Who's the parent, and who's the child here? You wonder that behind the scenes as well as the stories of how Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper have been documented, as well as Beery and other child stars. Knowing that makes certain scenes unintentionally funny such as father and son sleeping together with Beery's backside practically in clCooper's face. The chemistry between the two is undeniable onscreen though even if Beery wasn't exactly cheery to his much younger co-lead.
Those familiar with only the 1979 remake will spot the differences and the similarities, although in the original, Beery is much drunker a character than Jon Voight. Cooper isn't as teary as Ricky Schroeder but when those scenes happen, it's rather cloying and forced, definitely manipulative. But the MGM opulence is present, and the direction of King Vidor outstanding. Beery is larger than life, and the story calculating for some rather convenient twists, the biggest of which is the arrival of ex-wife and Cooper's mother, Irene Rich, at the racetrack.
Historically speaking, it's easy to see why this was such a hit during the darkest years of the depression, and it's hard to hate without a feeling of guilt. But to think that Beery winning custody of Cooper doesn't feel realistic no matter what the circumstances of the divorce were. Slightly annoying stutterer Roscoe Ates gives his typically brash sidekick performance, getting a few giggles, mainly by accident. The mixture of humor, teary eyed pathos and sports drama mix well so the film never drags, except in more waterworks scenes.
Those familiar with only the 1979 remake will spot the differences and the similarities, although in the original, Beery is much drunker a character than Jon Voight. Cooper isn't as teary as Ricky Schroeder but when those scenes happen, it's rather cloying and forced, definitely manipulative. But the MGM opulence is present, and the direction of King Vidor outstanding. Beery is larger than life, and the story calculating for some rather convenient twists, the biggest of which is the arrival of ex-wife and Cooper's mother, Irene Rich, at the racetrack.
Historically speaking, it's easy to see why this was such a hit during the darkest years of the depression, and it's hard to hate without a feeling of guilt. But to think that Beery winning custody of Cooper doesn't feel realistic no matter what the circumstances of the divorce were. Slightly annoying stutterer Roscoe Ates gives his typically brash sidekick performance, getting a few giggles, mainly by accident. The mixture of humor, teary eyed pathos and sports drama mix well so the film never drags, except in more waterworks scenes.