Well, there goes my theory that I could watch Cary Grant in anything, because, mark my words, this is a real stinker. They say never act with kids or pets and yet here he commits two crimes for the price of one in a totally sappy, ludicrously plotted and wholly uninvolving would-be fantasy feature.
Grant plays Jerry Flynn, a one-time big-shot theatre owner and impresario who's hit the skids after a run of flop shows. So, how to turn his fortunes around and chase the wolves from his door? - that's easy! You happen upon a street urchin who keeps a caterpillar in a shoebox and can make it dance by playing "Yes Sir That's My Baby" on his harmonica and before you can say Jiminy Cricket, he's tricked the kid into a partnership and sold the rights to his insect to Walt Disney, who actually makes an appearance, for big bucks. This naturally brings him into conflict with the kid and his protective old-enough-to-be-his-mother big sister, played by Janet Blair as well as his own sidekick "The Moak" (no, I don't know why either), played by James Gleason.
Rather like Curly the caterpillar, at least until the predictable ending, this one just doesn't fly at all reaching an absolute nadir when Cary actually smacks the kid across the face in a fit of pique.
Sorry, but even Cary can't carry this dead weight, it pains me to say.
Grant plays Jerry Flynn, a one-time big-shot theatre owner and impresario who's hit the skids after a run of flop shows. So, how to turn his fortunes around and chase the wolves from his door? - that's easy! You happen upon a street urchin who keeps a caterpillar in a shoebox and can make it dance by playing "Yes Sir That's My Baby" on his harmonica and before you can say Jiminy Cricket, he's tricked the kid into a partnership and sold the rights to his insect to Walt Disney, who actually makes an appearance, for big bucks. This naturally brings him into conflict with the kid and his protective old-enough-to-be-his-mother big sister, played by Janet Blair as well as his own sidekick "The Moak" (no, I don't know why either), played by James Gleason.
Rather like Curly the caterpillar, at least until the predictable ending, this one just doesn't fly at all reaching an absolute nadir when Cary actually smacks the kid across the face in a fit of pique.
Sorry, but even Cary can't carry this dead weight, it pains me to say.