The movie may not have done much for comedic Maisie, but it' a worthy reflection of Depression era straits. I like the way Maisie's slowly drawn into the Davis family plight. They're a hard-scrabble family who've lost their farm, along with thousands of others, and are now living hand to mouth. The city-bred Maisie meets up with them as they along with other dispossessed farmers are traveling as part of a rumored gold rush. Though separated at first by a cultural contrast, Maisie's drawn into the family by the common humanity their plight represents, especially by winning little Jubie Davis (Weidler). Together, they share their meager money, along with hopes of a gold strike that will lift their fortunes.
Though MGM has hired a big crowd of extras and costumed them in appropriately seedy clothes, Maisie still stands out. But what about those tacky exteriors that fairly shout studio sound stage. Why make the costuming so realistic, then background them with such outdoor phoniness. After all, this is MGM. At times, Sothern's a little shrill for my taste, but manages to remain likable, while actor Bowman as the reluctant benefactor makes for a churlish and unusual leading man. Too bad little Weidler is largely forgotten. She made for a charmingly plain-faced youngster, without being cutesy. Anyway, the overall result is a curious combination of Depression era drama and Maisie type spunk minus the series' usual laughs. So, fans of the series may find this entry too pointed for their liking. But I enjoyed it for its strong moral and as a reflection of the desperate times.
(In passing-- My dad owned a Colorado gold mine many years ago, and I remember as a boy how eagerly he awaited assay office results so he would know where next to tunnel. In fact, with a few notable exceptions gold in its natural state is unrecognizable. Instead, it's blended into ore that must then be tested for its gold content. So the movie's element of suspense is not fictional.)
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