As time goes forward we live in an age where dysfunctional families are the norm. As for me personally it was hard being different from my three siblings. First off I'm the only male in the group. Secondly I attended a different school. The only semblance I had left was to bond with my Dad and his line of work. Fixing Boilers. I tried to emulate and was not mechanically inclined. I would botch up job after job which distanced myself from my Father. My Father labeled me as lazy when in reality I was just green with inexperience. His workers where told to make my life a living hell and never would they help me for fear of losing there jobs. I understood my place and had to bare the brunt of the hardships being the boss's son. The reason I watch Bob Hope movies is the fact that in most of them Bob turns around and talks to the audience.This movie is not one of them; instead this film is narrated throughout by the real Charley Foy one of the fore-mentioned Seven in the title. This movie is about the life and times of Vaudevillian and Broadway star Eddie Foy. Foy Senior grew up in an era when being an actor was not a prestigious occupation. Traveling from town to town out of trunks and flea bag hotels can disenfranchise yourself from mainstream life. Eddie was basically a loner doing his act when he stumbles upon an Italian Ballerina Madalaine (Milly Vitale) and her apprehensive Sister Clara (Angela Clarke). Foy and Milly put an act together and eventually get married against the wishes of angry Clara. Those two Clara and Foy Sr. will be locking horns throughout the rest of the movie. Madalaine gives birth to a son Bryan who's crib is a makeshift drawer as Foy would share a mid-night feeding with his son. Milk and Nipple for Bryan . Beer and nipple for Daddy Foy, L'chiam!! The Years role on as Foy impregnates poor Madalaine six more times. YES SEVEN KIDS TOTAL! To feed all those kids Foy moves up as a Broadway Star trying to fit in his tight schedule of baptisms and Matinee performances to the disapproval of the priests. Foy buys a home in nearby New Rochelle,New York.. On his way to Boston one evening he yells from the express train to each of his kids as the train going at top speed passes by. Meanwhile Madalaine's health is in decline and she eventually dies.Earlier on that tragic night one of my favorite scenes in the picture is James Cagney Reprises the role of George M. Cohan and Bob Hope Foy doing a dance at the Friars Club honoring Foy,( (as of all things,) "Father of the Year." Now a new dilemma has developed as Foy Quits Showbiz to watch his kids but instead lays around drinking as the kids and billy goat mess up the house. Close friend and agent Barney Green (George Tobias) begs a guilt ridden Foy to go back to show business. An idea pops into his beer filled brain and he decides to incorporate his incorrigible children into an act. They can't sing. They can't act. The acts are covered with gaffes. They can't dance but they have personality! With Little Irving at the end of the chorus line the Foy's travel from town to town warming the hearts of audiences from Oshcosh to Frisco. Love the Chinatown routine. Aunt Clara constantly begs Foy to at least take a break and have the kids come home for Christmas. Here the story gets serious as Clara seeks legal action against the Father which makes for an interesting climax. Notable cameos in the film, Dabbs Greer as the children's instructor, Joe Flynn as a priest and a very young precocious Bryan Foy played by Jerry Mathers. Great time to watch this film is during the winter holidays. I only wish that could have bonded with my Father in his business but things never worked out.
Review of The Seven Little Foys
