Papai Solteirão

This is one of the better Marion Davies talkies - and one of the few to allow her to exhibit her skill as a physical comedian which was so endearing in her silent films. OK, so she does a clunky tap number, but even Ruby Keeler's dancing from the era does not hold up for younger generations. The problem here is the script. The story falls into unbelievable melodrama in the last reel. It's quite stagey, and is obviously adapted from a play... but not well enough. Still, there is some snappy dialogue and slapstick throughout. Worth a look.

Baron Winterton (C. Aubrey Smith) decides to locate this three estranged children and invite them to live on his estate. He sends an aide to the United States to contact Tony Flagg (Marion Davies), daughter of a dancer now deceased, who is thrilled to come. When the three siblings arrive, they strike up a friendship. Now living in the lap of luxury, it is a "fish out of water" situation for the three---especially Tony, who is something of a wild child. Still, the Baron learns to loosen up and allow himself the enjoyment of their company. However, a complication arises that may jeopardize their newly-created family.

This is definitely a pre-Code film, considering that the three children were born out of wedlock. The Hays office mandated some changes in the script, but still there is ambiguity about the relationships that produced the Baron's progeny.

The story is play-based, and it shows. Also, the humor is not very subtle. Still, it is a cute film, and it is easy to like the characters.

Watch for Ray Milland, who is nearly unrecognizable as one of the three siblings.

Although a casual viewing might have one concurring on the children being born out of wedlock, there is at least one mention later in the movie about a divorce. If one divorce is in place, three can be fairly assumed, and thus, of course, three marriages. // My real complaint is not about this movie at all, but rather, about a much more well-known and acclaimed movie: Orson Wells' "Citizen Kane". Kane, assumed by all to be a fictionalized William Randolph Hearst, marries an untalented girl, and uses his money and power to promote her career, to the embarrassment of all concerned. The closest this wife character comes to a real-life person is Marian Davies. By the time someone is reading this, they are fully aware that Ms Davies is actually very talented, but because Orson Wells' film is so much more well known than the entire output of Ms. Davies, there is virtually a sub-culture with a completely wrong idea of Marian Davies and her talent.

I'd only seen Marion Davies in "Polly of the Circus" and that wasn't an impressive movie at all. This movie, however, was very impressive. This movie was a Marion Davies production and she should be proud to have her name on it.

An old Englishman by the name of Sir Basil Algernon Winterton (C. Aubrey Smith) was rich, unmarried, and totally content. He was settling in one evening in the company of his doctor, Dr. Frank 'Mac' MacDonald (David Torrence) and his lawyer, John Ashley (Ralph Forbes), when the topic turned to his predilection towards self-indulgence. He glibly mentioned that he had no wife and no family so what else was he to do. When Mac asked about any children Sir Basil braggingly stated that he had three children scattered about the world. "Anybody can do it," he dismissively stated.

When Mac stated that Sir Basil's children wouldn't be able to stand his drinking, temper, and overall behavior he defiantly told John to look up his children to have them all brought to his home, the Rooksfold Manor in Surrey, England. "You are to go to the various corners of the earth, collect my stray offspring, and bring them to their father," Sir Basil ordered. John then set about finding Sir Basil's two daughters and one son.

John was able to collect Geoffrey (Ray Milland), Maria (Nina Quartero), and Antoinette 'Tony' Flagg (Marion Davies) and bring them back to England. What no one knew except Tony's guardian was that she wasn't Sir Basil's daughter, still her aunt Molly (Elizabeth Murray) allowed Tony to go to England in hopes she would have a better life.

The union between the stuffy old Sir Basil and his three offspring was pure comedy led by Tony. She was the de facto ringleader and she was a cut up. "The Bachelor Father" was hilarious. Sir Basil's stuffiness was brilliantly paired with Tony's zaniness, yet it wasn't slapstick silly with breaking things and bafoonish behavior. I'd say Tony's part was perfect. She was just playful and silly enough to contrast against Sir Basil's uptight behavior, yet not so silly where it was plain foolish. I really enjoyed this movie and it reminded me of many movies that came later in which a person willingly or unwillingly enters someone else's life then becomes indispensable. "The Bachelor Father" could be seen as the mold for such movies because it was so expertly done.

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Sir Basil Algernon Winterton has gathered his three grown illegitimate children back to his estate from around the world. They don't really know him if they even have met him before. American showgirl Antoinette 'Tony' Flagg (Marion Davies) doesn't even know what he looks like. She meets the other two, Geoffrey Trent (Ray Milland) and Maria Credaro.

This is a pre-Code film based on a play. All the old mansions are looking the same from this cinematic period. This is missing that modern movie flair. That's why Marion Davies' high energy work makes her stand out. This comedy works best with her.