My Bill (1938)

Synopsis
The ever-suffering Kay Francis once again makes an assault on the audience's tear ducts in My Bill. Francis is cast as Mary Colbrook, an impoverished widow with four children, ranging in age from 10 to 19. When she realizes she can no longer provide for her family, Mary ships the three eldest children (Bonita Granville, Anita Louise and Bobby Jordan) off to their wealthy Aunt Caroline (Elisabeth Risdon), while Bill Colbrook (Dickie Moore), the youngest, loyally remains with his mom. Salvation comes in the form of a wealthy old recluse (Helens Philips Evans) who takes a liking to Bill, and who conveniently expires at fade-out time, bestowing a fortune upon the Colbrook family. Critics in 1938 were amused that the "poverty stricken" Colbrook family lived in an enormous house with expensive furnishings, but who wanted reality back then? My Bill is based on Tom Barry's play Courage, previously filmed under that title in 1930. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide