An engrossing film which both endorses and questions a vision of small-town American romance. When Felix Deitz (Lynn) arrives at Adam Lemp's (Rains) house to board, the music professor's four daughters all fall in love with him. Ann (Priscilla Lane) becomes engaged to him but later finds
out from the cynical Mickey Borden (Garfield) that one of her sisters is devastated by the impending marriage. In a great act of sibling generosity, she gives up Felix and runs off with the embittered Mickey. Felix departs, however, and the sister falls in love with another man. The tough,
indolent Mickey realizes that he's breaking Ann's heart and decides to engineer her reunion with Felix.
A fun tearjerker, this film is saved from its own candybox prettiness by the scorching presence of Garfield in the seemingly tailor-made role that brought him stardom. His Mickey Borden is a rebellious, surly, disillusioned young man from the big city, where poverty has scarred his otherwise
brilliant mind. His rare smiles are wry grins, and his laughter is ironic. His character at once shouts defiance and defeat. His remarks to the kindly small-town folks who take him in reflect both their naivete and his jaded worldliness.
Further help is offered by director Curtiz, whose sense of pace and proportion never gives this cottage cheese a chance to curdle. Although the Lane sisters and Page are simply too cute for words, they, Rains, and Robson do evoke something idealistically cozy when you let your guard down. Several
sequels followed, including the superior DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS, as well as a mediocre remake, YOUNG AT HEART. leave a comment
