Namoro Mascarado

The worst thing about this charming, well acted comedy is its generic title. Hold what kiss?

The leads are at their romantic best. The supporting players are delightful.

I personally would have preferred it sans the Mickey Rooney character but he doubtless helped its box office (if it had any.)

A few stereotypes are engaged in, too; but otherwise, it is a charming concoction. It's funny: O'Sullivan's boss Monsieur Maurice is written very broadly but the penultimate scene in which a tricked O'Keefe tricks her by making her pose in one gown after another after another -- they now know each other to be in retail and not in society -- is very funny.

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.

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.

MGM used their second and third tier actors for their B films, making them really more like A-. These movies were used as a training ground for up and coming actors as well. Here, Dennis O'Keefe and Maureen O'Sullivan star with Mickey Rooney, Frank Albertson, and Jesse Ralph, and another young up and coming, Ruth Hussey, in "Hold that Kiss," from 1938.

June (O'Sullivan) comes from a chaotic family and works in the couturier business; Tommy (O'Keefe) is a travel agent. At a posh wedding, she's helping the bride with her going-away outfit, and he's delivering tickets. Each assumes the other is a guest and therefore a member of the rich, horsey set.

Both O'Keefe and O'Sullivan were very good, if lightweight actors who never achieved superstardom. O'Sullivan, busy most of the time having her seven children, was very beautiful with a nice Irish lilt to her voice.

Enjoyable movie, with an upbeat performance by Rooney. I loved the atmosphere in the family especially, with the brothers teasing one another, and June bringing home that giant St. Bernard. Good fun.

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......