Sorrowful Jones

In his first semi-serious role, an unusually subdued Hope plays a New York bookie left with a gambler's daughter as a form of collateral. When the father doesn't return, Hope attempts to cope with his new acquisition. This film is basically a remake of the Shirley Temple vehicle LITTLE MISS MARKER (1934), and Saunders proves every bit as capable as the famous child star. Much of the humor in this version is delivered by the various street characters the child meets while under Hope's care. They include Ball as a Broadway singer who takes an interest in the kid. Hope is a pleasure to watch in a role that doesn't derive laughs solely from his hamming, but from witty ...