Emma (1932)

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Frances Marion (story)
Leonard Praskins (adaptation)

Release Date:

2 January 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

When their mother dies, Frederick Smith hires Emma Thatcher to be a nanny to his 3 children. The children...

Plot Keywords:

Falsely Accused | Honeymoon | Law | Niagara Falls | Airplane Accident

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Marie Dressler	...	Emma Thatcher Smith
Richard Cromwell	...	Ronald 'Ronnie' Smith
Jean Hersholt	...	Mr. Frederick 'Fred' Smith
Myrna Loy	...	Countess Isabelle 'Izzy' Smith Marlin
John Miljan	...	District Attorney
Purnell Pratt	...	Mr. Haskins, the Lawyer (as Purnell B. Pratt)
Leila Bennett	...	Matilda, the Maid
Barbara Kent	...	Gypsy Smith
Kathryn Crawford	...	Sue Smith
George Meeker	...	Bill Smith
Dale Fuller	...	Maid at Hotel
Wilfred Noy	...	Drake, the First Butler
André Cheron	...	Count Pierre (as Andre Cheron)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Approved

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ronnie drives up to the Smith mansion with his dog, the dog can be seen about to follow him out of the car. Ronnie calls the dog, and we see the dog sitting in the back seat as if he hadn't budged and then walking toward him.

Quotes:

Emma: Stop calling me beautiful!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "MGM: When the Lion Roars" (1992) (mini)

Soundtrack:

In My Merry Oldsmobile (1905)

a wonderful little film

This is just one of several films that make me wish Marie Dressler had lived to make more movies after the advent of sound movies. Her career was on the quick upswing when she died and every movie I saw her in was greatly improved by her performance.

This is a heart-wrenching movie about a lonely bachelor who marries the nanny who helped raise his kids. He incorrectly assumed that since she was like a member of the family that the kids would readily accept her. However, he soon dies after the wedding and the kids instead treat her horribly--especially when they find out the fortune was left to her. Watch it and be prepared to watch excellent acting and writing--there's just too little of it in most movies.