Deanna Durbin turned down this film and no surprise because the idea is stupid - it's about a 20 year old woman who pretends to be 12 so her mother's new boyfriend doesn't think mom is too old. Isn't he going to figure it out eventually? She keeps the deception going with the boyfriend's colleague Bob Cummings because.... um, fun?
The Major and the Minor had a girl pretend to be fun for a logical reason but here it's stupid. Durbin stepped out and Diana Barrymore stepped in. Presumably Universal figured the daughter of John Barrymore could handle it - indeed they throw in extra acting for her to go, by making her character an actor, and have her perform as Queen Victoria, Sadie Thompson.
Barrymore runs around and mugs and it's painful. She tries but she hasn't got it. It's a tough role but she isn't even pretty. Universal don't protect her - she carries the bulk of the action she's always the focus of scenes and she's hideous.
I mean there's a strong cast here otherwise - Cummings acts his arse off and does a good job opposite her - he's got a bit to do but Kay Francis (her mother) and John Boles (mother's boyfriend) are wasted as is Andy Devine (manager). The film bets all its chips on Barrymore and it's a bust.
Henry Koster's handling isn't bad - the blocking of the scenes and what not is fine. It looks handsome. But its so dumb and gets more and more painful. Amateurish Barrymore.
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