Sooky ** (1931, Jackie Cooper, Robert Coogan, Jackie Searl, Willard Robertson, Enid Bennett) – Classic Movie Review 12,127

Director Norman Taurog’s 1931 Paramount Pictures black and white vintage kids’ adventure film Sooky again stars Jackie Cooper, Robert Coogan, Jackie Searl, Willard Robertson, Enid Bennett and Helen Jerome Eddy in the quick sequel to the 1931 hit Skippy.

Sooky is simple, straightforward, surprise-free sequel stuff, based on Percy Crosby’s comic strip characters and story Dear Sooky. The same expert writers as before are at work on the screenplay: Joseph L. Mankiewicz (screenplay and story), Norman Z McLeod (screenplay and story) and Sam Mintz (screenplay and story). Hench the strong professionalism and lack of surprises.

It was released on 26 December 1931. But that was the end of the series.

Jackie Cooper stars in his Oscar-nominated role as doctor’s son Skippy Skinner has a poor friend called Sooky Wayne, who lives in Shantytown with his sickly mother (Helen Jerome Eddy). The Boone Boys boys’ club refuses to admit Sooky because he is poor, Sooky and Skippy form their own club called the Beagle Boys.

The cast are Jackie Cooper as Skippy Skinner, Robert Coogan as Sooky Wayne, Jackie Searl as Sidney Saunders, Willard Robertson as Dr Herbert Skinner, Enid Bennett as Mrs Skinner, Helen Jerome Eddy as Mrs Wayne, Guy Oliver as Mr Moggs, Harry Beresford as Mr Willoughby, Gertrude Sutton as Hilda, Oscar Apfel as Krausmyer, and Tom Wilson as Officer Duncan.

Norman Taurog directed six Martin and Lewis films, and nine Elvis Presley films, more than any other director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for the 1931 Skippy at the age of 32. He was later nominated for Best Director for Boys Town (1938). Taurog directed 180 films from 1920 to 1968.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,127

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