Broadway to Hollywood

I originally watched this film years ago when it was played on TCM. It was a nice little obscure film and I enjoyed it a lot. Just recently I was able to get myself a DVD copy of the film for my classic film collection, though it was not easy.

Alice Brady and Frank Morgan play Ted and Lulu Hackett, vaudeville performers who want their name to be known for generations, which it indeed does, but not in the way they expected as their son, Ted Jr., travels to broadway and later Ted Jr.'s son, Ted III goes to make pictures in Hollywood. Alice Brady and Frank Morgan do a good job as the stars with the most screen time but their husband/wife bickering can get boring after a while.

Many of the stars who received top billing in the film, (Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Durante, etc.) only appear in the film for a couple minutes so you would have to be a huge fan to sit through the whole film just to see them. Another interesting cameo is in the middle of the film when two freaky-looking Dutch clowns appear with Ted Hackett Jr. (played by Russell Hardie). I didn't realize this the first time I watched it, but the two clowns are actually played by brothers Moe and Curly Howard of the Three Stooges. As a longtime fan of the trio, this alone was a reason to buy the film and give it another watch.

Besides the ending of it being a little out of place, I enjoyed most of the film throughout. It isn't the most entertaining flick ever made, but I definitely suggest seeing it when you get the chance.