This film is a wonderful example of a through-the-years show business family with all the sentiment and comforting clichés of the genre. The relationship of the main characters played by Frank Morgan and Alice Brady is just complicated enough to ring true. The movie also offers the added treats of Jackie Cooper and the very young and spectacular Mickey Rooney who may have had as much raw talent as anyone who ever grew up in front of a camera. Madge Evans supplies erotic appeal as a doomed dancer and there is a very strange scene with Moe and Curly Howard as two rather frightening clowns in bizarre white make-up. Eddie Quillan plays Rooney grown-up and suggests in one scene that his character might just be gay. This is a pre-coder. Jimmy Durante plays himself and Nelson Eddy sings a forgettable tune. And isn't that Una Merkel winking at Morgan from the audience? If you like movies about show business, this one's for you.
Review of Broadway to Hollywood
