Fisherman's Wharf

Bobby Breen was one of the more unusual stars of the late 1930s. While he only made 9 films, this boy was the star in most of them due to his incredible voice. It didn't hurt that he also seemed very natural on screen and quite likable. "Fisherman's Wharf" is one of his films that you can find on YouTube...and it's worth seeing as are all his movies.

This story finds Bobby playing Tony Roma, a young boy who works with his family and their fishing business. It is a bit strange that Henry Armetta and Leo Carillo play members of his family as these two adults played some of the broadest sterotypical immigrants in movie history. Not brilliant casting but hey...it is Hollywood and they explain it away by saying he's a foster kid.

Apart from the seaside setting and the pet sealion, in many ways the story that follows is like the great Shirley Temple film, "Bright Eyes". Like "Bright Eyes", the boy's life is made miserable when a bratty kid and his mother come to live with Tony and his guardian. Unfortunately, the guardian (Leo Carillo) is blind to his vicious sister-in-law and her brat.

Overall, a decent film and a chance to see Breen in a slightly better film...one that has a bit less singing and a bit more plot than usual. Worth seeing.





By the way, for you fishermen and women out there, watch Tony catching the big fish at the beginning of the movie. They use footage of a billfish on the line (a marlin or sailfish) but when they bring it into port it's become a tuna!