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      Released Jun 22, 1983 1h 28m Drama List
      Reviews 75% 100+ Ratings Audience Score In 1919, Hannah Parmalee (Fay Bainter) becomes the housekeeper for the family of science teacher Paul Ward (Claude Rains). Struggling to invent an iceless icebox, Paul takes Hannah's advice and invites young student Peter Trimble (Jackie Cooper) to help him. They work together and perfect a prototype, but Peter's poor judgment leads to its theft by mechanics who claim it as their own work. Meanwhile, Hannah keeps an eye on the teen boy, who doesn't know he's the child she gave up for adoption. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member WHITE BANNERS has a couple of very odd but satisfying plots running through the film. The first involves Fay Bainter who plays a woman who just moves in with a family and becomes the perfect housekeeper--in many ways a lot like an earlier incarnation of Mary Poppins! However, her hidden agenda and why she works for mere "peanuts" is interesting and unfolds throughout the film. The "why" exactly isn't all that hard to predict--there are lots of pretty obvious clues thrown out to the audience. The second plot, and this IS an odd one, is about Rains and Cooper working together to try to create the first home electric refrigerator and sell the idea. While this may sound dull, I actually liked this--it reminded me a lot of movies like YOUNG TOM EDISON. This is not exactly a perfect movie, but I enjoyed it and appreciate how the studio at least tried something different. Plus, some of the performances were very good. Claude Rains was his usual wonderful self, but I also appreciate the teen parts played by Jackie Cooper and Bonita Granville--Bonita was bouncy like a teen and it was nice to see Jackie doing a more mature role than what he'd been previously doing for MGM when he was a bit younger. Also, Fay Bainter was generally excellent, but there were a few times when her character seemed a bit "sappy" and too good to be true. The bottom line is that this is an excellent movie and a good one for old movie buffs who want a change of pace. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review steve d The cast makes it fun. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member What a delightful film, with great performances and richly developed characters. Beautifully written, fine direction. Very memorable and moving. Fay Bainter and Claude Rains are unforgettable. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member What a delightful film, with great performances and richly developed characters. Beautifully written, fine direction. Very memorable and moving. Fay Bainter and Claude Rains are unforgettable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Hokey old drama elevated by the exceptionally strong lead performance of Fay Bainter who even manages to outshine Claude Rains. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Shameless tear-jerker soap, but whadda cast! Warner sausage-making at its finest. Seductively moody, willfully shabby, with great un-self-conscious cinematography. Claude Rains, Jackie Cooper (still alive), Bonita Granville, and the magnificent and underrated Fay Bainter (best actress nominee for this picture). Not on DVD yet :-( Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine It takes a good deal of explanation to cover this situation, but it is worked out smoothly, and eventually everything comes out sunny side up. Oct 11, 2019 Full Review Nick Davis Nick's Flick Picks Exemplifies its own themes of honest diligence and warm-hearted communalism, making it much more memorable than some grander, fussier productions of the same period. Rated: B Nov 13, 2005 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Good acting goes a long way in covering up many of the film's plot holes. Rated: C Mar 4, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In 1919, Hannah Parmalee (Fay Bainter) becomes the housekeeper for the family of science teacher Paul Ward (Claude Rains). Struggling to invent an iceless icebox, Paul takes Hannah's advice and invites young student Peter Trimble (Jackie Cooper) to help him. They work together and perfect a prototype, but Peter's poor judgment leads to its theft by mechanics who claim it as their own work. Meanwhile, Hannah keeps an eye on the teen boy, who doesn't know he's the child she gave up for adoption.
      Director
      Edmund Goulding
      Distributor
      Warner Bros. Pictures
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jun 22, 1983, Original
      Runtime
      1h 28m