The Seven Little Foys

'I love him when he's angry...and he's angry all the time'--Mrs. Foy in "The Seven Little Foys" I had a hard time with this movie. And, as I read through the reviews, I was actually rather surprised that more reviewers weren't appalled by the leading character. Kentrasmussen noticed this but most of the rest of the reviews never really get to the problem I had with the film--that the main character seemed about as unlikable as possible. It's a shame, as there are things to like about the film--but without a lead who is likable, there really isn't much reason to see this one.

The film purports to being the story of Eddie Foy and his children--who, collectively, were known as 'Eddie Foy and His Seven Little Foys' on stage. How close Bob Hope's portrayal of Foy's personality is the real Foy, I have no idea. But, as I said above, if this is the real Foy, he wasn't a particularly nice or likable guy. No,...he's a jerk.

When the film begins, Foy's been on the vaudeville circuit for some time. What the film never mentions is that he had already been married and this wife died. And, for a decade, he apparently had a common law relationship with another woman who also died. The film instead picks up much later--just before his second marriage. At this time, Foy is a self-absorbed guy who met his future wife but has zero interest in marrying her. He only does so later in order to get to go to Broadway--a very strange reason to marry someone. Over the course of the next 20-odd years (it seemed like far less in the movie), Foy leaves his ever-pregnant wife at home while he travels the country performing on stage and becoming famous. According to the movie, he is almost never home and is, at best, a very distant father. Despite saying several times in the film that he doesn't like or want kids, the couple has seven kids. However, the wife dies and Foy decides to incorporate the kids into his act--otherwise he's either stuck at home with them (God forbid) or will be forced to give them to someone else. During this time on the road with his kids, he continues to be rather distant from his kids. Eventually there is a schmaltzy ending which seems to come out of no where--as he had been thoroughly horrible as a father.

The plot sucked. I'll be honest. However, Bob Hope surprised me in this one. While I didn't care for his comedy (Foy was a dancer/comedian), I was impressed by his dancing. While not exactly Fred Astaire, it was quite good. And, the production values in the film were quite nice. I am just surprised that they either did just make Foy nice (as Hollywood OFTEN made creeps seem nice in the old days) or make an entirely fictional story with a nicer and more sympathetic leading character. Flawed but mildly interesting.

This is underrated as both a Bob Hope vehicle and a musical biopic: even if it follows the basic path of all such films (the struggle to achieve success followed by the pitfalls of celebrity, not forgetting the obligatory romance and the equally inevitable tragedy), it's very capably mounted – with the script even garnering an Oscar nomination. The star is in very fine form here, balancing characterization with his traditional banter; Milly Vitale is radiant as his wife who bears him seven children and then dies. Since Foy's only ever known showbiz, he opts to drag them all into his act! Incidentally, one of the kids (Bryan) grew up to be a film-maker himself but was mainly noted as a producer with a penchant for the noir genre!

Even so, THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS is perhaps best-known for a guest appearance by James Cagney, reprising his Oscar-winning role of George M. Cohan from YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942) – where, incidentally, Foy was portrayed by his real life son, Eddie Jr; interestingly, George Tobias played Cohan's manager in that earlier film and Foy's here! Anyway, Hope and Cagney's one scene together – which culminates in a dancing duel/duet – is not merely the picture's undeniable highlight but pure cinema magic in and of itself where two top movie stars incarnate a couple of great vaudevillians strutting their stuff. As with a handful of other Hope titles I own, the film has unaccountably fallen into the Public Domain despite being a major studio production, but the copy I acquired thankfully maintains remarkably vibrant colors throughout.

There is really nothing good to say about this film. Once more, Hollywood can find nothing more imaginative to write about than its own entertainment trade. It's almost musical; but absolutely no music worth listening to. I suspect it was intended to be a comedy; but I defy anyone to laugh. I have no doubt the Cagney tribute was sincere and that the real Foy was a generous supporter of young actors, but nothing about the character portrayed keeps audience attention for very long. Bob Hope is competent, but really, this script is complete rubbish. The only moment it strikes a confident chord is when Cagney starts his Yankee Doodle Dandee reprise. It's confident, but am I the only person who finds the Cagney duck walk embarrassing?

In 1913, vaudeville comic Bob Hope (as Eddie Foy) and "The Seven Little Foys" are a successful act. Second child Charley Foy (as Charley Foy) introduces himself as narrator and takes us back to 1898, where Mr. Hope is a solo act uninterested in women. This changes when beautiful Italian ballerina Milly Vitale (as Madeleine Morando) arrives on the scene. Although Mr. Hope is a tough nut to crack, the two somehow forms a family. A tragedy occurs and there are hardships on the road. The act becomes famous. Principal players include Hope's faithful agent George Tobias (as Barney Green), comic foil aunt Angela Clarke (as Clara), and eldest son Billy Gray (as Bryan Lincoln Foy). In a cameo highlight, James Cagney reprises his "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942) role of George M. Cohan.

***** The Seven Little Foys (6/1/55) Melville Shavelson ~ Bob Hope, George Tobias, Angela Clarke, Billy Gray

Interesting that the generally considered high point of Bob Hope's career has him essaying roles of famous celebrities of the past. Hope played Jimmy Walker, the mayor of New York during prohibition and the famous vaudevillian Eddie Foy who as we learned in Yankee Doodle Dandy gave his country seven children. Hope acquits himself well and you almost, but not quite forget that you are watching Bob Hope.

Eddie Foy (1855-1928) was one of the most celebrated acts of vaudeville in the golden age of vaudeville in the 19th century. Completely eliminated from the story are his first two wives, both of whom died and a fourth wife whom he married after the action of this story is over. Milly Vitale and her sister Angela Clarke however were quite real.

Eddie Foy, Jr. partially made a career of playing his celebrated father in many films, on stage, and in television. He did such a good job of bringing him to life, that whoever played Foy if his name wasn't Foy was going to be hypercritically judged. It's a great credit to Bob Hope that the public accepted him in the part with no reservations.

The story is familiar enough material, widower raising a large brood of children with the usual problems without mother in the picture. It just so happens that this family was in show business, a lot like the Cohan family so shown in Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Eddie Foy, Jr. played his dad in Yankee Doodle Dandy in that one celebrated exchange of one liners with James Cagney right before the You're A Grand Old Flag number. The highlight of this film is Cagney reprising his role as Cohan and doing a soft shoe routine at a Friar's Club dinner with Hope. Both Cagney and Hope did their turns in vaudeville before they were names and there was no need of any character preparation for their parts. The dance routine yes, but the acting no.

The Seven Little Foys is a heartwarming family film, a bit more serious than the usual Bob Hope fare, but still charming and entertaining.