I'd done some homework prior to seeing what many consider Leo McCary's best film (himself included) and have to say I was rather disappointed. Yes, the story is timeless and for audiences seeing 50 years in the future it will still be relevant. I don't think that in itself is a mark of quality. As for the performances I feel as though Bondi is trying a bit too hard here and it feels a bit contrived to me. It wasn't as though I didn't feel anything towards the films conclusion, its just that I kind of feel it wasn't earned.

This black and white film is one I found listed in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, it had good ratings and was obviously included in this reference, I hoped for something good, directed by Loe McCarey (Duck Soup, The Awful Truth, An Affair to Remember). Basically elderly couple Barkley "Bark" (Victor Moore) and Lucy Cooper (Beulah Bondi) lose their home after the bank forecloses on the mortgage, they now need a place to live, and they turn to their five adult children. However none of the children will take both them in and they are forced to live separately, this arrangement was supposed to be temporary for three months or until something more permanent can be arranged by the children. Lucy, aka "Ma", goes to live with her son George (Thomas Mitchell), but she always seems to in the way of him and especially his wife Anita Cooper (Fay Bainter) when she is trying to teach her bridge class. Barkley, aka "Pa", goes to live with his daughter Cora Payne (Elisabeth Risdon), but she obviously resents his very presence and arranges for him to go and live with another of his children in California. While all this is going on Lucy and Barkley do their best to maintain their dignity, in the end the couple are parted when Barkley leaves to find a job in California, he says he will send for Lucy, each make a heartfelt statement and reaffirm their lifelong love, but it seems this is almost certainly their final moment together as the train departs. Also starring Porter Hall as Harvey Chase, Barbara Read as Rhoda Cooper and Maurice Moscovitch as Max Rubens. The leading stars as the old and retired married couple who are chucked out their home and slowly broken up are likable, you believe their affection for each other with dances together and stuff, I have to admit I did find myself laughing all that much, there is supposed to be lightness with the sad stuff going on, it is certainly more tearjerking than funny, but that's not a bad thing, I didn't fully get into perhaps, but it is a worthwhile enough comedy drama. Good!

How it ever escaped my watching it before tonight, I'll never know. But I couldn't stop watching it, not even pause it for any reason. It's that GOOD. The only part of the whole movie that I felt disappointed with was the ending. I thought, "They are NOT going to end it like that!!!" But they did! You may think that these kinds of relationships, conversations, and treatment don't really happen all too often, but nowadays, it's more like the norm. What surprised me was realizing how pervasive this attitude has gone throughout the generations. And that made me cry, too. We are going through similar. I thought about recording it and sending a copy to each adult kid. That would only make it worse. Great movie!!!!

An elderly couple (Victor Moore, Beulah Bondi) lose their home and are forced to move in with their grown children. The problem is none of the kids can or wants to take both of them, so they are forced to separate and live with different kids. The kids are also kind of jerks or are married to jerks so it's not a happy situation for the poor old couple.This is a somewhat under-appreciated classic tearjerker from the great Leo McCarey. If I had to guess why it's not more well-known, apart from the lack of a big star in it, I would say that's probably due to how close to home it hits for many people. A lot of elderly parents are treated no better today than they were when this film was made in 1937. In many cases they're treated much worse. This level of realism is both a plus and a minus because it makes you sad and a little angry to watch these two kindly people be treated so badly by their selfish children. It's a touching, poignant film that I definitely recommend. But be prepared, it might leave you depressed.