest acting that I have seen. In contrast to the present film, in which Tammy remains in a rural setting, whether on a river or agricultural estate, Sandy's Tammy spent most of her time in urban environments, whether a college campus, or a big city hospital. Perhaps that is another reason why this film is often cited as the best. Each time, Sandy dumped her boyfriend of the previous film, ready to impress a new one............. I do have some criticisms of this film. Developing boyfriend Pete's family are supposedly the descendants of several generations of southerners, since the 1832 building of the Brentwood Hall mansion. Yet, Pete, his father, his friend Ernie, and his girlfriend, Barbara, and her uncle, haven't the slightest hint of 'southern' accent. Pete's mother and and Aunt Renie may have a slight hint of 'southern' in their speech. Of course, we can detect the Massachusetts origin of Walter Brennan, who plays Debbie's grandfather, in his speech............Also, I found the ending rushed, confusing, and apparently unworkable. After Tammy learns that Pete has decided to take up the offer of Barbara's uncle to go into advertising, rather than remain at Brentwood Hall, she runs back to her shanty houseboat, not wanting to move to the city, where Barbara wants Pete to go. Pete made this decision after a terrible rain and wind storm(probably a hurricane) destroyed the special seed tomatoes he had been growing, with the idea of turning the decadent plantation into a tomato farm, despite the 'worn out' soil. However, Pete goes to see Tammy, apparently with the idea of living with her on her houseboat. Debbie enthusiastically greets him, for an apparent happy ending. However, I can't see sophisticated Pete content spending his life fishing for catfish or, horrors, making moonshine whiskey to support a potential family, as did her grandfather, before he was sent to jail.