An early 'quota-quickie' directed by Michael Powell for Warner Bros at Teddington Studios in 1934.
Powell's hand seems most evident in the first third of the film as his documentary-style camera word follows the experiences of hard-luck London. Razor-sharp cinematography scans the lined faces of street vendors and homeless as we follow the parallel wanderings of Billy, 10 year-old orphan, and Peter, a salesman gone broke at cards. The British sunlight realism soon turns to Hollywood gaslight fantasy as Peter builds a (never seen... imaginary?) business empire around swimming pools, ice cream and petrol stations. A comedic twist puts him onto the wrong villain, but alls right in the end and all good comedies end with a marriage and a cute orphan in a bellhop's outfit.
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