The move from A to B was not uncommon when the Hollywood studios re-made earlier films. This 1939 family drama, about a department store magnate (Edward Ellis) disappointed that none of his children are interested in taking over the family store, originated as a 1933 David O. Selznick production that marked John Cromwell's first time directing at RKO and featured Lionel Barrymore as the father and William Gargan, Eric Linden and Gloria Stuart among his children. When the story moved to B production in 1939, production chores shifted to Robert Sisk, on his way to A films and a move to MGM, while Jack Hively took over the direction. Character actor Ellis shines a rare leading role, after years in the background (most notably as the title character in 1934's The Thin Man), while Gargan moved into the role of his brother. Two of the children's roles were prizes taken by the winners of Jesse Lasky's second Gateway to Hollywood radio talent search. Virginia Vale plays Phoebe, the daughter mixed up with a fake prince, while Kirby Grant (billed as Robert Stanton) plays Bert, the aspiring musician. Neither would make it to big screen stardom, though Grant would become an early TV star in the syndicated series Sky King.

By Frank Miller