Hold That Kiss

Average 1930's romantic situation comedy that had a low budget but nevertheless delivered the expected average goods for the genre.Nothing too badly done here and nothing spectacular either.This movie is sure to delight the big fans of the lead stars though as they indeed look good here in all their prime good looks.This movie will also satisfy big fans of romantic situation comedies set in 1938 city life......

While watching Hold That Kiss this morning I once again had in mind the famous MGM pecking order. The film was to me obviously something written with Joan Crawford in mind.

But it went to Maureen O'Sullivan for one reason or another and wound up as a B film with her and Dennis O'Keefe. She's a fashion model in a fancy department store and he's a travel agent. They meet at a society wedding and each thinks the other is worth a few bucks. After that they put on quite interesting campaigns to land the other.

Hold That Kiss is a pleasant and amusing comedy from MGM's B picture unit. It's got quite a good list of character actors in support. Most prominent however was Mickey Rooney who next year would be the number one box office male star in the nation. He plays O'Sullivan's younger brother and an eager participant in her schemes.

There's also a nice diverting subplot involving Frank Albertson who's another of O'Sullivan's brothers and Edward Brophy who is O'Keefe's sidekick. Each has an all consuming interest in the sport of kings and not from the society end of owning and improving the breed. I can't really go into too many details, but trust me it's a pip.

I could easily see Hold That Kiss on an MGM double bill at the Loew's theaters around the nation with Boys Town. Imagine that, a double Mickey.

The major studios which M.G.M. was the biggest, had a stable of contract players that had to be kept occupied. From the heavy-weight Stars like GABLE, LOY, POWELL, SHEARER and TRACY to character actors, all had to be kept busy. Fifty-Two (52) features a year was the standard of the 'majors' plus shorts. From 'A' efforts too 'Bs' like this one, HOLD THAT KISS (1938).

The plot of these were simple. This comedy is a typical 'Boy meets Girl', both pretending to be of the '400'. Not wishing the other to know of their rather common back-rounds. Neither wanting to admit the truth until the last reel when true love wins out over perceived social prejudices.

MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN, never a major star was a good filler for this type of film. Something to plug into between TARZANs' and pregnancies. DENNIS O'KEEFE was being groomed for a stardom he would never fulfill, but MICKEY ROONEY would go on to greater things. The rest of the cast, all professional character actors. Who knew their lines, hit their marks and got the picture done on time and under budget. This made them very popular with Louis B. Mayer and the money men back in New York City.

This charming comedy revolves around as case of mistaken identity, which is not a novel idea, but it feels fresh in the hands of Director Edwin L. Marin, who keeps things moving. And the script is cleverly written.

A strong cast pulls laughs from the story at every turn. I especially enjoyed Maureen O'Sullivan and Mickey Rooney. I wish they had a few more scenes together, highlighting their sibling quarrels.

Dennis O'Keefe plays the boyfriend to O'Sullivan, and they are a good romantic match, especially when played for laughs, as in this film.

Surprisingly enjoyable grade B comedy with large cast of solid actors who put on a good (but not great) show. The basic premise is that two ordinary people meet and think that the other has money. Bolstering this premise is a tangled story line that weaves each of the main characters into contact with others without each knowing who the other is relative to the main plot. The viewer has full knowledge of how all these characters relate to each other and is thus always expecting the truth to out.

A good deal of slapstick comedy and a comedic St. Bernard aid cast members. The film has the same tempo and feel as MGM's 'You Can't Take It With You' – done the same year however with a first rate crew. Lots of uncomplicated comings and goings keep the story moving but not too hard to follow. The rich really do not have it better than just plain folks.

Maureen O'Sullivan is delightful and perky. Mickey Rooney overacts – but the part calls for it and he steals a number of scenes. Edward Brophy plays Brophy once again. Dennis O'Keefe is plausible. Leonard Carey (uncredited) does a fine job as a comedic elevator operator/butler. Racial slurs typical of the time could be cut for modern audiences. Recommended.