Sorry, this movie sucks

How sad is this?

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The acting in this movie is really good.

During the Great Depression, audiences liked to see the differences between rich and poor people played for laughs. This frothy romance from 1938 is in that vein. If you like mix-ups, silly situations and innocent fun in the classic Hollywood spirit, this should appeal to you.Maureen O'Sullivan and Dennis O'Keefe play working-class folks in the big city who happen to meet under confusing circumstances. They quickly fall in love, but each gets the mistaken impression that the other is rich.As the romance heats up, the two try harder and harder to impress each other with bogus details of their "privileged" lives. But each feels ashamed of being a phony, and each dreads the day when the truth comes out.The girl's wacky relatives (including a younger brother played by Mickey Rooney) take her wealth charade to extraordinary lengths, and their antics supply most of the comedy in the film. Some of the gags are dated, but a few are still laugh-out-loud funny. The main problem is with the leads. While O'Sullivan was perfectly cast in this movie, O'Keefe was not. He was more suited to tough guy roles than to this kind of gentle fluff. But he deserves credit for trying hard. The same could be said for the picture itself.

Maureen O'Sullivan and Dennis O'Keefe are attractive and sophisticated looking as two working class people who meet by chance at a wedding reception and assume each other is a member of the upper class. She works for a lavish fashion designer, while he works for a travel agency. They are there only on business and meet thanks to the bride's father. Taking an interest in each other for social climbing and romantic reasons, the two go out of their way to keep up their pretense. O'Sullivan's family takes things a step further with her eccentric Aunt Lucy (Jessie Ralph, one of the forgotten gems of the 30's) who utilizes her employer's lavish apartment to entertain O'Keefe at a family dinner party. Of course, both parties are exposed in time to bring the light plot to a happy conclusion.While the stars do a good job, they are defeated by a weak plot and a not too funny script. The supporting cast does all they can to add amusement, but it's really only a large St. Bernard that gets any genuine laughs. There's Mickey Rooney as O'Sullivan's younger brother being, well, Mickey Rooney. And Rooney's Andy Hardy ma, Fay Holden, has little to do. Edward Brophy, a typically New Yorkish character actor, has some funny moments as a bookie who is accused of stealing Ralph's employee's silverware. O'Sullivan, too well spoken to seem really a member of this lower middle class family, tries to rise above the material. O'Keefe is all right, but he's not star material in a role that calls for someone like Robert Taylor. This is an example of MGM's factory output that was put together a bit too fast and focuses on style over substance.

The major studios which M.G.M. was the biggest, had a stable of contract players that had to be kept occupied. From the heavy-weight Stars like GABLE, LOY, POWELL, SHEARER and TRACY to character actors, all had to be kept busy. Fifty-Two (52) features a year was the standard of the 'majors' plus shorts. From 'A' efforts too 'Bs' like this one, HOLD THAT KISS (1938).The plot of these were simple. This comedy is a typical 'Boy meets Girl', both pretending to be of the '400'. Not wishing the other to know of their rather common back-rounds. Neither wanting to admit the truth until the last reel when true love wins out over perceived social prejudices.MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN, never a major star was a good filler for this type of film. Something to plug into between TARZANs' and pregnancies. DENNIS O'KEEFE was being groomed for a stardom he would never fulfill, but MICKEY ROONEY would go on to greater things. The rest of the cast, all professional character actors. Who knew their lines, hit their marks and got the picture done on time and under budget. This made them very popular with Louis B. Mayer and the money men back in New York City.

Average 1930's romantic situation comedy that had a low budget but nevertheless delivered the expected average goods for the genre.Nothing too badly done here and nothing spectacular either.This movie is sure to delight the big fans of the lead stars though as they indeed look good here in all their prime good looks.This movie will also satisfy big fans of romantic situation comedies set in 1938 city life......