This is more a talking heads informative piece than anything else, and quite competent in that department, setting up an excellent 2 hour overview of what each studio contributed to the genre; the clips shown are mainly taken from theatrical previews (trailers, as they were known then) and are of varying quality and mostly familiar.
On the plus side, how often do you see Bobby Breen mentioned when it comes to child stars? Everyone knows about Garland and Temple, Rooney and Deanna Durbin, but little Bobby was RKO's answer to Little Miss Shirley Temple, and although nowhere near her equal, was a big draw for the studio, making a series of kiddie films in which he co-starred with the likes of Basil Rathbone and May Robson (and Sammy The Seal in Fisherman's Wharf!)--details like this make this a worthwhile semi-documentary--two hours is better than none!
On the plus side, how often do you see Bobby Breen mentioned when it comes to child stars? Everyone knows about Garland and Temple, Rooney and Deanna Durbin, but little Bobby was RKO's answer to Little Miss Shirley Temple, and although nowhere near her equal, was a big draw for the studio, making a series of kiddie films in which he co-starred with the likes of Basil Rathbone and May Robson (and Sammy The Seal in Fisherman's Wharf!)--details like this make this a worthwhile semi-documentary--two hours is better than none!