Warner Brothers contract players Guy Kibbee and Ailene MacMahon scored a big hit in "Gold Diggers of 1933" and ended up being paired as leads in nearly half a dozen films afterwards. In spite of the obvious age difference they work well together, a cinematic Fred and Ethel Mertz where the two actors actually got along. Kibbee ran out on his wife and children years before, and MacMahon made good on her own, eventually going on with her life and finding a career as a newspaper editorial editor. His sudden return after a decade throws a fly into the mixture of her life, and being the big dreamer that he is, it's a mixed blessing. His children have no idea that the kindly stranger that their mother hired to work as their cook is actually their pop, and he plays Mr. Fix it in many of their personal issues, even helping his estranged wife in a political issue involving her paper.
Making his entrance on an elephant, Kibbee totally charms the titled character (Betty Jean Hainey) whom he has no idea is his youngest daughter. The fact that they are living miles away in a different state from where Kibbee and MacMahon lived before is of no consequence, and neither is the fact that MacMahon has a new man in her life. The two veteran actors are superb and MacMahon can say more with her eyes than most actresses can with a script filled with words. Her reaction upon seeing him is priceless, especially as the young daughter is being shown by him how to make a bird's nest egg sandwich.
As MacMahon's feelings begin to grow for her estranged husband, the lights in her eyes do too. When she breaks down and calls him dear, you know it's a done deal. Alternately touching and funny, this film lacks in pathos and succeeds simply based on the lovability of its two stars.
Making his entrance on an elephant, Kibbee totally charms the titled character (Betty Jean Hainey) whom he has no idea is his youngest daughter. The fact that they are living miles away in a different state from where Kibbee and MacMahon lived before is of no consequence, and neither is the fact that MacMahon has a new man in her life. The two veteran actors are superb and MacMahon can say more with her eyes than most actresses can with a script filled with words. Her reaction upon seeing him is priceless, especially as the young daughter is being shown by him how to make a bird's nest egg sandwich.
As MacMahon's feelings begin to grow for her estranged husband, the lights in her eyes do too. When she breaks down and calls him dear, you know it's a done deal. Alternately touching and funny, this film lacks in pathos and succeeds simply based on the lovability of its two stars.