This fantasy of depression life in New York was like "Gold Diggers of 1933" in its sympathy to the variety of character types who roamed the theatre district in search of a future. If Little Orphan Annie at this time was hoping for an escape from Miss Hannigan's reign of terror at the orphanage, the aged Apple Annie was hoping to find a way to bring happiness to her beautiful daughter raised in a Spanish convent and now engaged to a nobleman whose father wants to meet the mother in order to approve the match. The help of jaded gambler Warren William, crusty Ned Sparks, dipsomaniac judge Guy Kibbee and nightclub entertainer Glenda Farrell might just put the scheme of making her look like a lady (shades of "Pygmallion"), showing that at least in Runyeonland, gangsters have good hearts, especially if an apple a day brings luck at the race track.
Character actress May Robson brings much heart to the down-on-her-luck Annie who longs to see her daughter at least one last time and be seen as the great lady she could have been rather than the poor street vendor she has become. Warren William escapes from the playboys and ruthless businessmen he was playing over at Warner Brothers to take on one of his most memorable roles as the good-hearted gangster (a staple in Damon Runyeon tales) while Ned Sparks gets most of the funniest lines. He delivers them with a cigar in his mouth, acid spewing and joy exploding out of every wisecrack he makes. Nat Pendleton is also amusing as the lovable dumb lug Shakespeare, Williams' right hand man.
The chemistry between Robson and Guy Kibbee (pretending to be her husband) is totally charming, giving the impression that there will be a nice September romance once the story we see on screen ends. Parker is lovely as the innocent daughter, but Barry Norton and Walter Connelly seem miscast as Spanish nobility. That is a minor flaw through a film that totally engrosses you and goes straight to the heart.
Character actress May Robson brings much heart to the down-on-her-luck Annie who longs to see her daughter at least one last time and be seen as the great lady she could have been rather than the poor street vendor she has become. Warren William escapes from the playboys and ruthless businessmen he was playing over at Warner Brothers to take on one of his most memorable roles as the good-hearted gangster (a staple in Damon Runyeon tales) while Ned Sparks gets most of the funniest lines. He delivers them with a cigar in his mouth, acid spewing and joy exploding out of every wisecrack he makes. Nat Pendleton is also amusing as the lovable dumb lug Shakespeare, Williams' right hand man.
The chemistry between Robson and Guy Kibbee (pretending to be her husband) is totally charming, giving the impression that there will be a nice September romance once the story we see on screen ends. Parker is lovely as the innocent daughter, but Barry Norton and Walter Connelly seem miscast as Spanish nobility. That is a minor flaw through a film that totally engrosses you and goes straight to the heart.