The Vagabond Lover

Rudy Vallee's first feature film and his first starring role is badly hurt by many of the acting problems: both he and his co-star Sally Blane seem to be mouthing their lines and fail to pick up on their cues, and Malcolm Waite flubs some lines which were not reshot. I was conscious of the bad acting throughout. However, the old pros, Marie Dressler, Charles Sellon and Nella Walker do fine, with Dressler a standout. She seems to have an ability to contort her face into any position, and with her expressive eyes is a joy to watch.

The plentiful music is mostly enjoyable with Vallee singing most of the songs, which include the popular ballads "I'm Just a Vagabond Lover," "You're Nobody's Sweetheart Now," and "If You Were the Only Girl in the World." I particularly liked a quartet of cute 5-to-7-year-old orphans singing "Georgie Porgie Pudding and Pie." So the film is a mixed bag, but Rudy Vallee fans will surely enjoy it.