This fine musical version of Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" stars Mickey Rooney as a boy struggling with the pitfalls of adolescence. In early 1900s New England we meet the Miller clan: Nat (Walter Huston), a newspaper editor and staunch upholder of Yankee tradition; his wife (Selena
Royle), ever the doting mother; Richard (Rooney), their oldest son; and Tommy ("Butch" Jenkins), their youngest. Also living in their comfortable household are an old maid cousin (Agnes Moorehead) and a bachelor uncle (Frank Morgan). Richard is extraordinarily bright and has big ideas about
changing the world. He adores neighbor Muriel McComber (Gloria DeHaven), but has been forbidden to see her by her conservative father. Peeved at his inability to see the girl he loves, Richard goes off on a drunk, meets a dance-hall girl, spends every cent he has, and gets kicked out of the bar.
Naturally, he catches hell from his dad, but by the end he and Muriel are finally allowed to be together.
A sweet movie with good work by all the actors, SUMMER HOLIDAY benefits immeasurably from director Mamoulian's inventiveness and the handsome cinematography and production values. Even if "The Stanley Steamer" is an obvious attempt to cash in on the appeal of "The Trolley Song" from the very
similar MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the songs are quite appealing and eminently suitable. An earlier version of the O'Neill play appeared in 1935 as AH, WILDERNESS, with Rooney playing the role of the younger brother. leave a comment
