The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

This is a fairly standard (in this case B picture) treatment of the fictional story of a vaudeville family -- mother, father, and son. There's nothing new here, and you begin to wonder where the drama is...and it's alcoholism and redemption. Just because it's fairly standard, doesn't mean it's not reasonably enjoyable.The mother and father are played by Ann Sothern and Jack Carson. Sothern was a much used B picture star, and she was a pretty entertaining lady. She does nicely here, as does Carson. But the son -- Robert Ellis -- is quite remarkable here, and outshines everyone else.Robert Alda (Alan's father) plays the somewhat-of-a-heavy here, and does fine. S.Z. Sakall plays S.Z. Sakall.If there's anything actually disappointing about the film, it's that the score is not exceptional at all for a musical. Just a succession of old songs, most quite familiar, and it's "nice" to hear them again.A pretty average picture for its genre.

Jack Carson and Ann Sothern are such capable professionals that even when they are cast in something like APRIL SHOWERS they are worth watching. Carson rarely got leading roles, except in the "B" film or programmer such as this one and Ann Sotheran was just winding up all of her "Maisie" roles at MGM to do this unpretentious little musical at Warner Bros.Together they're fun to watch as a married couple, a pair of show biz hoofers who give out with a song and dance patter when they're not having domestic troubles over the legitimacy of using an underage boy (their son) in their vaudeville act.It's all done in a formula way with no big surprises, no characters that are more than conventional and without the kind of production numbers that studios like Fox and MGM gave their musicals. And yet, with a nice balance between some serious drama and mostly lightweight singing and dancing, it's the kind of musical that's easy to take.The usual supporting players under contract at Warner Bros. are used to fill out the supporting roles, including Robert Alda and S.Z. Sakall.Carson and Sothern are both capable enough to make us believe this sort of thing could easily have happened and both of them have a nice way with a song and dance. Little Robert Ellis is very adept as their talented youngster.Summing up: A nice, unpretentious little film to watch on a rainy day.

When I think of April Showers, I think of my late aunt. It was one of the songs she sang to me. I also think of this movie. It's too bad that so many actors in this movie have died, even the kid that played Small Tyme. And now last year, even Ann Sothern. I saw Jack Carson as second banana in other movies, especially as a sidekick of Dennis Morgan, that it is good that Jack could be the leading man for a change (in "April Showers"). It's too bad he had to play such a drunk, but I guess that's real life. I always love to watch The Tymes dance in this movie. I could watch them forever. I hate the part where Billy Shay beats up Small Tyme, although the part about Robert Alda with all the glamourous ladies is nice. I love old time tap dancing, but in today's tap classes I take at Ohio State University the emphasis is on modern rhythm tap, with a lot of hip-hop added in. Females wear flat oxfords, and emphasis is not on "Broadway tap". That's a shame. I am of the old school, from the days of vaudeville & the old movie musicals.

This is a charming little musical filled with great old songs. However, the great find of this film, and the real reason to watch it, is the young actor Robert Ellis. He plays a 12 year son of the main characters. He dances and entertains and displays a delightful interaction with Jack Carson. His singing is less than ideal but the whole film is a wonderful example of the carefree style of musicals typical of its day. It is unfortunate that Mr. Ellis never lived up to his potential - for whatever reason - and died at such a young age. I intend to watch this film each time that Turner Classic Movies shows the good sense of airing it.