This is a marvelous film from start to finish and is one of the sweetest flicks I have seen in many years. Yet in spite of this, as of this date, the film only has an IMDb score of 6.0. I just don't understand this, as the writing, acting and production are just great and it probably is Eddie Cantor's best film (even better than THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS).
Eddie plays a down and out college professor who is out of work and down to his last dollar. Just when things look blackest, he stumbles upon a young lady who is about to kill herself. Cantor is a sweet guy and so he saves her life and gets her a job--a job Cantor himself needed. However, in all the confusion, the lady forgot her child and when Eddie later discovers this adorable kid, he has no idea whose child it is--all he finds is a note pinned to him asking whoever finds it to care for him. Well, good Samaritan Eddie can't bring himself to take the kid to an orphanage and so he takes the baby home. Why he did this actually made a lot of sense as the baby who played this part was the most adorable and sweet child I have ever seen in a movie. I don't mean in a cloying way, but you just can't help but smile every time the tot enters a scene. I watched the film with my wife and daughter and their hearts also melted each time the baby appeared.
Despite being poor, Eddie's luck changes when an old friend discovers his plight and gets him a job at a girls college. However, the young ladies are NOT thrilled with having a new and not particularly attractive teacher--they want their gorgeous old professor! So, they make life just awful for poor little Eddie through much of the film. This is really funny, but you really feel sorry for the guy as the girls (led by the as usual spunky Bonita Granville) are very cruel.
Later, when the girls discover that Eddie is a nice guy AND he's hiding a baby in his on-campus apartment, they feel sorry for him and actually help raise the baby. Plus, as faculty are NOT allowed to have young children, they also help him conceal the child. Later, when the mother finally catches up to her lost child, this leads to a conclusion that is both very funny and extremely heart-warming.
While I am definitely a bit of a curmudgeon when I review many films on IMDb, I was totally captivated by this film and its schmaltziness worked perfectly--never being too cloying or saccharine. Much of this could be attributed to the magnificent script and deft direction, but most of this should rightfully be attributed to Cantor. He was just wonderful as the baby's foster-dad and their scenes together (particulary towards the beginning of the film) were charming and warm. If he didn't love and adore this baby, you could have fooled me. Plus, unlike some Cantor films, his style is rather understated and he really carried the film. Also, unlike some Cantor films he does not dance and his jokes were not at the expense of the plot--being perfectly integrated into the movie. And, while he always sings in his films, he only has one song in FORTY LITTLE MOTHERS, but when he sings it, tears welled up inside--he really put that song across with grace and style.
All-in-all, this is one great film that unfortunately has been pretty much forgotten. Unless you are an old grouch (or even if you are), see this film and appreciate just how wonderful a little picture like this can be.
Eddie plays a down and out college professor who is out of work and down to his last dollar. Just when things look blackest, he stumbles upon a young lady who is about to kill herself. Cantor is a sweet guy and so he saves her life and gets her a job--a job Cantor himself needed. However, in all the confusion, the lady forgot her child and when Eddie later discovers this adorable kid, he has no idea whose child it is--all he finds is a note pinned to him asking whoever finds it to care for him. Well, good Samaritan Eddie can't bring himself to take the kid to an orphanage and so he takes the baby home. Why he did this actually made a lot of sense as the baby who played this part was the most adorable and sweet child I have ever seen in a movie. I don't mean in a cloying way, but you just can't help but smile every time the tot enters a scene. I watched the film with my wife and daughter and their hearts also melted each time the baby appeared.
Despite being poor, Eddie's luck changes when an old friend discovers his plight and gets him a job at a girls college. However, the young ladies are NOT thrilled with having a new and not particularly attractive teacher--they want their gorgeous old professor! So, they make life just awful for poor little Eddie through much of the film. This is really funny, but you really feel sorry for the guy as the girls (led by the as usual spunky Bonita Granville) are very cruel.
Later, when the girls discover that Eddie is a nice guy AND he's hiding a baby in his on-campus apartment, they feel sorry for him and actually help raise the baby. Plus, as faculty are NOT allowed to have young children, they also help him conceal the child. Later, when the mother finally catches up to her lost child, this leads to a conclusion that is both very funny and extremely heart-warming.
While I am definitely a bit of a curmudgeon when I review many films on IMDb, I was totally captivated by this film and its schmaltziness worked perfectly--never being too cloying or saccharine. Much of this could be attributed to the magnificent script and deft direction, but most of this should rightfully be attributed to Cantor. He was just wonderful as the baby's foster-dad and their scenes together (particulary towards the beginning of the film) were charming and warm. If he didn't love and adore this baby, you could have fooled me. Plus, unlike some Cantor films, his style is rather understated and he really carried the film. Also, unlike some Cantor films he does not dance and his jokes were not at the expense of the plot--being perfectly integrated into the movie. And, while he always sings in his films, he only has one song in FORTY LITTLE MOTHERS, but when he sings it, tears welled up inside--he really put that song across with grace and style.
All-in-all, this is one great film that unfortunately has been pretty much forgotten. Unless you are an old grouch (or even if you are), see this film and appreciate just how wonderful a little picture like this can be.