Eddie Murphy Movie:

Kid Millions Reviews:
Monumental Weirdness, Monumental Fun
2008-08-27 - Some years ago, at a compound somewhere in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I saw an amateur production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. The audience--all Western expats--were rolling in the sand-dusted aisles as Ko-Ko and then Nanki-Poo were condemned to death (or marriage) for . . . flirting!

My fellow expats will have the same reaction to Kid Millions. Of course, the movie dates from 1934, and it has the racist, etc., elements that are to be expected. But only a killjoy would condemn it out of hand (or, for that matter, The Ghost Breakers or The Mikado itself).

So, Saudis, Egyptians, Turks, Indians, Pakistanis, friends: forgive. Every time an expat laughs, it's just another memory of the good old days wafting its way towards heaven.

And the Plot Doesn't Matter
2006-11-10 - Kid Millions is the story of an inheritance. An old man dies and leaves a fortune but has no obvious relatives to give it to. Three parties are suggested. First is a shady duo with a woman (Ethel Merman) who claims to be the old man's common law wife. Next is an old Southern gentleman who claims to have funded the expedition that gave the old man his wealth. Last is the rightful heir, a distant son who lives in a boat in Brooklyn (Eddie Cantor). They all make the trip to Egypt to claim the fortune, but run into trouble with a shiek there who claims the riches as an inheritance from his ancestors.

The story of this film really doesn't matter. It's basically an excuse to have fun while exhibiting the personalities of the stars and parading some music of the era. The stars range from good to bad. Cantor is the obvious spotlight here. His mannerisms are similar to fellow vaudeville entertainer Al Jolson, though Cantor is much more understated. He uses his eyes to deliver punchlines and puts over comedy very well. The leading lady here is Merman, an annoying woman with a voice like a blaring car horn. Hearing her sing is like nails down a chalkboard, but for some reason people praised her.

The music in this film is really wonderful. The "Mandy" number not only brings back nostalgic feelings because it is a classic song from the era, but it is highly entertaining for the performances given. Cantor in blackface is not offensive in the least. The two tap dancers are amazingly talented and keep the audience glued to the screen. Also in this number are a group of beautiful Goldwyn girls used similarly to the women in the Busby Berkeley musicals.

The ending to the film bursts forth in strong technicolor splendor. It takes place in an ice cream shoppe, a haven for the children that Cantor enjoys including three Little Rascals stars (Stymie, Woim, and Butch). The set-up is reminicent of Willy Wonka which came years later with the Goldwyn girls in the place of the Oompa Loompas. It's a strange segment, but it is a lot of fun.

Kid Millions
2006-09-23 - I too like this film and the technicolor finale. I had it on 16mm and have the original NTSC Laserdisc. I was hopepful for this and other Goldwyn musicals on DVD. A Cantor source told me late last year that the release had been cancelled. But, believe it or not, this year a supplier outside USA charged me for this item in January and like other items it did not arrive. A major disappointment.
The musical numbers in this flm are amongst my favorites from this tuneful era and Mandy goes into my mental archive of minstrel performances as one of the best of that genre along with the Shirley Temple minstrel sequence in one of her films.

Eddie Cantor shines in this delightful Goldwyn musical comedy
2006-06-28 - This is my favorite Eddie Cantor musical comedy. In addition to a wonderful score, the cast features the talented Ethel Merman, while Ann Sothern and George Murphy provide the romantic interest. There is a rousing musical number in which the young Nicholas Brothers dance as only they can. Look for a young Lucille Ball as one of the Goldwyn Girls. If all this weren't enough, the musical finale was photographed in glorious Technicolor as Eddie treats hundreds of kids to his ice cream factory. (the Willy Wonka of his day). This musical comedy is a must for all fans of the genre. I don't know why it is currently unavailable on DVD, but all the Goldwyn comedies and musicals are long over-due.

First Eddie Cantor release on DVD
2005-11-27 - This will be, if released, the first Eddie Cantor film released on the DVD format. Hey -- it's only taken 7 years or so.

Kid Millions is one of Eddie's best - perhaps *the* best. The standard, at best, is tremendous and the film better maintains a high quality than perhaps any of his other vehicles. Of course, each will have his favourite.

Ann Sothern and George Murphy are both charming. Warren Hymer, Berton Churchill and Paul Harvey provide superb character support. Ethel Merman turns in a much more enjoyable role than that of the later STRIKE ME PINK (again alonside Cantor) would allow; she reveals a natural ability for comedy not always seen in her film roles.

Cantor is ... Cantor (which is to say marvellous!)

The film also has one of the earliest examples of three-strip technicolor in the final scene ... and very pretty it looks too.

I haven't seen the DVD yet, so the rating is for the movie. Hopeful the DVD publisher will do the film justice.