While Shirley Temple may have dominated the mid 1930's at the box office, she isn't representative of real children during the late depression. More realistic and even better actors included her own rival, Jane Withers, Warner Brothers' Sybil Jason, and in this Bing Crosby musical from Columbia, the divine Edith Fellowes. Not as bratty as Withers or as sweet as Jason, she certainly acted rings around Ms. Temple, certainly coming off as much more natural. No tears, no cloying cuteness and no overly sweet smile to take your mind of the depression, she was like someone you'd have seen a few years before in Hal Roach's "Our Gang" series.
Bing is getting out of prison for a crime he didn't commit and goes to visit the orphaned young girl (Fellowes) and her grandfather (Donald Meek) to help them out after agreeing to assist them from the man who killed her father. Fellowes is hiding out from the most notorious of all 1930's kiddie nightmares: the truant officer. Here, that official isn't the beak-nosed Clarence Wilson of the "Our Gang" series, but a beautiful young lady (Madge Evans) who only has the child's best interest at heart. Meek and Fellowes fall instantly under Crosby's spell, especially after he introduces them to the haunting title song. They open a restaurant and nightclub specializing in chicken dinners with a haunted house theme, hoping this will prevent Evans from taking poor Edith away. But in true depression fashion, the government wins, and Crosby does all he can to win her back-this time legally and for good.
A pleasing musical comedy, this is aided by the appearance of Louis Armstrong and his band who perform in the very funny haunted house dining sequence where all sorts of funny gags are leashed on the unsuspecting customers. It is all in good taste, that is with the exception of the revelation that black Armstrong is a chicken thief, quite a stereotype of this era. While this does sound a bit like one of Shirley Temple's 20th Century Fox films, it is actually a bit more adult and certainly not as sentimental. Meek will touch your heart as the milquetoast grandpa, and a very funny parade sequence (involving Fellowes hiding out inside a drum!) is another highlight.
Bing is getting out of prison for a crime he didn't commit and goes to visit the orphaned young girl (Fellowes) and her grandfather (Donald Meek) to help them out after agreeing to assist them from the man who killed her father. Fellowes is hiding out from the most notorious of all 1930's kiddie nightmares: the truant officer. Here, that official isn't the beak-nosed Clarence Wilson of the "Our Gang" series, but a beautiful young lady (Madge Evans) who only has the child's best interest at heart. Meek and Fellowes fall instantly under Crosby's spell, especially after he introduces them to the haunting title song. They open a restaurant and nightclub specializing in chicken dinners with a haunted house theme, hoping this will prevent Evans from taking poor Edith away. But in true depression fashion, the government wins, and Crosby does all he can to win her back-this time legally and for good.
A pleasing musical comedy, this is aided by the appearance of Louis Armstrong and his band who perform in the very funny haunted house dining sequence where all sorts of funny gags are leashed on the unsuspecting customers. It is all in good taste, that is with the exception of the revelation that black Armstrong is a chicken thief, quite a stereotype of this era. While this does sound a bit like one of Shirley Temple's 20th Century Fox films, it is actually a bit more adult and certainly not as sentimental. Meek will touch your heart as the milquetoast grandpa, and a very funny parade sequence (involving Fellowes hiding out inside a drum!) is another highlight.