What starts out well -- with Shearer almost unrecognizable as a frumpy, devoted housewife and mother -- unfortunately falls apart once she shows up three years later not only looking completely different, but ACTING different as well.
And that's just not credible. The change is too abrupt. Shearer is suddenly all bubbly, carefree and happy-go-lucky -- giggling constantly, with absolutely NO concern for her children, not even a touch. One could understand why she might try to de-frump herself, but she goes WAY overboard and is so constantly GAY and BUBBLY towards everyone and everything, it's simply not believable.
So one star goes for her performance early in the picture, another 2 stars for the great Marie Dressler, and one star for the always reliable performance from child actor Dickie Moore, who at five years old, could act more naturally than ANY of his adult co-stars.
And that's just not credible. The change is too abrupt. Shearer is suddenly all bubbly, carefree and happy-go-lucky -- giggling constantly, with absolutely NO concern for her children, not even a touch. One could understand why she might try to de-frump herself, but she goes WAY overboard and is so constantly GAY and BUBBLY towards everyone and everything, it's simply not believable.
So one star goes for her performance early in the picture, another 2 stars for the great Marie Dressler, and one star for the always reliable performance from child actor Dickie Moore, who at five years old, could act more naturally than ANY of his adult co-stars.