It's a Great Life

The Duncan Sisters (Rosetta and Vivian) hit the ground running in their only Talkie Era feature, dodging through city streets (they're late for work) while a steadily growing mob pursues them. Alas, It's a Great Life did not get the Duncans' film career off and running, so sisters Rosetta and Vivian returned to touring as the Topsy and Eva characters that had made them popular. Yet, the film a tale of a sister act divided by romance, then reunited shimmers with atmosphere, no small amount of wit, two color sequences and the vaudeville pizzazz of the sisters. The opening scenes are far from conventional. This production is so much more pleasing than the usual run of such yarns (Mordaunt Hall, The New York Times).