In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult.

1939 film:
Bad Little Angel (1939)

Release date:
Oct. 27, 1939

Cast:
Virginia Weidler, Gene Reynolds, Elizabeth Patterson, Guy Kibbee, Ian Hunter, Reginald Owen, Henry Hull, Lois Wilson, Harlan Briggs (uncredited), Esther Dale (uncredited), Mickey Kuhn (uncredited), Mitchell Lewis (uncredited), Ann E. Todd (uncredited), Rex the Dog (uncredited), Douglas Madore (uncredited)

Studio:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Director:
Wilhelm Thiele

Plot:
Set in 1900, Patsy (Weidler) is an orphan, who believes she’s a jinx to everyone who adopts her — her guardians have lost money, died and lost jobs. When she is yet again sent back to the orphanage, Patsy runs away using the Bible to guide her where to go — which is to Egypt. She head to Egypt, N.J. where she befriends young Tommy Wilks (Reynolds) and newspaper editor Jim Creighton (Hunter). As she follows the word of the Bible, she still believes she’s a jinx to Tommy, Jim and their families as crises continue to happen.

1939 Notes:
• By the numbers:

Other trivia:
• The story is based on the 1914 book “Looking After Sandy: A Simple Romance” by Margaret Turnbull.
• Working titles for the film were “Looking After Sandy,” “Patsy” and “Runaway Angel.”
• Terry is Rex the Dog, who played Toto in WIZARD OF OZ the same year.

My review: Searching for the “1939 feature”:
When it comes to child stars, one of the best has to be Virginia Weidler. She often outshines her adult co-stars and that includes in BAD LITTLE ANGEL (1939).

Weidler plays Patsy, an orphan who hasn’t yet found a family to adopt her. Patsy believes she’s a jinx, because trouble falls on every family she gets close to including losing jobs, dying or losing their money. When Patsy is once again sent back to the orphanage, she turns to the Bible like her last guardian told her to do. When the Bible passage she opens says to go to Egypt, she decides to go to Egypt, N.J. When she’s there, she meets more people with their own troubles and feels responsible. Young Tommy (Gene Reynolds) has an alcoholic father (Henry Hull) and the two get evicted from their boarding house. Patsy also befriends news editor Jim Creighton and is welcomed into his home, but shortly after he loses his job. Patsy tries to right the wrongs she feels responsible for.

This film is chockful of character actors who I always love to see: Elizabeth Patterson, Ian Hunter, Guy Kibbee and Reginald Owen. Not to mention adorable Gene Reynolds. This mix of actors make for both a sweet but fun time.

Young Virginia Weidler was busy in 1939 in no less than 10 films, including THE WOMEN and THE GREAT MAN VOTES, co-starring with John Barrymore.

BAD LITTLE ANGEL isn’t a top film of 1939, but it is a sweet, simple story, highlighted by those undeniable MGM orchestra strings.

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