Shantytown (1943) Poster

(1943)

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The German influence shows.
horn-527 November 2005
Many film-making refugees from Nazi Germany found employment at Republic (as writers, associate producers and set/art) during the early-40's, and most of the B-features they worked on at Republic reflect themes and styles not normally associated with Republic's usual-lively B-features. Bordering on plumb depressing at times. Like this one.

Elizabeth "Liz" Gorty (Mary Lee) lives with her mother (Anne Revere) and stepfather (J. Frank Hamilton)in a ramshackle boarding house in "Shantytown" on the "wrong side of the tracks." Bill Allen (John Archer)and his wife Virginia (Marjorie Lord) rent a room from the Gorty's and "Liz", always a tomboy, resolves to become a lady like Virginia, who is expecting a baby. Bill is a fugitive from the law because he was innocently involved in a crime pulled off by the "Ace" Landers (Noel Madison) gang. Landers locates Bill and the latter is forced to drive a get-away car in a bank robbery. The gang is caught but Bill escapes. Meanwhile, Virginia is ill and is attended by kindly old "Doc" Herndon (Harry Davenport.) "Liz" manages to get on an amateur-hour broadcast, sings "On The Corner of Sunshine and Main" and "It Had To Be You", accompanied by Marty Malneck and his Orchestra , and she tosses in a plea for Bill to come home.

No matter what hovel they were hiding in or how hunted they were, film fugitives always have a radio handy and tuned to the Amateur Hour. Bill was no exception.
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5/10
A new star shines brightly, but it dimmed deliberately to move on to another universe.
mark.waltz7 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The sweet Mary Lee is completely forgotten today outside the cult audience that remembers her from a series of Gene Autry musical westerns. In this well meaning but convoluted musical comedy-drama, she's the happy go lucky Miss Fix-It who makes life sunnier for all those around her, but even her lovable nature can't keep trouble from those she strives to help.

Mixing in song with pathos, farce and crime, this well meaning but often perplexing B Republic second feature tries too hard to be everything. John Hamilton and Anne Revere are her strict but loving parents, and Henry Travers the wise Judge Hardy like doctor who rents a room with them. Other boarders include Carl Switzer as the pranksterish teen and Billy Gilbert the malapropism filled cook. But the bulk of Lee's devotion is saved for troubled young couple John Archer and Marjorie Lord who face impending parenthood while Archer becomes involved in criminal activities.

With Lee singing both "I'm Sitting on top of the World" and "When You're Smiling", you may indeed find yourself smiling, if often perplexed by the twists in this plot line of split personalities. Lee's quite refreshing as a teen star, but it was her decision to forgo Hollywood for marriage and motherhood. No teen trauma is perhaps the reason she's not remembered, but finding her in this film makes me want to see more!
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10/10
completely wonderful
recluse226 February 2019
The film grabbed me from the very start and thoroughly entertained me til the very end. Completely cute movie. It'll make you laugh, it'll make you smile. It gives one surprise after the other. Dialog is so snappy. Mary Lee is immensely talented as an actress and singer.
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