Sweepings

Barrymore plays his role well and the complicated inheritance theme offers some depth, but quite bland all the way through.

Melodrama about spoiled rich kids not living up to daddy's expectations. Slow, but moving without getting too emotional. There is always a interesting balance of the human kindness and the greed which keeps it alive. It's direct and full of disappointments. Some mild, some bigger. Sweepings is not a kind story, but not totally cruel one either. Just human. And Lionel Barrymore is the entire thing. The father full of hope for his family, only to have that hope gradually taken away....