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While working night many years ago, I would tape the TV programs so I'd have something to see the next day. I was cleaning out some old tapes and found this one. I watched it again. This is taken from a story by Langston Hughes and the music is by Kurt Weil. The beginning drags as they try to establish the characters. The center is livelier as the plot and characters come together. The ending is again a slow disappointment. I have not read the original story so I don't know if the author really meant it go the way it was played. Maybe he did. Showing life with its slow beginning and difficult learning period. Then mid-life with more excitement and its hard facts of decision making and adjustments. Life ends with a slow unrewarding climax into nothingness. I am not an opera fan and this was suppose to be one. The actors and the singing were good, but I would not pay to see this.

Actually I think I should apologize to Micky Rooney for personally thinking of him as I first encountered him. Andy Hardy. Even with his rolls in Boy's Town, National Velvet and The Human Comedy, I could never take him as a serious actor. Watching his performance as "Bill" was one of the truly outstanding portrayals I ever saw. I now saw Mickey as a consummate artists of his trade. I'm sorry it took me fifty years to really see it. The story of Bill and the Bills' like him is happening all over the world. Just this year, the county I live in closed the County Home. There were two people who were just the type that "Bill" was. Thinking of this story makes be wonder what will become of them. I would like to see the movie replayed again to help folks to be more aware that our communities have this problem. Mickey Rooney played this with such warmth, skill and awareness that I say THANK YOU for your eye opening characterization of Bill.

I suspect that in todays (2003) world, most modernists thinks this movie story line reeks with "Political Incorrectness", however the story set up is funny and the actors follow though with great skill. The choreography in the barn raising scene is the finest example in all the movies I've seen of more than two people dancing. And I've been watching movies since 1938.