Customer Reviews

Kid Millions [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This will be, if released, the first Eddie Cantor film released on the DVD format. Hey -- it's only taken 7 years or so.

Kid Millions is one of Eddie's best - perhaps *the* best. The standard, at best, is tremendous and the film better maintains a high quality than perhaps any of his other vehicles. Of course, each will have his favourite.

Ann Sothern and George Murphy are both charming. Warren Hymer, Berton Churchill and Paul Harvey provide superb character support. Ethel Merman turns in a much more enjoyable role than that of the later STRIKE ME PINK (again alonside Cantor) would allow; she reveals a natural ability for comedy not always seen in her film roles.

Cantor is ... Cantor (which is to say marvellous!)

The film also has one of the earliest examples of three-strip technicolor in the final scene ... and very pretty it looks too.

I haven't seen the DVD yet, so the rating is for the movie. Hopeful the DVD publisher will do the film justice.

Looking for a classic 'old Hollywood' comedy to sit and empty a bowl of popcorn while watching? Look no further. This one's got it all; great characters, screwball situations, wonderful songs (from showstoppers to romantic tunes) and many a great star. Wonderful stuff for people who like old movies.

A simplistic script about Cantor inheriting $77 million from his archaeologist father is just an excuse for some sight gags and wonderful musical numbers (seven songs altogether). Merman is terrific and nearly steals the show from Cantor. Sothern and Murphy are fine as the the young romantic couple (they sing "Your Head on My Shoulder"). The final number, "Ice Cream Fantasy" was filmed in Technicolor. Be sure to catch young Lucille Ball as one of the Goldwyn Girls during the dance number which takes place in a Brooklyn ice cream factory!

Kid Millions is the story of an inheritance. An old man dies and leaves a fortune but has no obvious relatives to give it to. Three parties are suggested. First is a shady duo with a woman (Ethel Merman) who claims to be the old man's common law wife. Next is an old Southern gentleman who claims to have funded the expedition that gave the old man his wealth. Last is the rightful heir, a distant son who lives in a boat in Brooklyn (Eddie Cantor). They all make the trip to Egypt to claim the fortune, but run into trouble with a shiek there who claims the riches as an inheritance from his ancestors.

The story of this film really doesn't matter. It's basically an excuse to have fun while exhibiting the personalities of the stars and parading some music of the era. The stars range from good to bad. Cantor is the obvious spotlight here. His mannerisms are similar to fellow vaudeville entertainer Al Jolson, though Cantor is much more understated. He uses his eyes to deliver punchlines and puts over comedy very well. The leading lady here is Merman, an annoying woman with a voice like a blaring car horn. Hearing her sing is like nails down a chalkboard, but for some reason people praised her.

The music in this film is really wonderful. The "Mandy" number not only brings back nostalgic feelings because it is a classic song from the era, but it is highly entertaining for the performances given. Cantor in blackface is not offensive in the least. The two tap dancers are amazingly talented and keep the audience glued to the screen. Also in this number are a group of beautiful Goldwyn girls used similarly to the women in the Busby Berkeley musicals.

The ending to the film bursts forth in strong technicolor splendor. It takes place in an ice cream shoppe, a haven for the children that Cantor enjoys including three Little Rascals stars (Stymie, Woim, and Butch). The set-up is reminicent of Willy Wonka which came years later with the Goldwyn girls in the place of the Oompa Loompas. It's a strange segment, but it is a lot of fun.

