Penrod's Double Trouble

In 1937-38, Warner Brothers made three Penrod movies which were based on a character created by Booth Tarkington. Oddly, in 1938, two Penrod films debuted...but there was no continuity whatsoever about them in many ways. While the Mauch twins, Billy and Robert, were stars in each, inexplicably his parents were replaced by other actors. Additionally, in "Penrod's Twin Brother", Penrod finds out that he has an identical stranger...but in this follow-up the two boys once again don't know about each other! It's as if the two films really aren't sequels at all and the studio did a slapdash job with the series as there are tons of contradictions in the movies.

Exactly like the previous film, Penrod is in trouble for all sorts of shenanigans that were actually perpetrated by his nemesis, Rodney. As a result of his being falsely accused, Penrod runs away and his parents offer a reward for his return. An unscrupulous carnie (are there any other type in old films?!) tries to pass off the identical boy as Penrod.

I was not a huge fan of the previous film...but at least it made some sense. This movie, in contrast, just seems like they made two different Penrod scripts at the same time and filmed each without any sort of concern that they are so contradictory....which seems to be the case. The only way you can really enjoy "Penrod's Double Trouble" is if you never watch the previous film.

The sad fact is that this film actually is a bit better than the previous one...and so it's worth seeing...just not in addition to "Penrod's Twin Brother". Not a great film but reasonably entertaining. But it's also a film without an audience, as it was targeted to kids...and I cannot imagine kids today enjoying this sort of faire.