Other users have not appreciated this film, so I'll try to explain why I find it brilliant.
It all revolves around Jackie Cooper. In every situation, he reacts exactly as a 10-year old should. He is able to carry the film, as Mickey Rooney could when he got a little older.
I can imagine screenwriter Delmer Daves consulting with the young star to get realistic feedback on how he would be feeling in each scene. For example, what would a kid do if his outing with his brother were hijacked by his sib's girlfriend (see the canoe scene)?
The rest of the family are archetypes also. The stepfather is clueless, like someone who had never been a parent. The mom is passive, like someone grateful for a new husband accepting a ready-made family. The non-custodial father is indulgent, even willing to risk a kidnapping charge (a modern concept) for the good of his kids. And the older brother listens only to his hormones.
It all revolves around Jackie Cooper. In every situation, he reacts exactly as a 10-year old should. He is able to carry the film, as Mickey Rooney could when he got a little older.
I can imagine screenwriter Delmer Daves consulting with the young star to get realistic feedback on how he would be feeling in each scene. For example, what would a kid do if his outing with his brother were hijacked by his sib's girlfriend (see the canoe scene)?
The rest of the family are archetypes also. The stepfather is clueless, like someone who had never been a parent. The mom is passive, like someone grateful for a new husband accepting a ready-made family. The non-custodial father is indulgent, even willing to risk a kidnapping charge (a modern concept) for the good of his kids. And the older brother listens only to his hormones.