The Bachelor Father

I'd only seen Marion Davies in "Polly of the Circus" and that wasn't an impressive movie at all. This movie, however, was very impressive. This movie was a Marion Davies production and she should be proud to have her name on it.

An old Englishman by the name of Sir Basil Algernon Winterton (C. Aubrey Smith) was rich, unmarried, and totally content. He was settling in one evening in the company of his doctor, Dr. Frank 'Mac' MacDonald (David Torrence) and his lawyer, John Ashley (Ralph Forbes), when the topic turned to his predilection towards self-indulgence. He glibly mentioned that he had no wife and no family so what else was he to do. When Mac asked about any children Sir Basil braggingly stated that he had three children scattered about the world. "Anybody can do it," he dismissively stated.

When Mac stated that Sir Basil's children wouldn't be able to stand his drinking, temper, and overall behavior he defiantly told John to look up his children to have them all brought to his home, the Rooksfold Manor in Surrey, England. "You are to go to the various corners of the earth, collect my stray offspring, and bring them to their father," Sir Basil ordered. John then set about finding Sir Basil's two daughters and one son.

John was able to collect Geoffrey (Ray Milland), Maria (Nina Quartero), and Antoinette 'Tony' Flagg (Marion Davies) and bring them back to England. What no one knew except Tony's guardian was that she wasn't Sir Basil's daughter, still her aunt Molly (Elizabeth Murray) allowed Tony to go to England in hopes she would have a better life.

The union between the stuffy old Sir Basil and his three offspring was pure comedy led by Tony. She was the de facto ringleader and she was a cut up. "The Bachelor Father" was hilarious. Sir Basil's stuffiness was brilliantly paired with Tony's zaniness, yet it wasn't slapstick silly with breaking things and bafoonish behavior. I'd say Tony's part was perfect. She was just playful and silly enough to contrast against Sir Basil's uptight behavior, yet not so silly where it was plain foolish. I really enjoyed this movie and it reminded me of many movies that came later in which a person willingly or unwillingly enters someone else's life then becomes indispensable. "The Bachelor Father" could be seen as the mold for such movies because it was so expertly done.

Free on Odnoklassniki.

Sir Basil Algernon Winterton has gathered his three grown illegitimate children back to his estate from around the world. They don't really know him if they even have met him before. American showgirl Antoinette 'Tony' Flagg (Marion Davies) doesn't even know what he looks like. She meets the other two, Geoffrey Trent (Ray Milland) and Maria Credaro.

This is a pre-Code film based on a play. All the old mansions are looking the same from this cinematic period. This is missing that modern movie flair. That's why Marion Davies' high energy work makes her stand out. This comedy works best with her.

This delightful, well written film is based on a New York stage play bearing the same title where Sir Aubrey (knighted Sir Charles Aubrey Smith in 1944) originated the role he plays in the film. Here, in 1931, we see him in the early part of his acting renaissance in the very early era of "talkies" and in the character role that he would make his own until his death in 1948 after finishing his last performance in Little Women which released in 1949.

This engaging play is about an elderly British aristocrat who locates his illegitimate children and introduces himself to them, having brought them to his manor in England.

Marion Davies plays his daughter-by-error and it's a tour de force for her. She is all at once endearing, impatient, shallow, enchanting, wise and compassionate while creating an indelible and beguiling character that remains well ensconced in the memory.

The 26 year old Ray Milland appears here in a small but prominent role having already appeared in seven other pictures then only in films for a bit more than two years.

The film should be enjoyed as a representative of 1931 Hollywood factory production of course and as such is not flawless. However, it's a charming pleasure from first scene to the last.

This is one of the better Marion Davies talkies - and one of the few to allow her to exhibit her skill as a physical comedian which was so endearing in her silent films. OK, so she does a clunky tap number, but even Ruby Keeler's dancing from the era does not hold up for younger generations. The problem here is the script. The story falls into unbelievable melodrama in the last reel. It's quite stagey, and is obviously adapted from a play... but not well enough. Still, there is some snappy dialogue and slapstick throughout. Worth a look.

This 1931 comedy gets better with every viewing because of the comedic talents of Marion Davies and a terrific performance by C. Aubrey Smith. Smith plays a gruff old man who gathers his grown children (from his younger days as a rake) in his declining years. One is American (Davies), one English (Ray Milland who looks about 18), and one Italian (Nina Quartero). There are some surprises as the plot moves along with Ralph Forbes(was has no appeal at all) falling for Davies.

Davies and Smith are just wonderful together and very touching. Davies also gets to do a few dances and make a few "big" entrances. And of course Davies is just gorgeous.

Halliwell Hobbes, Doris Lloyd, Elizabeth Murray, Guinn Williams, Edgar Norton, and David Torrence co-star. Had they given out supporting Oscar awards in 1931, Smith might well have been nominated. He's just excellent in this this gem.