Tenth Avenue Angel

One user comment contains an error that should be rectified. The character of Steve, played by George Murphy, is not the child's (Flavia's) father. His original relationship to the family is unclear, but he's a potential uncle, and the point is that he is a big favorite of this little girl's. Flavia's father appears early in the film, very briefly. He appears to be a music teacher. Steve is unmarried, and one of the major themes in the movie concerns whether he and Susan (the unbelievably pretty Angela Landsbury) can build up a life together after he has been released from prison.

Maybe my tolerance for smaltz is higher, I don't find the film to be that cheezy or obvious. It's hard for children to know the difference between fact and fiction, how fiction is often truer in spirit than facts, and how stories help get us through rotten times. (If you notice, Flavia's mother uses stories mostly to console the child).

Christmas stories are supposed to be schamltzy, aren't they?

I saw this movie as a child, and of course I have a different perspective than I would have had as an adult. I never forgot that she doubted God; because her Mom had told her about untrue superstitions.

One viewing of Tenth Avenue Angel will not be enough for any real Margaret O'Brien fan. Miss O'Brien tugs at the heartstrings in this lovely holiday story that will have you longing for more! No doubt Margaret O'Brien was one of the most talented young actresses of all time. Her simple beauty, her ability to come across as a real child, and her talent for delivering lengthy lines never fail to astound you. The story is simple but tender, and other leads such as George Murphy and Angela Lansbury, take a backseat to Miss O'Brien. When she is in a scene, you cannot take you eyes off her. Just as in Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, and Lost Angel, Margaret O'Brien is a delight. A don't miss for any fan of hers and an even bigger treat for those who have never seen her films!

This picture takes place during the depression in New York City's Hell Kitchen which ran along 10th Avenue and the living condition were not favorable during this period of time in the 1930's. Margaret O'Brien plays the role as Flavia Mills a little girl about the age of eight years old and is a very happy little girl who lives in a world of her own and is a great joy to all the people in the neighborhood. Angela Lansbury, (Susan Bratten) is Flavia's aunt and she plans to get married to Steve Abbutt, (George Murphy). However, Steve has been away in prison for eighteen months and has kept it a secret from Flavia, who believes he went around the world. Flavia's make believe world starts crumbing as she gets older and she becomes very disillusion about what her family tells her. Margaret O'Brien gave an outstanding performance and her great acting abilities will make you reach for a box of tissues. This is another Christmas story which was great entertainment in 1948 and is a great film you don't want to miss.

Warm film with the usual top MGM production values, strong cast.

When I finally saw this film I was surprised it was described as a "bomb" by Leonard Maltin. While it's not the greatest movie ever made, it's hardly a bomb, despite the problematic production history. Because retakes took so long, Margaret O'Brien is noticeably taller and older in some scenes than in others. The character's belief in fairy tales strains credulity in the scenes where little Margaret seems to be aging rapidly.

One could argue, as well, that, despite the hardships supposedly being endured by the characters in their poor New York neighborhood, at the height of the Great Depression, they seem reasonably well fed, dressed, and housed. The apartment where Flavia (O'Brien) lives is quite large, for example.

But there are some very true things in the film, the experience of being an only child, living among adults; the realities of readjustment for an ex-con (George Murphy). Many of the realities are not in the scenes or the lines, but in Margaret's and George Murphy's faces.

The cast is great and there's a nice Christmas atmosphere in the scenes that wrap up the story.