Barnacle Bill

This film is long overdue to be rediscovered. Marjorie Main and Wallace Beery are indeed very funny, but they also bring true pathos and more than one lump to the throat during the course of this dear, sweet film.

Marjorie Main is one of my childhood idols, along with the immortal Marie Dressler, and indeed she does seem the spiritual successor to that fabled actress.

She and Wallace Beery would never be stars today, in our plastic world, and we are so much the poorer for it. Wallace Beery plays a character that on the surface has few redeeming qualities and yet its impossible not to love him. Marjorie Main was never better.

If you get the chance, watch this movie.