Mother Knows Best Reviews

Tedious mother-daughter picture redeemed only by Dresser's surprisingly nasty performance as the overbearing stage mother of budding actress Bellamy. While Bellamy was growing up, Dresser stole money out of her husband's drugstore till to ensure that the child would have everything she needed to succeed. When the old man died, Dresser hocked her wedding ring so that Bellamy would have cab fare back to Broadway. Eventually the pressure from her mother is too much (she even sent Bellamy's boy friend away) and Bellamy cracks. Luckily, a wise doctor advises Dresser to loosen her grip on the girl and the shamed woman tries her hardest to hasten the boy friend's return. He does and all goes well, including Bellamy's career, and Dresser lives to see a theater named after her daughter. This was Fox's first real dialog picture.