6/19/2022

This is a splendid telling of Frances Hodgson Burnett's literal tale of rags to riches. Freddie Bartholomew is "Ceddie" who is living in Brooklyn with his mother "Dearest" (Dolores Costello) when he discovers that he is the heir to a great British Earldom. With the assistance of solicitor Henry Stephenson he travels to his new stately home to meet his austere old grandfather (C. Aubrey Smith), whose heart he completely melts... It's got a few twists and turns as he must deal with another claimant to his title, but that good will out is never in doubt. Batholomew is that rarest of child actors; he is engaging - no sign of any precociousness - and together with some good contributions from Guy Kibbee ("Mr. Hobbs") and a very dapper looking Mickey Rooney ("Dick") we have a delightful story of a thoroughly good-natured young boy who gives an old man a new lease of life.