Rainbow on the River

This gorgeous famiy film was a smash success in Australia and I assume everywhere else in first release. My late mother Patricia keenly remembered seeing it at out local 1500 seat Marina Theatre in Rosebery at a session so packed she had to sit on the steps upstairs. I had the 78rpm record for years (still have, actually) and it is astonishing what a great voice Bobby Breen had. His series of Musicals really should be re packaged and dvd released as they are excellent, and I am astonished to find came from Principal Pictures (Chandu, anyone?) who I thought had folded into Republic in 1935. This film like all the others was released by RKO on a world wide plan so I guess all were a kid series to their Astaire Rogers musical series concurrent.

This is my favorite Bobby Breen film! The music is wonderful and Bobby's voice is incredible for a boy of 9. The story tugs at your heart but leaves you feeling good inside and humming it's tunes at the end! And, Bobby's backed by a wonderful cast including Louise Beavers, May Robson, Henry O'Neill, Charles Butterworth, Stymie (Our Gang) Beard, and Alan Mowbray. But it's the pure voice and enthusiastic performance of Bobby Breen that makes this movie a classic that everyone should see. This is the kind of film we need today. A film made to entertain the entire family and one that reaches it's goal!

I found this obscure musical from the '30s under the "Louisiana" section in my local East Baton Rouge Parish Library under the title It Happened in New Orleans. What a wonderful discovery of a young juvenile singer named Bobby Breen from a time when most of America was enchanted by Shirley Temple! He plays a New Orleans boy raised by former slave Louise "Imitation of Life" Beavers after his parents died in the Civil War. Besides her, Breen also has Matthew "Stymie" Beard as a friend. Then he finds out about his Yankee relatives and moves to New York. Only the butler can relate to him there. Wonderful songs from the 19th century dominate the film with the then-new title song sung at least three times. Wonderful support from May Robson, Charles Butterworth, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as a superstitious doctor, and the Hall Johnson Choir. Nice humorous touches throughout. Worthy of rediscovery for old-time movie fans.

This is one of the earliest movies that Canadian child singer Bobby Breen made during the last years of the Great Depression. The plot and setting for "Rainbow on the River" is very interesting, especially for that time. Breen's soprano to tenor voice in this film reminds one of the recordings of the great boys choirs. The songs in this film are superb, and the cast is excellent.

With his short-lived acting career, Breen later did the nightclub circuit. He made some guest appearances on TV and hosted a TV show. He eventually moved to Florida where he opened his own talent business.

Even among movie buffs, the name of Bobby Breen is hardly known today. He made only nine films in the late 1930s. But these films give a look at a young singer who, for a time, had a voice that could captivate audiences. And, his acting was quite good as well.

The plot to "Rainbow on the River" is a bit hard to believe. But like all Bobby Breen films, the young man is astounding with his amazing voice! And, the film is likable despite everything.

The story is set just after the Civil War. It's not surprising that the Southerners in the film hate 'Yankees', though it seemed rather weird to have Toinette (Louise Beavers) also hating Northerners since she is a recently freed slave....just the sort of person you'd expect to love those 'gang Yankees'. What is also inexplicable is that after the man and woman that owned her died, in the war, is that Toinette would raise their white son, Philip (Breen). After all, the South was very prejudiced at the time (the same could also be said of much of the North)....and I cannot see local authorities allow this. After all, marriage between the races was illegal at the time...and I sure would have thought raising a white child wouldn't have been realistic. And, less realistic is that folks in the community would accept this. I am NOT trying to be Mr. Politically Correct here. It's just that the American History teacher within me (I used to teach the subject) finds all this a bit unrealistic...especially how idealized everything about the South during Reconstruction is presented in the film.

The local priest (Henry O'Neill) learns that Philip DOES have family...but they all live up north. After writing to them, Mr. Layton (Alan Mowbray) comes to fetch Philip and bring him to be raised by the boy's extended family. Surprisingly, the family doesn't seem happy at all to have the boy with them...and it's especially surprising since Philip is such a nice boy. For some time, the only one who seemed nice to him was the butler (Charles Butterworth, who is always a joy to see in films). What's next? See the movie and find out for yourself.

In many ways, "Rainbow on the River" is exactly like an earlier film, "Bright Eyes" with Shirley Temple...and I don't think the similarity is unintentional. The Temple film was a comedy and this one a musical...but in each, a nice orphan is treated like a second-class kid by the family. And, in both, ultimately the orphan's niceness wins everyone over in the end. The better two clearly is "Bright Eyes" (I think it's Temple's best film) but "Rainbow on the River" is pleasant and sweet. Sure, it's historically flawed but beneath it all, it's still quite enjoyable and worth your time.

So, if the story interests you, by all means see it and the rest. They are all very pleasant and undemanding entertainment...rather sweet and Breen is so likable you wonder why he only starred in a few pictures.