Sweepings

This film starts out with Mrs. O'Leary milking a cow in a barn who kicks over the pail into a lantern and burns the City of Chicago. Daniel Pardway, (Lionel Barrymore) arrives in this city and has a dream of starting a department store like Marshall Field's. However, Daniel has to start from nothing and his first bed room is shared by chickens and his wife is a very prim and proper lady and starts to cry, which makes Daniel bound and determined to make a success of his goal for a super department store. After five years, the store grows and grows and in the mean time Daniel has three sons and one daughter and at a rather early age he losses his wife and has to carry on with plans that all his children will eventually take over his business. This entire story deals with Daniel Pardway and his children with all of their ups and downs in life. Lionel Barrymore gave an excellent performance that makes this a great film classic from 1933.

In the early 1930's the Great Depression coming after the introduction of sound effected all studios severely even mighty MGM. The cost of conversion to sound had been largely absorbed and the early technical difficulties overcome. Films once more started to be made with the competence that was shown in the late silent period. This increased sophistication would culminate in the Class of 1939. Still in this early sound period economic difficulties had to be overcome and one (1) way to do this was keep running time short. All studios participated in this move. Most features ran between sixty (60) and ninety (90) minutes.

SWEEPINGS (1933) is a typical example from RKO. Clocking in at brisk eighty (80) minutes it takes a sixty (60) year family story and cuts it to the essentials. This was well accomplished by Director John Cromwell with a team of acting professionals. The Family, Lionel Barrymore (on loan from MGM), William Gargan, Gloria Stuart, George Meeker, Eric Linden. Gregory Ratoff is Barrymores right hand man and in a brief but effective role Helen Mack. The story in a nutshell; Father builds business for unappreciative Children who just see him as a cash cow. Loses faith in them and at the end regains same through act of youngest son. Entertaining, you bet and the story is in no way obsolete and could be easily updated to 21st Century audiences.

RKO remade this picture as THREE SONS (1939) with one (1) cast hold over William Gargan though this time playing Uncle Thane Pardway. The film ran shorter seventy-two (72) minutes and one (1) major plot change. Rather then die of a heart attack delivering Christmas presents Uncle Thane stops a bullet for his nephew. Remake rating Six (6)******.

Any parent who ever became disappointed with his children and any child who felt parental pressure will surely enjoy this drama. Lionel Barrymore is terrific as the father of four children, nicely played as adults by Eric Linden, William Gargan, George Meeker and Gloria Stuart, who cause him great embarrassment and grief and want little or nothing to do with the very successful department store he founded in Chicago after the great fire of 1871. The rest of the supporting cast all do well with Gregory Ratoff a standout as Barrymore's faithful manager, who feels he is not appreciated. Director John Cromwell gets the right feel of the period and handles the crowd scenes (with 300 extras used in the frenzied sale scenes) very well. This was an enjoyable movie.

Interesting tidbits: Barrymore had the flu and a fever of 103°F through some of the production but kept filming despite the doctor's order to rest. Special makeup applied by uncredited Mel Berns and Ern Westmore made the 55-year-old Barrymore look 25 at the start of the film. William Gargan was also in the 1939 remake "Three Sons," but played the part that Alan Dinehart played in this film.

Although I am sure that many did not like this movie because the main character, Lionel Barrymore, turned out to be so flawed as did his completely irresponsible children. Although there is a small glimmer of hope at the end, I appreciate how this film was much less sentimental and a bit brutal when it came to story telling.

The film begins just after the Great Chicago Fire--which, by the way, was NOT caused by Mrs. O'Leary's cow--despite the film's intro as well as popular opinion. Lionel Barrymore arrives in town with his new bride and he and his brother open a store. Soon, the store begins to prosper and as the years pass, it's now one of the larger department stores--and the family is stinking rich. However, like some hard working but foolish fathers, Barrymore keeps a loose rein on his kids and three of the four grown up to be selfish jerks. The fourth does work for the family business but lacks ambition to do anything more than design sales windows (was this, perhaps, a 1930s hint that he was gay?).

At the same time, Barrymore has a very hard working employee who gives his life for the company but inexplicably, Barrymore refuses to give the man stock--instead, wasting much of it on his punk kids. By the end, it's obvious the old man is dying and unfortunately he must go realizing that the company will soon die with him.

It's really a very sad and difficult movie to watch at times, but because the acting is good (especially by Barrymore), the film is quite engaging. It's sure NOT a "feel good" film, but is a nice morality tale about parenting and the power of money to corrupt.

By the way, Barrymore also made another film in 1933 with very similar themes that is worth seeking. "Looking Forward" is a dandy film as well. Also, tiny Chesterfield Studio made "Forgotten" which is very similar to "Sweepings" but with a much happier ending.

This is another one of Lionel Barrymore's excellent early films somehow overlooked. But I highly recommend it! His acting is just SO darn good here! Through out but especially in the beginning of film are stellar. Just watch him when he realizes his wife just died and there he is with a new baby and three small children to raise. His eyes, his expressions and his nuances. No words needed there! Just excellent! THIS is the mark of a highly talented actor.

The second half of film somewhat grating as you realize what a flawed Father he is and four flawed spoiled children ( the affluenza effect) turn out to be a huge disappointment to him who have no interest in taking over his huge successesful business.

Barrymore is not really a likeable character in this film though. He's somewhat ruthless and not appreciative of his employees who made him what he is. It's not an easy watch but still for me Barrymore's splendid acting makes it worth it for me showing his great versatility. It always amazed me how he could come off somewhat vulnerable but still difficult in the same movie. Much as I have read he was like in real life. Very conflicted man.

Gregory Ratoff, Alan Dinehart, Eric Linden and Helen Mack are all impressive as well. Highly recommend!