In her suburban Massachusetts mansion, extravagant widow Kay Francis (as Mary Colbrook) tries to manage the needs of her four children and a maid, despite having lost the family fortune. After he is unable to buy a $1.50 tie on credit, serious teenager Bobby Jordan (as Reginald "Reggie" Colbrook Jr.) breaks the unhappy news to the family. Piano-practicing sister Bonita Granville (as Gwendolyn "Gwen" Colbrook) is embarrassed when men repossess her instrument. Older daughter Anita Louise (as Muriel Colbrook) won't attend a party with fiancé Maurice Murphy (as Lynn Willard) unless she has a new dress...
Only pre-teen Dickie Moore (as William "Bill" Colbrook) seems unconcerned with material things. He calls Ms. Francis "Sweetheart" and supports his mom unconditionally. Worried about affording college, young Jordan leads the older three children to abandon Francis for exacting aunt Elisabeth Risdon (as Caroline Colbrook). Remaining loyal, young Moore gets a job selling newspapers and asks ailing old Helena Phillips Evans (as Adelaide Crosby) for a loan. Also helpful is banker John Litel (as John C. Rudlin). He has a secret connection to the financially strapped family...
Original playwright Tom Barry's cutting edge comedy about a Depression-era family in financial crisis began its successful run on Broadway a full year before the 1929 Wall Street crash. First filmed under its original title "Courage" (1930), this adaptation is briskly directed by John Farrow. He captures the energy of every first good take. A "stage to screen" approach makes up for the eldest daughter seeming a little too old, and some scattered "Colbrook family" accents...
It's marvelously cast. Francis is perfect as the kooky mom, playing with scene-stealing Moore to a draw. Jordan (the "Dead End Kid") and Granville (aka "Nancy Drew") broadly hit every mark. Veteran Risdon is ideally mean and Ms. Phillips Evans shows what she can do with more screen time. Able-bodied maid Bernice Pilot (as Beulah) drinks for her "rheumatism" and the plot subversively hints Mr. Litel fathered Moore. A surplus of former leading actors in "bit" parts adds to the fun.
******** My Bill (7/7/38) John Farrow ~ Kay Francis, Dickie Moore, Bobby Jordan, Bonita Granville
