Margaret O'Brien is a welcome addition to many films...where she has a role as a child...usually in a supporting role. She was so sweet. Too sweet, in my view to be the star of a film. A little Margaret O'Brien goes a very long ways, and diabetics could go into a coma from all the sweetness in this film. Some of our posters said this is a great "feel good" film. Much of it made me nauseous.
That's not to say they aren't some things to like here. Jimmy Durante has a good supporting role here. I like to sometimes watch old variety shows on You Tube, and there was just something about Jimmy Durante. Don't ask me what, because it would seem that he had everything going against him in terms of being popular. And yet, American had a love affair with Jimmy Durante, and his odd charm is very visible here.
And then there's June Allyson. This film was, for her, a supporting role, and was filmed not long before her rise to real stardom. It's difficult not to like June Allyson.
The film is also notable because of the presence of conductor Jose Iturbi. And there's some great music here, including "Clair de Lune". It also nice to see Hugh Herbert in one of his odd roles. And Marie Wilson is here...who some may remember from her two films that brought Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis to the big screen -- "My Friend Irma" and "My Friend Irma Goes West".
However, the biggest problem here is really a rather dumb plot. Nevertheless, this film was a big money-maker for MGM. For me, however, I'd never want to watch it a second time.
That's not to say they aren't some things to like here. Jimmy Durante has a good supporting role here. I like to sometimes watch old variety shows on You Tube, and there was just something about Jimmy Durante. Don't ask me what, because it would seem that he had everything going against him in terms of being popular. And yet, American had a love affair with Jimmy Durante, and his odd charm is very visible here.
And then there's June Allyson. This film was, for her, a supporting role, and was filmed not long before her rise to real stardom. It's difficult not to like June Allyson.
The film is also notable because of the presence of conductor Jose Iturbi. And there's some great music here, including "Clair de Lune". It also nice to see Hugh Herbert in one of his odd roles. And Marie Wilson is here...who some may remember from her two films that brought Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis to the big screen -- "My Friend Irma" and "My Friend Irma Goes West".
However, the biggest problem here is really a rather dumb plot. Nevertheless, this film was a big money-maker for MGM. For me, however, I'd never want to watch it a second time.