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The Worst Film Ever

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

My summary isn't really meant as an insult, really, as the film has few pretenses and is meant as a light and harmless little love story. It is what it is...and it's enjoyable. It stars the amazingly ordinary looking actor, Dennis O'Keefe, and Maureen O'Sullivan. Again, I really meant no offense--O'Keefe was a fine actor (particularly in film noir) but looked absolutely nothing like a film star. Handsome, perhaps--just not in the Hollywood sort of way.The story is a cute little case of mistaken identity. Poor working-class Maureen and Dennis both see each other at a swank party of the elite. They instantly hit it off--and both assume the other is rich! And, at times, each is a bit ashamed of their roots and pretend to be a lot richer and more sophisticated than they really are. This takes on a crazy edge when Maureen convinces her family to help her in the ruse. Although she thinks they did a horrible job and Dennis saw through their plan, he is so worried about making the right impression that he's really oblivious. Can they somehow fall in love AND be happy and poor? Well...what do you think? The film is pretty predictable but the actors and director did a good job with what they had. Despite a light-weight script, it's all good fun and well worth seeing.

While watching Hold That Kiss this morning I once again had in mind the famous MGM pecking order. The film was to me obviously something written with Joan Crawford in mind.But it went to Maureen O'Sullivan for one reason or another and wound up as a B film with her and Dennis O'Keefe. She's a fashion model in a fancy department store and he's a travel agent. They meet at a society wedding and each thinks the other is worth a few bucks. After that they put on quite interesting campaigns to land the other.Hold That Kiss is a pleasant and amusing comedy from MGM's B picture unit. It's got quite a good list of character actors in support. Most prominent however was Mickey Rooney who next year would be the number one box office male star in the nation. He plays O'Sullivan's younger brother and an eager participant in her schemes.There's also a nice diverting subplot involving Frank Albertson who's another of O'Sullivan's brothers and Edward Brophy who is O'Keefe's sidekick. Each has an all consuming interest in the sport of kings and not from the society end of owning and improving the breed. I can't really go into too many details, but trust me it's a pip.I could easily see Hold That Kiss on an MGM double bill at the Loew's theaters around the nation with Boys Town. Imagine that, a double Mickey.

The worst thing about this charming, well acted comedy is its generic title. Hold what kiss?The leads are at their romantic best. The supporting players are delightful.I personally would have preferred it sans the Mickey Rooney character but he doubtless helped its box office (if it had any.)A few stereotypes are engaged in, too; but otherwise, it is a charming concoction. It's funny: O'Sullivan's boss Monsieur Maurice is written very broadly but the penultimate scene in which a tricked O'Keefe tricks her by making her pose in one gown after another after another -- they now know each other to be in retail and not in society -- is very funny.

Surprisingly enjoyable grade B comedy with large cast of solid actors who put on a good (but not great) show. The basic premise is that two ordinary people meet and think that the other has money. Bolstering this premise is a tangled story line that weaves each of the main characters into contact with others without each knowing who the other is relative to the main plot. The viewer has full knowledge of how all these characters relate to each other and is thus always expecting the truth to out.A good deal of slapstick comedy and a comedic St. Bernard aid cast members. The film has the same tempo and feel as MGM's 'You Can't Take It With You' – done the same year however with a first rate crew. Lots of uncomplicated comings and goings keep the story moving but not too hard to follow. The rich really do not have it better than just plain folks.Maureen O'Sullivan is delightful and perky. Mickey Rooney overacts – but the part calls for it and he steals a number of scenes. Edward Brophy plays Brophy once again. Dennis O'Keefe is plausible. Leonard Carey (uncredited) does a fine job as a comedic elevator operator/butler. Racial slurs typical of the time could be cut for modern audiences. Recommended.