In Love with Life

Another Dickie Moore oddity here. Along with Tomorrow's Youth, Moore sure had the weepy-kid-caught-in-the-middle-of-an-adult-situation market covered, didn't he? Here, he plays a kid who is handed off to his rich Grandfather when his Mom realizes that the life he would have there would be more stable, and plus, since she took off quite a while ago with a man Grandpa didn't approve of, he is quick to kick her out of the house and leave the grandson with him So this is a very Stella Dallas situation. But luckily, the old man's assistant, played rather stiffly by Onslow Stevens, takes a shining to the woman, and agrees to give her news about the boy, while she's trying to eke out of a living. Now, the story is pretty treacley, with a LOT of sap for you to weep over, and a fun little twist ending reflecting the Stock Market Crash of 1929, AND the treatment of seniors during this era (compare it to now, it's interesting). But I think what this film will be truly known for is the AWESOME, how shall I say it, a part amusement area, part concert hall, filled with hideous looking robotic moving clowns AND a floor show that will just leave you drop-jawed with it's Betty Boop imitator, played, yes, by a kid who looks no more than 5 years old, and then a dance routine with, AGAIN, a bunch of 5 year olds. Knowing the coordination levels of these kids of course, this makes the dance all the more amusing. The audience is filled with kids, some of which look bored out of their minds. (love the 4 year old cigarette girl)

This is worth the viewing alone.