File this one under films you probably never heard of, but once you've seen it, it occupies a nice warm place in your movie library to help remind you of a simpler time and place. The title comes from Mrs. Nora Taylor's (Jessie Busley) romantic dream of having her son return home as a rich man to marry his childhood girlfriend. The happy ever after ending takes some time getting there, but it's fun to see how things work out, especially since it's gangster Chips Maguire (Humphrey Bogart) who helps make it all come true.
The movie gets it's energy from free spirited Sarah Jane Ryan (Ann Sheridan), displaying her usual sassiness and snappy banter - "Why I've been discovered so many times they call me Miss America". Like Tommy Taylor (Jeffrey Lynn), the breaks in life haven't come her way just yet, but there's always tomorrow. That break might become a reality when Maguire, on the run from the law at the Taylor/Ryan boarding house, gets a little bored and comes up with the idea of turning it into a 'Roaring 90's' style night club. Under cover as Graselli, the gangster ingratiates himself with the elderly ladies who operate the home, gradually coming out of his seclusion to become their angel in disguise (a tune by the way coming out of the film).
The boarding house features it's own cast of memorable characters as well. There's The Great Baldini (Felix Bressart) doing magic assisted by Fanto the Wonder Dog, and Zasu Pitts, on the run from imaginary assailants who winds up smoking out Maguire after seeing his picture in a "Perfect Detective" magazine. You'll really sit up and take notice though when on opening night at the boarding house, a group of nine elderly ladies takes the stage and breaks into a spirited song and dance routine.
Hey, remember that great old Warner Brothers cartoon that features Bugs Bunny and a whole bunch of musical numbers? - 'Rosie O'Grady', 'Pretty Baby', 'Oh You Beautiful Doll', 'Ain't We Got Fun', 'Just an Angel in Disguise' and 'When Irish Eyes are Smiling'. This has got to be the film that's being parodied. Even Bogey gets into the act with a few lines from 'Strolling Through the Park One Day'. Now I've got to get my hands on that cartoon again!
Ultimately, Bogart's character is caught dead to rights, and does the honorable, if not realistic thing of giving himself up without any further ado. His earlier plan of fingering Tommy for a gambling murder goes by the wayside, under the spell cast by Sally/Sarah and the boarding house citizens. OK, so it's not an award winner, but there's enough entertainment here to brighten your day and provide an hour and a half of music and fun. Even if you have to force yourself through Salmon's poetry reading.
The movie gets it's energy from free spirited Sarah Jane Ryan (Ann Sheridan), displaying her usual sassiness and snappy banter - "Why I've been discovered so many times they call me Miss America". Like Tommy Taylor (Jeffrey Lynn), the breaks in life haven't come her way just yet, but there's always tomorrow. That break might become a reality when Maguire, on the run from the law at the Taylor/Ryan boarding house, gets a little bored and comes up with the idea of turning it into a 'Roaring 90's' style night club. Under cover as Graselli, the gangster ingratiates himself with the elderly ladies who operate the home, gradually coming out of his seclusion to become their angel in disguise (a tune by the way coming out of the film).
The boarding house features it's own cast of memorable characters as well. There's The Great Baldini (Felix Bressart) doing magic assisted by Fanto the Wonder Dog, and Zasu Pitts, on the run from imaginary assailants who winds up smoking out Maguire after seeing his picture in a "Perfect Detective" magazine. You'll really sit up and take notice though when on opening night at the boarding house, a group of nine elderly ladies takes the stage and breaks into a spirited song and dance routine.
Hey, remember that great old Warner Brothers cartoon that features Bugs Bunny and a whole bunch of musical numbers? - 'Rosie O'Grady', 'Pretty Baby', 'Oh You Beautiful Doll', 'Ain't We Got Fun', 'Just an Angel in Disguise' and 'When Irish Eyes are Smiling'. This has got to be the film that's being parodied. Even Bogey gets into the act with a few lines from 'Strolling Through the Park One Day'. Now I've got to get my hands on that cartoon again!
Ultimately, Bogart's character is caught dead to rights, and does the honorable, if not realistic thing of giving himself up without any further ado. His earlier plan of fingering Tommy for a gambling murder goes by the wayside, under the spell cast by Sally/Sarah and the boarding house citizens. OK, so it's not an award winner, but there's enough entertainment here to brighten your day and provide an hour and a half of music and fun. Even if you have to force yourself through Salmon's poetry reading.