The Old Swimmin' Hole

Sort of a disjointed Robert Altmanesque (well, not really) episodic little tale about teenagers growing up in a small town and facing small town problems. You know, swimming, education, stupid kids, dead dogs, the gamut. The whole movie focuses on one kid, who recently left school to take a great opportunity at a local market, but then has second thoughts when a lot of people want him to go back so he could finish his high school and continue on to be a veterinarian. Along the way there are MANY subplots, such as will a little kid survive after being thrown into the water, will the greasy lawyer who moved into town break up a budding relationship between two old people, and so on. Not going to change the world, but still somewhat enjoyable.

Hollywood wasted many talents, including, sadly, most of the wonderful stars of the silent era. In this cheap and shoddy production, the excellent Leatrice Joy, former leading lady of Cecil B. De Mille, shines, in a deeply moving performance - a performance that eclipses the maudlin and sentimental script. She plays a single mother in a small country town, who can't afford to send her talented son to school, and fears that this will prevent him achieving his ambition to be a doctor. She's also in love with the local doctor, and he loves her, but they have never revealed their love to each other. In the scenes Leatrice has with the doctor, she conveys a tenderness that is rare to see on the screen. All her scenes are vividly real, but she also has that mischievous twinkle in her eye, that made her one of the best comediennes of the silent era.

It is only her performance that makes this film worth seeing. All the other performances are forced and labored, especially those of the young people, who play "cute" in a very self conscious way. It doesn't help that, like so many films of the 1940s, the film is patronising in its treatment of the emotions of young people. At times it even ridicules them. No wonder youth would soon rebel and embrace James Dean as their hero.

Overall this is a B-grade attempt to make an Andy Hardy-like "all-American, apple-pie" type comedy/drama about young people and "real" values. It fails on every level, except that it allowed the magical Leatrice Joy to light up the screen once more.

While "The Old Swimmin' Hole" is schmaltzy and only a B-movie, it's surprisingly enjoyable and heartwarming. It's the sort of old fashioned entertainment you don't see any more...and in some ways this is a shame.

Young Jackie Moran and Marcia Mae Jones star in this film. The pair also starred in "The Haunted House" and they worked together very well. The story begins by seeing that Chris Carter (Moran) is a nice young man with a great future...and a great burden. While he is incredibly skilled as an amateur vet who works with the local physician, his father has died and he quits school to earn money to care for his mom. There is no reasonable way to assume he'll ever make it to medical or veterinary school. Through the course of the movie, the relationship between the local doctor's daughter and Chris, as well as Chris' mother and the doctor is a huge theme. Another is a nasty grandfather who possibly could give Chris the life he wants....at great cost however.

The film is charming, well acted and worth seeing...and above all, swell fun. Campy and a bit old fashioned, but also well worth your time and sweet.

This is the second film in a row from 1940 I'm reviewing directed by former Our Gang director Robert F. McGowan, starring Jackie Moran and occasional OG player Marcia Mae Jones from McGowan's run on the series, for the poverty row studio Monogram. Moran's just left high school while it was still in session to take a job in the general store but hopes to become a veterinarian, Ms. Jones is the daughter of the town doctor who Moran works under when he's not in the store. The McGowan touch is mostly evident when Moran and Ms. Jones go to his clubhouse alone where the girl is sneaked in-the club is exclusively for teen boys-and she then goes swimming when she's discovered by a little boy who also does a little sneaking there...While there are some funny scenes like what I just described, it's mostly a drama about choices being made concerning how best to prepare for the future and whether it's worth it for whatever reason. So on that note, I recommend The Old Swimmin' Hole. P.S. This was McGowan's last film as director. He'd resurface as a producer of a couple of Our Gang-derivative features several years later.

Charles Brown is Doc Elliot, whose life is turned upside down when his daughter comes to visit. Marcia Mae Jones is Betty, the pushy, take charge type. Co-stars Jack Moran as "Chris", who has just quit school to get a job. Moran was Huck Finn in "Tom Sawyer". some ups and downs around the Boy's Club, which seems to be the center of activity in this small town. and Betty can't seem to mind her own business! every time she gets involved, things go wrong. Chris' grandfather wants to help his career, but only if he goes to live with him. and who will marry Chris' mother, with so many romeos hanging around? small town drama. it's soapy but all in good fun. some picture quality issues, which is probably why its not on Turner Classics, and currently only 37 votes on imdb. not bad. Directed by Robert McGowan, who has his own interesting background on the bio section. had started in the EARLY silents, and at 30, when he retired as a fire fighter. Story by Gerald Breitigam.