The Summary for this unviewed film was based on reviews in the 19 Mar 1980 Var and the 28 Mar 1980 NYT. The credits are derived from official Paramount Pictures cast and crew information in AMPAS library files.
       Production notes in AMPAS library files reported that Little Darlings was screenwriter Kimi Peck’s feature film debut. Peck overheard the conversation of a group of thirteen-year-old girls, came up with the story, and wrote the first draft of the screenplay in six weeks. She had previously met producer Stephen J. Friedman and asked for his opinion on her script. Friedman quickly optioned the project, and Peck negotiated a “lucrative deal,” including an associate producer credit. Dalene Young was hired to work on the script with Peck, and the 21 Mar 1979 Var announced Young would receive co-credit for the screenplay.
       Var reported principal photography began 19 Mar 1979, and an article in the Feb 1980 Millimeter noted the film had an eight-week shooting schedule, filmed primarily in GA. Production notes stated that Camp Daniel Morgan in Hard Labor Creek State Park, located in Rutledge, GA, was the site of the fictional “Camp Little Wolf.” Other GA locations included Atlanta, Madison, and Eatonton. Additional interior scenes were filmed on stages in Los Angeles, CA.
       In the Feb 1980 Millimeter article, director Ronald F. Maxwell noted that he was under pressure to deliver a film that would receive a PG-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America’s (MPAA) Classification & Ratings Administration. However, the 19 Dec 1979 Var reported the film received an R-rating.
       The 9 Oct 1979 HR stated that Little Darlings would be released 21 Feb 1980, but the 12 Mar 1980 HR reported the film would open 21 Mar 1980. An item in the 26 Mar 1980 HR announced the film grossed $4,602,468 in its first three days of domestic release, excluding New York. The film opened in the New York area on 28 Mar 1980. The 4 May 1980 Box reported that in the first twenty-four days of domestic release, Little Darlings had a box-office gross of $21,054,303. An article in the 16 Jun 1980 Village Voice listed the film as one of the “hits” of the 1980 releases-to-date.
       Little Darlings marked the feature film debuts of director Ronald F. Maxwell, and actresses Cynthia Nixon, Alexa Kenin, Krista Errickson and Suzanne Hlavacek.