Eric Linden said he was most proud of his work in "Are These Our Children" and "Life Begins". The first movie shot him to fame as "the tragedy boy of the screen" and the latter, I think, was his finest performance. He played a hysterical father, whose young wife is awaiting birth in the maternity ward. Loretta Young certainly gave some extra-ordinary performances that belied her chocolate box prettiness. I sometimes wonder what would have happened to her career if she had stayed at Warners. 20th Century Fox was definitely the studio to go to, to display her beauty. Eric Linden, was also an actor I didn't care much for initially, now I am wondering if he ever gave a bad performance.
This movie, with a chorus of crying babies and the song "Pretty Baby" sounding over the credits, might sound light weight but believe me it is anything but - things are all go in the maternity wing where life begins. There is tough as nails show girl Florette (at last a role Glenda Farrell can really sink her teeth into!!). She has gin stashed in her hot water bottle, has just been told she is having twins and is gleeful with joy when she realises a wealthy couple is interested in buying them!!! But, fear not, Florette really has a heart of gold and when she overhears the wife saying the little girl twin will be put in a home (something is not quite right with her) Florette finds her maternal instinct fast!!
Dorothy Peterson keeps popping up as a psychiatric patient who continually wanders around the maternity ward. Vivid Vivienne Osbourne who usually gives such emotionally charged performances has little to do here as a wealthy patient Mrs. McGilvray. There is a split second look of fear from Grace (Young) as the nurse mentions her name. Grace has come from prison where she is serving a long sentence for killing a wealthy politician - was it Mr. McGilvray?? That storyline wasn't taken anywhere - were there some cuts made??? Among other mothers were Gloria Shea, Ruthelma Stevens who I always thought was very good in "The Circus Queen Murder" (she was Adolphe Menjou's efficient secretary) and presiding over them all was the wonderful Aline MacMahon as the brisk but kindly Nurse Bowers.
But the movie really belongs to Eric Linden and Loretta Young. Linden has some excellent scenes as the worried husband who only wants the best care for his wife - the ending has him showing restrained emotion. Young is just perfection as Grace who even while having her own unsolvable problems has an aura of calm, especially when she copes with the pitiable mental patient and the young Mexican mother who has not been told her baby has died. An uncredited Gilbert Roland plays her husband.
This movie, with a chorus of crying babies and the song "Pretty Baby" sounding over the credits, might sound light weight but believe me it is anything but - things are all go in the maternity wing where life begins. There is tough as nails show girl Florette (at last a role Glenda Farrell can really sink her teeth into!!). She has gin stashed in her hot water bottle, has just been told she is having twins and is gleeful with joy when she realises a wealthy couple is interested in buying them!!! But, fear not, Florette really has a heart of gold and when she overhears the wife saying the little girl twin will be put in a home (something is not quite right with her) Florette finds her maternal instinct fast!!
Dorothy Peterson keeps popping up as a psychiatric patient who continually wanders around the maternity ward. Vivid Vivienne Osbourne who usually gives such emotionally charged performances has little to do here as a wealthy patient Mrs. McGilvray. There is a split second look of fear from Grace (Young) as the nurse mentions her name. Grace has come from prison where she is serving a long sentence for killing a wealthy politician - was it Mr. McGilvray?? That storyline wasn't taken anywhere - were there some cuts made??? Among other mothers were Gloria Shea, Ruthelma Stevens who I always thought was very good in "The Circus Queen Murder" (she was Adolphe Menjou's efficient secretary) and presiding over them all was the wonderful Aline MacMahon as the brisk but kindly Nurse Bowers.
But the movie really belongs to Eric Linden and Loretta Young. Linden has some excellent scenes as the worried husband who only wants the best care for his wife - the ending has him showing restrained emotion. Young is just perfection as Grace who even while having her own unsolvable problems has an aura of calm, especially when she copes with the pitiable mental patient and the young Mexican mother who has not been told her baby has died. An uncredited Gilbert Roland plays her husband.