A classic Eugene O'Neill play that has inspired a movie musical and a Broadway musical (completely with different score) is your typical MGM glossy few of the family. Later reunited as the original Judge and Ma Hardy, Lionel Barrymore and Spring Byington are there to see their middle son Eric Linden through the bumps in his path to adulthood as he graduates from high school and faces the first mistakes of adulthood. Wallace Beery plays the irresponsible brother of Barrymore's, in love for years with Byington's sister (Aline MacMahon), but also in love with demon rum. Linden gets the bulk of the main story as he deals with typical growing pains, has his first experience with drink and a notorious older woman (Helen Flint), and deals with long-time girlfriend Cecilia Parker's possessive father (Charley Grapewin, as far from Uncle Henry as you could get him), and does a good job in facing the pros amongst the cast of veterans. O'Neill delightfully spoofs the pretensions of high school graduation speeches, the embarrassment that parents receive from their younger children, and the over accentuation on American pride in small town USA circa turn of the century. These moments are very funny and nostalgic, and under the direction of veteran Clarence Brown, it is an absolute delight.
While not a major part of the story, a lot of footage shows Mickey Rooney as the youngest son and Bonita Granville as their only daughter. Rooney gets to show off his talents and doesn't overplay the enthusiasm here like he later would as Andy Hardy. Ironically, he would play the Linden role in the 1948 MGM musical version, "Summer Holiday". too bad he never got to play buri's Uncle Sid in the Broadway musical "Take Me Along", the part originated by Jackie Gleason. It would be easy to confuse MacMahon's Aunt Lily with Sarah Haden's Aunt Millie from the Andy Hardy series. Both are reluctant spinsters with eyes easily turned when a man pays attention to them, but there is a sparkle of real life in MacMahon's Lily that Haden was never allowed to let loose as Millie.
This film has many major highlights, but the Fourth of July dinner where Beery and Barrymore return home drunk is a definite highlight, especially with everybody trying to stifle their laughter at Beery's silly antics. The film gives each and every cast member a chance to shine, and each of them gives their all in creating memorable, true-to-life characterizations. This is one of mgm's best remembered films from their golden age, and certainly has stood the test of time in giving audiences a sense of nostalgia of the sweetness of years gone by.
While not a major part of the story, a lot of footage shows Mickey Rooney as the youngest son and Bonita Granville as their only daughter. Rooney gets to show off his talents and doesn't overplay the enthusiasm here like he later would as Andy Hardy. Ironically, he would play the Linden role in the 1948 MGM musical version, "Summer Holiday". too bad he never got to play buri's Uncle Sid in the Broadway musical "Take Me Along", the part originated by Jackie Gleason. It would be easy to confuse MacMahon's Aunt Lily with Sarah Haden's Aunt Millie from the Andy Hardy series. Both are reluctant spinsters with eyes easily turned when a man pays attention to them, but there is a sparkle of real life in MacMahon's Lily that Haden was never allowed to let loose as Millie.
This film has many major highlights, but the Fourth of July dinner where Beery and Barrymore return home drunk is a definite highlight, especially with everybody trying to stifle their laughter at Beery's silly antics. The film gives each and every cast member a chance to shine, and each of them gives their all in creating memorable, true-to-life characterizations. This is one of mgm's best remembered films from their golden age, and certainly has stood the test of time in giving audiences a sense of nostalgia of the sweetness of years gone by.