Breaking the Ice (1938)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Edward F. Cline

Writers:

Fritz Falkenstein (story)
Mary C. McCall Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

22 September 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Mennonite

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Bobby Breen	...	Tommy Martin
Charles Ruggles	...	Samuel Terwilliger
Dolores Costello	...	Martha Martin
Irene Dare	...	Irene Dare
Robert Barrat	...	William Decker
Dorothy Peterson	...	Annie Decker
John 'Dusty' King	...	Henry Johnson
Billy Gilbert	...	Mr. Small
Margaret Hamilton	...	Mrs. Small
Charles Murray	...	Janitor
Jonathan Hale	...	Kane
Delmar Watson	...	Reuben Johnson
Spencer Charters	...	Farmer Smith
Cy Kendall	...	Judd
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maurice Cass	...	Mr. Jones

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (RCA Victor System)

Company:

Bobby Breen Productions Inc.

Taking an adult view

So Rick Prelinger's been down the chimney again with that big sack of his - and the third of the Bobby Breen movies. Quite apart from the fairly revolutionary - for its time - Amish background,familiar faces such as Charlie Ruggles or Dolores Costello can only be plusses in what is a fairly typical typical Breen opus. Where it verges off to the left, in a major way, is the addition of child skating prodigy Irene Dare. If you were tight lipped over the lubricous exploitation of the infant Shirley Temple, well, you ain't seen nothing. I first watched the movie two years ago and spent the intervening period wondering how it ever snuk past the Mothers Of America - seeing it again has me wondering anew. Some nice little songs, Bobby's always professional and cheery disposition when under fire - keep them coming Rick and more power to your projector.