Breaking the Ice

Bobby Breen and his mother, Dolores Costello, are Mennonites living in Pennsylvania, a land of farms and covered bridges. They want to go to Kansas, where Miss Costello can take over a farm, but her protector, Robert Barratt thinks that women can't do that, and will not lend her the $92 they need for railroad fare. Bobby tries to raise the money by selling a stack of old newspaper to antiques dealer Charles Ruggles, who's on a buying trip, but all he gets is a dollar and a harmonica. So he decides to go with Ruggles to Philadelphia, where he is told he can make that money. Meanwhile, $10 turns up missing and Barrat nerates Miss Costello because her son stole it.

Ruggles offers his usual mild comedy persona to excellent effect and he swindles customers and even Bobby, but turns out to have a soft spot. Master Breen sings four pieces in his child soprano, and there is also skater Irene Dare doing the movie's big production numbers like a 7-year-old Sonja Henie. Other interesting talent on view includes Billy Gilbert and Margaret Hamilton as a married couple, Jonathan Hale, and even Sennett comic Charles Murray.

It's sweet and mildly ridiculous by modern standards, but will be of interest to anyone fond of old talent and sentimentality.