yessdanc

Mr. Doyle's poor review is questionable at best. This film is a delight from beginning to end. Edith Fellows does NOT play a brat, but a determined and pleasant young girl who can use a little guidance. The songs are fun and Bing and Edith make a great team! If this was a crappy movie, the DVD wouldn't cost $30!! Madge Evans is a bit of a pain, but that's the role she has to play and does it well. Donald Meek is typically good, but Edith steals the show in the first scene at the carnival. Funny when her line 'Thank you, you CROOK! appears near the film's first few minutes. I;m giving this a 9 out of 10. I don't know where some of the rural scenes were filmed, but the interiors were filmed at the old General Service Studios in Hollywood.

The Gracie Allen Murder Case starts out as a delightfully silly parody with plenty of Allen's trademark nonsensical quips. By about 45 minutes in you want so badly to slap her into silence it almost ruins the movie. Justifiably (thank god), so do her costars who basically tell her to shut up. In a 30 minute radio show she gets away with it, but in a feature film she eventually becomes as unwelcome as any obnoxious character does. Sorry to say... The supporting players are all well suited to the script, which is well written except for the overabundance of Gracie's big mouth. I don't know what sort of reviews it got upon release, but mine is 3 out of 10, and that's being generous.

I enjoyed this film when it came out in 2003, and was in love w/ Catalina as a great place to slow down and recharge in a pleasant, family and couples oriented tropical paradise. My wife and I (and now kids) had been going for almost 16 years when we had to stop in 2005 due to financial pressure of our own. We went back this summer (2010), and found it almost circus-like in the Island's present approach to tourists, which is 'Gouge em for every dime, cut corners, and don't worry about giving their money's worth.' Everything had doubled in cost, including the tours and attractions (45 minute underwater sub tour- $75 each). On the the inland bus tour, we were driven up into the hills, and the driver was supposed to tell us Catalina history. We also got a 10 minute verbal commercial for their 'new Zipline ride'. Basically a trapeze swing across the canyon- $90. I believe the Santa Catalina Island Company is to blame. I was told by a (nameless) employee that someone new is in charge, and the Island is losing its family charm. So true!!!