A baby born without the benefit of a marriage license during World War I comes back to haunt judge Helen MacKellar in this easy to watch but quickly forgettable exploitation picture. By chance, she ends up being a judge for the juvenile delinquent court, reunited with her illegitimate daughter (Doris Weston) and the adoptive parents when Weston gets into a series of troubles after learning the truth about her legitimacy. It's up to judge MacKellar to provide tough to Weston without revealing the truth, even though an extranged husband attempts to blackmail her.
This is certainly watchable, if completely far-fetched, and the melodramatic cliches makes the potentially moving plot from providing real heart to the stories. The characterizations are completely black and white with no shadings, and the transfer of the mother role from Marjorie Reynolds as a teenager to MacKellar as her 20 year older self just makes her unbelievably frumpy at the ripe old age of 40. The presence of Marge Champion in a brief dance number is interesting, but unnecessary, providing padding on of running time where it isn't necessary.
This is certainly watchable, if completely far-fetched, and the melodramatic cliches makes the potentially moving plot from providing real heart to the stories. The characterizations are completely black and white with no shadings, and the transfer of the mother role from Marjorie Reynolds as a teenager to MacKellar as her 20 year older self just makes her unbelievably frumpy at the ripe old age of 40. The presence of Marge Champion in a brief dance number is interesting, but unnecessary, providing padding on of running time where it isn't necessary.