IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Min, the owner of a dockside hotel, is forced to make difficult decisions about the future of Nancy, the young woman she took in as an infant.Min, the owner of a dockside hotel, is forced to make difficult decisions about the future of Nancy, the young woman she took in as an infant.Min, the owner of a dockside hotel, is forced to make difficult decisions about the future of Nancy, the young woman she took in as an infant.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win total
Don Dillaway
- Dick
- (as Donald Dillaway)
Frank McGlynn Sr.
- Mr. Southard
- (as Frank McGlynn)
Hank Bell
- Sailor in Barbershop
- (uncredited)
George Marion
- Fishing Captain at Dock
- (uncredited)
Eugene McDonald
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Jack Pennick
- Merchant Seaman Checking in at Hotel
- (uncredited)
Henry Roquemore
- Bella's Lover Aboard Ship
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film did very well for MGM at the box office, earning a profit of $731,000 ($10.63M in 2017) according to studio records.
- GoofsDuring the confrontation towards the end of the film between Min and Bella, Min almost calls Bella by the wrong name. The mistake, "M- (pause) Bella", was likely a case of Marie Dressler (Min) nearly calling Marjorie Rambeau (Bella) by her real name instead of her character name.
- ConnectionsAlternate-language version of La fruta amarga (1931)
Featured review
Marie Dressler was always never less than watchable and when she was at her best ('Dinner at Eight' being one of the best examples) she was more than great. Wallace Beery was more mixed for me, he had fine performances in the likes of 'The Big House' but at other times he could be hammy and unbalance things. Seeing a film with them together did sound interesting, the story sounded charming and the positive critiques promising.
While not a perfect film, with a few things that don't work as well as others, 'Min and Bill' was a lovely way to spend just over an hour or so. The good things far outweighing the cons. Whatever reservations one has with the story, the performances of Dressler and Beery make 'Min and Bill' well worth watching. As well as the balance of humour and emotion, which is balanced just about right and both elements handled well individually too.
The story is very slight and very creaky, with some of the pace not always coming to life.
Also thought that the title does mislead, for a titular character Bill is too much of an underused plot device.
Dressler on the other hand is a marvel, never going over the top and the performance is amiable and at times very moving. She also has a very expressive face and telling expressions. Beery's good natured performance is one of his more subtle and better ones and his chemistry with Dressler is truly charming and gives 'Min and Bill' a lot of much needed heart. The production values are not exceptional but it's still nicely photographed. The direction is sensitive on the most part, if at times a bit on the staid side.
Like what was said above, there is humour and emotion here. Neither over-balances the other, though the latter resonates a little more, and the humour is gently amusing and the emotion genuinely touching.
Concluding, quite lovely if a bit creaky narratively. See for the chemistry of Dressler and Beery and for Beery and especially Dressler (who essentially is the film). 7/10
While not a perfect film, with a few things that don't work as well as others, 'Min and Bill' was a lovely way to spend just over an hour or so. The good things far outweighing the cons. Whatever reservations one has with the story, the performances of Dressler and Beery make 'Min and Bill' well worth watching. As well as the balance of humour and emotion, which is balanced just about right and both elements handled well individually too.
The story is very slight and very creaky, with some of the pace not always coming to life.
Also thought that the title does mislead, for a titular character Bill is too much of an underused plot device.
Dressler on the other hand is a marvel, never going over the top and the performance is amiable and at times very moving. She also has a very expressive face and telling expressions. Beery's good natured performance is one of his more subtle and better ones and his chemistry with Dressler is truly charming and gives 'Min and Bill' a lot of much needed heart. The production values are not exceptional but it's still nicely photographed. The direction is sensitive on the most part, if at times a bit on the staid side.
Like what was said above, there is humour and emotion here. Neither over-balances the other, though the latter resonates a little more, and the humour is gently amusing and the emotion genuinely touching.
Concluding, quite lovely if a bit creaky narratively. See for the chemistry of Dressler and Beery and for Beery and especially Dressler (who essentially is the film). 7/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 26, 2020
- Permalink
Details
- Runtime1 hour 9 minutes
- Color
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