Profbeatty

A funny funny film! Definitely a "missing" gem. The play performed within the film ("Bridget Sees a Ghost") makes "Springtime for Hitler" look like Shakespeare! Morgan's voice overs are marvelous and the use of Rossini's "Barber of Seville Overture" to punctuate the closing moments of each act is masterful. Clever and innovative in its photography with outstanding performances by Henry Morgan and Leo Gorcey. The rest of the cast certainly holds its own in this lunatic story about a family's visit to New York City. This should definitely be released on DVD. It was shown on television years ago, but seems to have vanished from the airwaves. Definitely worth watching - if it ever reappears.

An interesting attempt to "update" the one of a kind classic, Little Fugitive made in 1953 by Morris Engel, Ruth Orkin, and Ray Ashley. (I'm not sure the term "remake" applies here). Beautifully photographed by Rick Sands and appealingly acted by David Castro and Nicolas Salgado. Peter Dinklage is typically powerful, but under used in a relatively small role. While it lacks the charm and depth of the 1954 film it is an honest and sincere effort to make some intellectualized statements about Coney Island's Dreamland and its premature baby in incubators and children from broken homes and dysfunctional families. Sometimes preachy but none the less an interesting directorial debut, by Joanna Lipper although one might question the advisability of a "remake" or "reworking" of a classic as a choice for her initial bow in narrative films.

Historically significant is a brief appearance in the film by Morris Engel (sitting on a skee ball machine), shortly before his death.

This is a sappy adaptation of the infinitely better written Kaufman/Lardner play. It would have been preferable to film the play as written, rather than having "hacks" rewrite and alter it (although one suspects that the competent Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who is credited as one of the "writers", must not have been too involved) . Despite the butcher job done on the text, the film (rarely shown) is pleasant in its own way and worth seeing for performances by Harry Akst as Max Schwartz and Wynne Gibson as Lucille Sears. Jack Oakie fares well as Fred Stevens, the lyricists whose lyrics are unbelievable! For comparison, check out the Jack Cassidy version.