Kid Millions

Buy This Item Kid Millions by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Available from Amazon  $18.98  on 11-15-2008     I too like this film and the technicolor finale. I had it on 16mm and have the original NTSC Laserdisc. I was hopepful for this and other Goldwyn musicals on DVD. A Cantor source told me late last year that the release had been cancelled. But, believe it or not, this year a supplier outside USA charged me for this item in January and like other items it did not arrive. A major disappointment. <br />The musical numbers in this flm are amongst my favorites from this tuneful era and Mandy goes into my mental archive of minstrel performances as one of the best of that genre along with the Shirley Temple minstrel sequence in one of her films. Reader Reviews Kid Millions is the story of an inheritance. An old man dies and leaves a fortune but has no obvious relatives to give it to. Three parties are suggested. First is a shady duo with a woman (Ethel Merman) who claims to be the old man's common law wife. Next is an old Southern gentleman who claims to have funded the expedition that gave the old man his wealth. Last is the rightful heir, a distant son who lives in a boat in Brooklyn (Eddie Cantor). They all make the trip to Egypt to claim the fortune, but run into trouble with a shiek there who claims the riches as an inheritance from his ancestors. The story of this film really doesn't matter. It's basically an excuse to have fun while exhibiting the personalities of the stars and parading some music of the era. The stars range from good to bad. Cantor is the obvious spotlight here. His mannerisms are similar to fellow vaudeville entertainer Al Jolson, though Cantor is much more understated. He uses his eyes to deliver punchlines and puts over comedy very well. The leading lady here is Merman, an annoying woman with a voice like a blaring car horn. Hearing her sing is like nails down a chalkboard, but for some reason people praised her. The music in this film is really wonderful. The "Mandy" number not only brings back nostalgic feelings because it is a classic song from the era, but it is highly entertaining for the performances given. Cantor in blackface is not offensive in the least. The two tap dancers are amazingly talented and keep the audience glued to the screen. Also in this number are a group of beautiful Goldwyn girls used similarly to the women in the Busby Berkeley musicals. The ending to the film bursts forth in strong technicolor splendor. It takes place in an ice cream shoppe, a haven for the children that Cantor enjoys including three Little Rascals stars (Stymie, Woim, and Butch). The set-up is reminicent of Willy Wonka which came years later with the Goldwyn girls in the place of the Oompa Loompas. It's a strange segment, but it is a lot of fun.

Kid Millions Available from Amazon Price: $18.98 Updated on 11-15-2008.

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