Cantor is poor, living on a barge, when this film opens. A lawyer comes-a-knocking & Cantor and countless kids (including some "little Rascals," literally) scramble to hide. When he realizes he isn't in trouble & has, in fact, inherited a fortune that happens to be in Egypt. So Cantor sets sail to claim it; but so do Ethel Merman and a few other swindlers. The pacing of this film, however, is awfully slow. When you're so prompted to wonder when the film is finally going to be wound up, well, that's not a good sign. Not to put you through that ordeal too, let me summarize the rest of the film: Cantor runs into sheik's daughter in an Egyptian port. She falls for him. He takes her for an idiot. He's wined by the shiek, until said shiek---who has the fortune Cantor is to inherit---finds out who Cantor is. Then he tries to have him killed; all the while as Ethel Merman's sidekick attempts the same. Cantor is ultimately saved by the shiek's daughter so that they can marry. Cantor deadpans that he'd rather die. All the scampering around a cheap looking Egyptian "palace" set, over, Cantor flees in a plane; & next is seen back in New York. He opens up an ice cream factory (the film having just gone into color) & starts giving kids free ice cream; making good on a pledge of his before he knew he had come into money. Songs: Cantor does one in blackface; a scene stolen by the great dancing Nicholas Brothers, & has 2 other worthy numbers. But that's about it for this film & the whole ice cream 'business' makes no sense. I like Cantor, so it wasn't a waste of my time. "Whoopee" has far fewer slow moments, for instance, and can be viewed more than once. This film, in contradistinction, is a one-shot viewing proposition; assuming you really like Cantor or Ethel Merman enough to give it some of your time (Ann Southern doesn't have much of a role for 2nd billing herein). Yes, the 1930s were the heyday of pictures (if you give the great silent era its own category), but "Kid Millions" ranks a "B" level film. Nevertheless, even average comedic/musical films such as this one are still a treat for those among you who relish the inclusion of a whimsical song or two (sung at the drop of a hat) in a comedic film. Consider "Roman Scandals" too, but do see Cantor in "Whoopee" first; it's his most enjoyable film, I think (it's all in color too), & is the one Cantor film to see if you are just curious to sample the talents of this wacky, singing comedian. Nobody can be really compared to Groucho Marx, but if you like Groucho's style you'll most likely enjoy Eddie Cantor too. (And if you haven't seen the best of the Marx Brothers, heck---what are you waiting for? Make it a point to see "Animal Crackers," "Horse Feathers," "A Night at the Opera," & "Duck Soup".) Hail Hail, picture making from that era. P.S. While I'm at it, let me also recommend another great 1930s comedy (albeit not a musical) by the title of "The Good Fairy." It's a Margaret Sullivan/Frank Morgan (yes, THAT Frank Morgan) gem. Cheers!

I had gotten the vhs version to replace an old version and this was never opened . I almost kept it unopen to save it as a colectors item cause it was still fresh.

Some years ago, at a compound somewhere in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I saw an amateur production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. The audience--all Western expats--were rolling in the sand-dusted aisles as Ko-Ko and then Nanki-Poo were condemned to death (or marriage) for . . . flirting!

My fellow expats will have the same reaction to Kid Millions. Of course, the movie dates from 1934, and it has the racist, etc., elements that are to be expected. But only a killjoy would condemn it out of hand (or, for that matter, The Ghost Breakers or The Mikado itself).

So, Saudis, Egyptians, Turks, Indians, Pakistanis, friends: forgive. Every time an expat laughs, it's just another memory of the good old days wafting its way towards heaven.

I too like this film and the technicolor finale. I had it on 16mm and have the original NTSC Laserdisc. I was hopepful for this and other Goldwyn musicals on DVD. A Cantor source told me late last year that the release had been cancelled. But, believe it or not, this year a supplier outside USA charged me for this item in January and like other items it did not arrive. A major disappointment.
The musical numbers in this flm are amongst my favorites from this tuneful era and Mandy goes into my mental archive of minstrel performances as one of the best of that genre along with the Shirley Temple minstrel sequence in one of her films.

This is my favorite Eddie Cantor musical comedy. In addition to a wonderful score, the cast features the talented Ethel Merman, while Ann Sothern and George Murphy provide the romantic interest. There is a rousing musical number in which the young Nicholas Brothers dance as only they can. Look for a young Lucille Ball as one of the Goldwyn Girls. If all this weren't enough, the musical finale was photographed in glorious Technicolor as Eddie treats hundreds of kids to his ice cream factory. (the Willy Wonka of his day). This musical comedy is a must for all fans of the genre. I don't know why it is currently unavailable on DVD, but all the Goldwyn comedies and musicals are long over-due.

Even thought this is a very enjoyable film, I only gave it three stars because it's predictable. But please don't let that hinder you from seeing this movie. It features a typically versatile performance from Cantor and features various members of Our Gang (Little Rascals)...watch closely for 'em, they're unbilled but there's quite a few! Cantor's wide-eyed acting style is legendary and he doesn't let you down here. His dream is to own an ice cream factory...and after inheriting a vast amount of money, he does...but only after numerous other characters try to weasel his inheritance away from him. If you enjoy films from the 30's (and watching crowd scenes for familiar faces) you won't be disappointed. It's a wonderful overlooked movie.