Little Miss Nobody (1936)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release: June 5, 1936
DVD release: April 15, 2013
Director: John G. Blystone
Not Rated
Review by Richard Rey
Jane Withers stars as Judy Devlin, a mischievous orphan with a big heart, in Little Miss Nobody. Setting traps for deserved bullies, hosing down snobby kids, and stealing turkey on Thanksgiving day for her fellow foundlings are just a few of the pranks that ensue in this classic 1936 film from Laurel and Hardy director John G. Blystone. Having directed 108 titles, most of them shorts, between 1915 and 1938, Little Miss Nobody is a peculiar blend of Our Gang humor with a dash of Cagney-gangster to boot.
Judy is admired and idolized at the Sunshine Home by the other orphans – being held in particularly high regard by her best friend Mary Dorsey (Betty Jean Hainey). Judy is the embodiment of child-like love and loyalty towards her band of abandoned grade-schoolers, and she’ll go to great lengths to protect each and every one of them, even if that means getting a demerit or two along the way. Her ‘usual penance’ is served out in a detention room where she writes apologies for her poor behavior on a chalkboard.
When the district attorney of Springfield, New York, Mr. Gerald Dexter (Ralph Morgan) pays the Sunshine Home a visit to find his long lost daughter, Judy realizes that the rich lawyer is none other than her very own father. Having made a pact with her best friend Mary that she wouldn’t leave the orphanage unless the family would adopt them both, Judy quickly switches the belongings in her arrival box with the contents of Mary’s. Taking Mary for his own daughter Mr. Dexter informs Mary that Judy can’t come home with them. It is at that point that Judy realizes the opportunity this could afford the sweet girl she’s come to know so well, and so she throws a fit and yells at her to she’ll leave the home.
After the pig-tailed well-to-do Judy is charged with incorrigibility by the orphanage’s director, Martha Bradley (Jane Darwell), for her disobedience, she is sent off to reform school where the looming threat of towering walls, schoolgirl uniforms and strict codes await her. She manages to slip away en route, running tirelessly to a local pet store owned by Mr. Russell (Harry Carey), a kind man caught in a pickle with the mafia.
It is almost unnatural the way the tone shifts between the lighthearted children’s humor and the somewhat violent nature of the mafia boss out to get Russell, affectionately called Uncle John by the naïve Judy. The more the mafia is involved, the less watchable the film becomes. It’s a unique choice by director Blystone to even attempt something like this (especially when everything prior to this has been so incredibly squeaky clean), and in that regard I applaud his high risk-taking. On the other hand, I would’ve been much more satisfied with the nice helping of shenanigans provided by the orphans.
As light as a feather, the comedy proceeding from a world run by orphans is one I only wish I could’ve taken part in. From the dancing and singing to the kindhearted instructors, this Leave It To Beaver portrayal of orphanage life is one where greedy men like Mr. Slade (Clarence Wilson) always get what’s coming – even when they’re right. No, you won’t find much accuracy in this corny family flick, but you will find heart and irresistible charm. Full of classic gags including an infectious scene featuring a goofy dog-trainer and his defiantly clever pups, this 20th Century Fox Cinema Archive release is endearingly entertaining. Expect laughs, adventure and an edgy, happy ending in this film that provided plenty of wishful thinking for its Great Depression audience.
Twentieth Century Fox’s DVD version of this black and white classic includes no special features but the fact that this 77-year-old film is kept intact lends to its cinematic value.
[Rating: 4]
Theatrical Release: June 5, 1936
DVD release: April 15, 2013
Director: John G. Blystone
Not Rated
Review by Richard Rey
Jane Withers stars as Judy Devlin, a mischievous orphan with a big heart, in Little Miss Nobody. Setting traps for deserved bullies, hosing down snobby kids, and stealing turkey on Thanksgiving day for her fellow foundlings are just a few of the pranks that ensue in this classic 1936 film from Laurel and Hardy director John G. Blystone. Having directed 108 titles, most of them shorts, between 1915 and 1938, Little Miss Nobody is a peculiar blend of Our Gang humor with a dash of Cagney-gangster to boot.
Judy is admired and idolized at the Sunshine Home by the other orphans – being held in particularly high regard by her best friend Mary Dorsey (Betty Jean Hainey). Judy is the embodiment of child-like love and loyalty towards her band of abandoned grade-schoolers, and she’ll go to great lengths to protect each and every one of them, even if that means getting a demerit or two along the way. Her ‘usual penance’ is served out in a detention room where she writes apologies for her poor behavior on a chalkboard.
When the district attorney of Springfield, New York, Mr. Gerald Dexter (Ralph Morgan) pays the Sunshine Home a visit to find his long lost daughter, Judy realizes that the rich lawyer is none other than her very own father. Having made a pact with her best friend Mary that she wouldn’t leave the orphanage unless the family would adopt them both, Judy quickly switches the belongings in her arrival box with the contents of Mary’s. Taking Mary for his own daughter Mr. Dexter informs Mary that Judy can’t come home with them. It is at that point that Judy realizes the opportunity this could afford the sweet girl she’s come to know so well, and so she throws a fit and yells at her to she’ll leave the home.
After the pig-tailed well-to-do Judy is charged with incorrigibility by the orphanage’s director, Martha Bradley (Jane Darwell), for her disobedience, she is sent off to reform school where the looming threat of towering walls, schoolgirl uniforms and strict codes await her. She manages to slip away en route, running tirelessly to a local pet store owned by Mr. Russell (Harry Carey), a kind man caught in a pickle with the mafia.
It is almost unnatural the way the tone shifts between the lighthearted children’s humor and the somewhat violent nature of the mafia boss out to get Russell, affectionately called Uncle John by the naïve Judy. The more the mafia is involved, the less watchable the film becomes. It’s a unique choice by director Blystone to even attempt something like this (especially when everything prior to this has been so incredibly squeaky clean), and in that regard I applaud his high risk-taking. On the other hand, I would’ve been much more satisfied with the nice helping of shenanigans provided by the orphans.
As light as a feather, the comedy proceeding from a world run by orphans is one I only wish I could’ve taken part in. From the dancing and singing to the kindhearted instructors, this Leave It To Beaver portrayal of orphanage life is one where greedy men like Mr. Slade (Clarence Wilson) always get what’s coming – even when they’re right. No, you won’t find much accuracy in this corny family flick, but you will find heart and irresistible charm. Full of classic gags including an infectious scene featuring a goofy dog-trainer and his defiantly clever pups, this 20th Century Fox Cinema Archive release is endearingly entertaining. Expect laughs, adventure and an edgy, happy ending in this film that provided plenty of wishful thinking for its Great Depression audience.
Twentieth Century Fox’s DVD version of this black and white classic includes no special features but the fact that this 77-year-old film is kept intact lends to its cinematic value.
[Rating: 4]
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