Booth Tarkington is now known for his Pulitzer Prize winning novel "The Magnificent Ambersons" but back in the twenties he was mostly known as the author of the Penrod books as well as other juvenile series such as Edgar. In fact by the early 1920s he was at Goldwyn writing scenarios based on the Edgar stories. Penrod was his most endearing character and it had already been filmed by First National as a 90 minute special in 1922 starring Wesley Barry. The films of the late 1930s bore little resemblance to Tarkington's creation and were made to cash in on the novelty of the Maunch twins. The 1931 movie featured Leon Janney in the lead and Junior Coghlan as Sam. Coghlan had been a juvenile performer in silent era but apart from a memorable part as a sick boy in "Hell's House", his career had petered out, he had arrived at that awkward age. As had Janney, although his career hadn't really got off the ground, mostly consisting of playing the lead actors as children. He appeared in a couple of "Our Gang" shorts but it was a mystery why as his character was not little and cute but a bit older and with an unappealing personality. Still 1931 was his year - not only did he have the lead in Penrod but he also starred in "Police Court", a stirring melodrama of an on the skids actor (Henry B. Walthall) who finds a reason to go on because of his son.
Everything that made the books so beloved - the "In-Or-In" society, Georgie Bassett, the town goody-goody ("Georgie isn't like other boys" proud father boasts) and Rodney Bitts, Penrod's perennial thorn in the side and son of the richest man in town, are here in the movie. As well, there is the fight between Penrod and Sam over the heart of Marjorie Jones (very winsomely played by Margaret Marquis) and the very heart rending tale of the death of Penrod's old dog "Duke" which, interestingly, wasn't handled as poignantly as a similar scene in "Skippy".
First up is a school scene - Penrod has to write a "Letter to a Friend" for homework but as usual he isn't prepared, he finds a letter in his sister's room, reads it in class and creates a sensation, of course it is a love letter and Penrod is going to find it hard to live down the phrases "ruby red lips, sparkling blue eyes and lovely curly locks"!! The class room scene establishes the characters of Penrod and Sam's mortal enemies - Georgie Bassett's letter is to his teacher and is all about flowers, Rodney Bitt's is like a prospectus for his father's bank!! Meanwhile Penrod's dad is ambushed by Mr. Bassett (tremendous role for Johnny Arthur, he plays the prissy father to the hilt and even Mr. Schofield winces when he says "darling Georgie is not like other boys"!!). He demands Georgie be allowed to attend Penrod's secret society. It's a bad day for Georgie when he is inducted as a member - he is almost taken to hospital!! Rodney wants to join also but when he tells his father of his bad experience there is retaliation when his father buys the vacant lot from Mr. Schofield and banishes Penrod.
This hits Penrod at his lowest, not only has he fallen out with his best pal Sam but it is where he has buried his little dog - it means he can't even visit the grave. Dorothy Peterson, everyone's idea of a perfect wife and mother, Zasu Pitts as the mincing Mrs. Bassett and Charles Sellon as pompous Mr. Bitts. Janney really wins you over and his emotional scenes really convince as do all the children. Junior Coghlan plays Sam as a boy of few words but his character shines through. All credit must be given to William Beaudine. Later in his career his name became synonymous with "hack director" but back in the day he was known for having a gift for directing children (he directed the original 1923 version, Mary Pickford's "Sparrows" among others).
Highly Recommended.
Everything that made the books so beloved - the "In-Or-In" society, Georgie Bassett, the town goody-goody ("Georgie isn't like other boys" proud father boasts) and Rodney Bitts, Penrod's perennial thorn in the side and son of the richest man in town, are here in the movie. As well, there is the fight between Penrod and Sam over the heart of Marjorie Jones (very winsomely played by Margaret Marquis) and the very heart rending tale of the death of Penrod's old dog "Duke" which, interestingly, wasn't handled as poignantly as a similar scene in "Skippy".
First up is a school scene - Penrod has to write a "Letter to a Friend" for homework but as usual he isn't prepared, he finds a letter in his sister's room, reads it in class and creates a sensation, of course it is a love letter and Penrod is going to find it hard to live down the phrases "ruby red lips, sparkling blue eyes and lovely curly locks"!! The class room scene establishes the characters of Penrod and Sam's mortal enemies - Georgie Bassett's letter is to his teacher and is all about flowers, Rodney Bitt's is like a prospectus for his father's bank!! Meanwhile Penrod's dad is ambushed by Mr. Bassett (tremendous role for Johnny Arthur, he plays the prissy father to the hilt and even Mr. Schofield winces when he says "darling Georgie is not like other boys"!!). He demands Georgie be allowed to attend Penrod's secret society. It's a bad day for Georgie when he is inducted as a member - he is almost taken to hospital!! Rodney wants to join also but when he tells his father of his bad experience there is retaliation when his father buys the vacant lot from Mr. Schofield and banishes Penrod.
This hits Penrod at his lowest, not only has he fallen out with his best pal Sam but it is where he has buried his little dog - it means he can't even visit the grave. Dorothy Peterson, everyone's idea of a perfect wife and mother, Zasu Pitts as the mincing Mrs. Bassett and Charles Sellon as pompous Mr. Bitts. Janney really wins you over and his emotional scenes really convince as do all the children. Junior Coghlan plays Sam as a boy of few words but his character shines through. All credit must be given to William Beaudine. Later in his career his name became synonymous with "hack director" but back in the day he was known for having a gift for directing children (he directed the original 1923 version, Mary Pickford's "Sparrows" among others).
Highly Recommended.