Min and Bill: A Review (Review #2050)

MIN AND BILL

MGM was the center of where the most glamourous stars in early film were to be found. You had Clark Gable. You had Greta Garbo. Among those fabulous figures were a ragged looking man and a large, dumpy old woman. Yet Wallace Beery and Marie Dressler were two of the most popular film stars of the early sound era. Min and Bill, one of their collaborations, is a delightful dramedy, balancing humor and heart.

Min (Dressler) runs a shady seaside hotel catering to the sailors that dock nearby. One sailor in particular is a mostly welcome guest. That is Bill (Beery), with whom Min has a romance with. Said romance can sometimes be sweet, sometimes tough. Despite it all, Min and Bill have an affection towards each other.

They also have an affection for Nancy (Dorothy Jordan). Nancy was left in the care of Min by her frenemy Bella Pringle (Marjorie Rambeau), a lady of the night. Nancy believes her mother, whomever she is, is dead. Min and Bill have protected and watched over Nancy all this time as an informal mother and father. However, the long arm of the law, coupled with Nancy growing up, have pressured Min to send Nancy to school.

Min sends Nancy to live with the Southards, the schoolmaster and his wife. Min is outwardly harsh towards Nancy, but privately she is heartbroken at being separated from her. Her sadness is tempered by knowing that Nancy has a chance at a better life. Min, however, faces a greater concern. Bella is back. Min is enraged that Bill is making whoopie with Bella. She is also concerned that Bella will find out that Nancy is alive.

To get Nancy out of town, Min gives her life savings over to the Southards on condition that they send Nancy to a private school. Years later, Nancy has developed into a sophisticated lady. She also is engaged to Dick Cameron (Donald Dillaway), scion of a cannery tycoon. Nancy and Cameron had tangled before, down to her and Min accidentally using his speedboat. He either has forgotten or forgiven Nancy's early affronts to him. Nancy still loves Min and Bill and wants them to come to her and Dick's wedding. However, Bella happens to be on their same ship. Will Min's efforts to keep Bella and Nancy separated succeed? There is tragedy, even murder, in these lives, but Min and Nancy end up happy in their own way.

Marie Dressler was one of the biggest box office draws in the early 1930's. I think it is quite easy to explain why, despite her not being anywhere near to a glamour girl, Dressler was beloved by contemporary audiences. I think it is due to audience identification. Here was this woman, large, weathered, yet lovable. There was an ordinariness to Dressler. She was "one of us", someone that audiences could see being part of their families. She was not exotic or mysterious or elegant or otherworldly. She was someone people could relate to. That, I think, was her appeal.

It also helps that Marie Dressler was a skilled actress. She in Min and Bill deftly balance comedy and drama. Early in the film, she and Jordan are hilarious when attempting with no success to stop the speedboat from going out of control. Dressler in particular made the scene hilarious with her expressive face, revealing her comic terror. This scene culminates with her being hauled up, the funny fear making one almost keel over with laughter.

However, the end of Min and Bill will break your heart. The final moments of the film are reminiscent of Barbara Stanwyck's turn in Stella Dallas seven years later. Unlike Stanwyck, who was nominated but did not win Best Actress for Stella Dallas, Marie Dressler did win for Min and Bill. I can see why she did. Dressler's face as Min and Bill fades out expressed so much. There was sadness. There was resignation. However, there was also a quiet joy, knowing that her unofficial daughter was now fully safe and happy.

In many scenes of Min and Bill, we saw the genuine tenderness behind the gruffness. Dressler's face revealed a lot of emotion, often during the same scene. When the police confront Min, her expression changes from defiant to scared. Sometimes her face is more for comic effect. Sometimes it is so movingly serious. At one point, after pushing Nancy away, Min walks the lonely boardwalk. In her expression and body language, we see just how difficult and painful it was to send Nancy away. However, we know that is for Nancy's own good. Dressler manages to comedy and drama especially well in Min and Bill.

Marie Dressler is also able to handle physical comedy with expertise. Her fight scene with Wallace Beery is both amusing and alarming. Min, enraged at seeing Bill flirting and fooling around with Bella, throws everything at a terrified and weak Bill. It is a lengthy scene, but both of them handle it with a perfect blend of humor and fear. 

While they may have disliked each other off screen, Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery had great chemistry on screen. In both of their performances, we see that their bond is sincere, almost sweet. Shortly after their drawn-out physical fight, we see them sitting side by side, Min reading a letter from Nancy. Despite not being married, we see them as a dear little couple, delighting in each other's company and having a warm affection towards the other.

Wallace Beery, like Marie Dressler, had a certain salt of the earth quality. He was able to hold his own with Dressler as her dimwitted but ultimately loyal and protective beau.

In retrospect, perhaps Marjorie Rambeau and Dorothy Jordan could be seen as a bit over the top as Bella and Nancy respectively. Dillaway as the wealthy Cameron and especially Russell Hopton as Alec, the sailor initially desirous of Nancy, were a bit stiff and theatrical. However, as Min and Bill came when the transition from silent to sound was still in its infancy, I cut them a little slack.

Min and Bill is a simple, sweet story. It is hampered somewhat by the clunkiness of early sound film. It also has clear rear-screen projections that perhaps modern audiences might not be forgiving of. However, Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery more than make up for these issues. It is a film that will amuse, charm and ultimately move anyone willing to venture to the docks of this seaside shanty. 

DECISION: B+