Rainbow on the River

aka It Happened in New Orleans

(1936)

Drama / Musical

87 minutes

Directed by Kurt Neumann

Cast: 

Bobby Breen as Philip Ainsworth 
May Robson as Mrs. Harriet Ainsworth 
Charles Butterworth as Barrett 
Alan Mowbray as Ralph Layton 
Benita Hume as Julia Layton 
Henry O'Neill as Father Josef 
Louise Beavers as Toinette 
Marilyn Knowlden as Lucille Layton 
Hall Johnson Choir as Choral Ensemble 

Young Phillip Ainsworth, an orphan of the US Civil War, has been lovingly raised by Toinette, a former slave. Toinette has big plans for the boy. She has saved her money to send him to a private school. But when the local priest, Father Josef, finds Phillip's family living in New York, the boy is sent north to live with people who refuse to accept him as their own. His only friend is the butler, Barrett. But his curmudgeon of a grandmother is finally broken down by the boy's charm and good manners, and all ends happily. Along the way Breen has ample opportunity to show off his voice by singing several songs, including the title song three times.