Kid Millions (1934)

A musical comedy about a Brooklyn boy (Eddie Cantor) who inherits a fortune from his archaeologist father, but has to go to Egypt to claim it.

Director:

Roy Del Ruth

Writers:

Arthur Sheekman (original story and screenplay), Nat Perrin (original story and screenplay),

Stars:

Eddie Cantor, Ann Sothern, Ethel Merman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Cantor	...	Eddie Wilson Jr.
Ann Sothern	...	Joan Larrabee
Ethel Merman	...	Dot Clark
George Murphy	...	Jerry Lane
Berton Churchill	...	Col. Harrison Larrabee (as Burton Churchill)
Warren Hymer	...	Louie the Lug
Paul Harvey	...	Shiek Mulhulla
Jesse Block	...	Ben Ali
Eva Sully	...	Princess Fanya
Otto Hoffman	...	Khoot
Stanley Fields	...	Oscar Wilson
Edgar Kennedy	...	Herman Wilson
Jack Kennedy	...	Pop Wilson
John Kelly	...	Adolph Wilson
Doris Davenport	...	Nora aka 'Toots'

Storyline

A musical comedy about a Brooklyn boy (Eddie Cantor) who inherits a fortune from his archaeologist father, but has to go to Egypt to claim it.

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Plot Keywords:

egypt | black and white segues into color | execution | sheik | color sequence | 

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Taglines:

HE HAD PLENTY OF DOLLARS AND NO SENSE! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Abafando a Banca

Filming Locations:

Calabasas, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Color (3-strip Technicolor) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Princess Fanya: Do something! Do something!
Eddie Wilson Jr.: Look out, lady, he'll bite you!
Princess Fanya: If he bites me, I'll bite him back!
Eddie Wilson Jr.: He wants the frankfurter!
Princess Fanya: Let him buy his own frankfurter!

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Connections

References Ever Since Eve (1934)

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Soundtracks

"The Sailor's Hornpipe"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Briefly in the score during the ship voyage

User Reviews

Fun musical comedy comes halfway in Cantor's movie career

Funny man Eddie Cantor made surprisingly few films in which he had the lead (I don't count cameos and specialty numbers in all star films). He only made ten talkie features and KID MILLIONS is number five. (For the record he also appeared in two silents and two talkie shorts.)

Eddie plays a New York barge boy, who inherits an Egyptian treasure from his archaeologist father. Once in Egypt he is surrounded by a bevy of con artists both male and female, who try to get their hands on his money.

The gags and one-liners are funny as always and the eight songs are delightful. Two stand-outs are OKAY, TOOTS! and MANDY, done in Eddie's signature up tempo strut. The three-strip Technicolor finale is ravishingly beautiful -compare it to Eddie's two-strip talkie debut in WHOOPEE!

The youngest Nicholas brother is terrifically talented and with more personality than anyone else in the film. Ann Sothern makes a lovely love interest. Ethel Merman shines as both a singer and a comedienne here. Eve Sully as Princess Fanya (an Egyptian princess with a Yiddish accent) is an absolute scream and gives Eddie a run for his money as far as stealing scenes. She is a real find - I wonder why she is not better known and what became of her. Goldwyn Girl Lucille Ball is quite recognizable in the opening chorus number - she's on the right of the screen.

An absolute delight from beginning to end, it takes its place with WHOOPEE!, ROMAN SCANDALS, and ALI BABA GOES TO TOWN as one of Eddie's best. Don't miss it!