Over the Garden Wall

Over the Garden Wall (1934) stars Bobby Howes and Hollywood's Marian Marsh in a cute comedy about warring neighbors and true love. Howes and Marsh play the nephew and niece of two feuding families separated by a garden wall (think The Fantasticks), but posing as brother and sister, they manage to run off to a hotel. The families, led by tyrannical aunts, follow them and many secrets are exposed. Slim plot and a few songs but enjoyable enough. Howes was pushing 40 and is way too old, but Marsh is quite good though obviously not English (and her singing voice must be dubbed). Bertha Belmore has a field day as Marsh's maiden aunt who was disappointed in love. The beautiful Margaret Bannerman (a year younger than Howes) plays the other aunt. Co-stars include Viola Lyel, Freddie Watts, Syd Crossley, and Stewart Granger in a one-scene bit part. There's an extend fan dance sequence a la Busby Berkeley.

Bobby Bowes was a popular musical and rescue star of the inter was period.Like many of his theatrical colleagues he had a career as a leading man in films before the war put an end to it..Like many of these films the story is featherweight.. He is going to stay with his aunt in the country when he sees a pretty girl on an adjoining train.By some fortunate chance she happens to be staying with a friend in the next door property..There is the usual meeting cute essential to this type of film..Bowes has a number of songs which are not particularly memorable and which he sings in a rather plaintive voice.You wonder how he managed to project his voice up to the gallery.There is a running joke about how old fashioned her house is and how modern is his aunt's house.However the modern house isn't art deck and looks rather dull..The formidable Berths Belmore is the girls mother.Once seen never forgotten..Despite the fact that the girl is only 17 years old they escape to a hotel in London with a view to eloping. there is a production number which utilises overhead shots.However it is nowhere need the production values of a Busbey Berkley number.They check into the hotel as brother and sister.A waiter tells the police .The police arrive and they are apprehended.However as you would assume with this type of film all ends well.

Bobby Howe comes to visit his aunt, who is feuding with the next-door neighbors; a high wall has been erected to separate the two houses. In the meantime, Marian Marsh comes to visit her aunt and uncle, who are the neighbors. They quickly fall in love and run away. The usual comic complications ensue.

And very amusing complications they are. Quite clearly, H.F. Maltby took the legend of Pyramus & Thisbe and wrote a West End musical based on it, then took a hand in the screenplay. There are no major dance numbers, and the songs are good if unremarkable, but the comedy timing of the performers is very good, and there are some very amusing lines, mostly spoken by Sid Crossley. Miss Marsh is very charming, Mr. Howe is energetic enough to make you forget that he's in his forties, More than good enough.