MAJESTIC THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 7

MAJESTIC THEATRE

Dealing, as the title would imlicate, with the boyhood days of Ihomas Aha Edison, the days when Ins scientilic mind was vaguely wrestling with ideas an problems which his education and onvironment could not help him to st “'G “Young Tom Edison” was most enthusiastically received when released at the Majestic Theatre yesterday. Young Tom (played by Mickey lioouey) is laughed at by the citizens of 1 ort Huron because his many experiments, which have in the main turned out disastrously, have earned him the adjective “addled.” He seems to have a highlydeveloped genius for doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, and among bis major achievements manages almost to blow up the schoolhouse. The loug-su.-fering mistress (Eily Malyon), who looks as if she has stepped oiit of the pages ot an old illustrated copy of “David Copperfield”—she would be an excellent model for Miss Murdstone —storms into the Edison household and demands Lorn s remoral from *the school, as she refuses to have anything more to do with him. lom s mother, ever hot in the defence of her youngest son, storms back, and there arc the beginnings of a very pretty quarrel between the two when father. Edison (George Bancroft), who has his own doubts about his son’s sanity, intervenes However, neither disgrace nor humiliation can stop Tom's inquisitive genius, and he goes on, making money to buy text books by selling candies and fruit up and down the trains which have not so long ago linked the United States into local unity. lie has a faithful adherent in all his schemes in his sister, Tanny, who is played by that exceedingly intelligent youngster, Virginia Weidler. Tom’s escapades are all told in amusing manner, but a serious note is struck when his beloved mother (Fay Bainter) is suddenly stricken with appendicitis, and is in great danger because the local doctor refuses to operate by lamp light. Tom, remembering that mirrors reflect and magnify light, straightaway breaks into the shop of Mr. Dingle, an archenemy, and steals a tall mirror which has always held pride of place in the little store. With the aid ot the mirror and all the lamps in the house, Tom manages to obtain enough light to make an operation possible, thus saving his mother's life.

The story works.up to an exciting climax when the train which contains Tanny and her elder brother, Bill, is speeding toward the river where the bridge has been washed away. How Tom, the “fool of the family,” manages to get a message through to Tanny by the use of their secret code, and thereby saves the train, is told in a series of thrilling shots. Great is Tom's triumph when the whole town, instead of reviling him,- treats him as a hero, as the result of this episode. This is the bald outline of a very entertaining and well-directed film. Mickey Rooney gives, it will surely be admitted, his best performance. He infuses that vivacity and drive which is such a part of his character, with a little more restraint than usual, and his performance is very finished, indeed. He carries almost the whole of the film on his own shoulders, and the burden never at any time appears to be too heavy. The rest of the cast ably support him, and the backgrounds and scenery give the entire production an air of authenticity.