Mighty M-G-M had an agreement with Hal Roach Studios in the 1930s to distribute the Roach product. Occasionally, they also made a special deal. This is one such deal, for in this instance, M-G-M not only lent Robert Young to Roach, but actually agreed to pay all production costs. When Roach delivered the finished film to M-G-M, Leo the Lion then actually purchased the resulting movie outright. Certainly by Roach standards, it's a very lavish production with huge sets and a cast list as a long as a freight train. As M-G-M was paying for it, Roach shot the works! It's a pity he didn't spend a bit more money on the script and also replace Sam Taylor as the director. Normally, I would have agreed that Taylor was an excellent choice, as I thoroughly enjoyed The Cat's-Paw (1934) and at least eighteen of the director's previous twenty movies starting with Safety Last (1923). Alas, Taylor couldn't control Robert Young (whose acting as the Gumdrop Kid is way over the top). The screenplay treats both Venable (the Gumdrop Girl) and Frank Craven (the Cravin') far too indulgently too. As a result, the movie is top-heavy with Young and somewhat undependable with Venable. On the other hand, the movie also comes to a complete halt to allow Reginald Denny, Berton Churchill and Forrester Harvey their days in front of the camera too. It's a pity director Sam Taylor was mostly unable to escape from underneath all these over-sized production values and similar relics of goodwill. Harsh film editing may have saved the day! Thanks to Berton Churchill and Reginald Denny the movie still guarantees a few good laughs here and there – but too many gumdrops gum up the works!
Review of Vagabond Lady
