I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

Boring, long, and too preachy.

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

I was very pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this entertaining biopic about the early life of Thomas Alva Edison. While the film does stick close to Edison's true youthful experiences, the added bits of fiction are so good they actually help to further enhance the story. Mickey Rooney was the perfect choice to play the young inventor, his spunk and natural acting are a fine combination, bringing the youthful Edison to life. Underrated child actress Virginia Weidler is equally superb playing Edison's admiring younger sister. Fay Bainter and George Bancroft brilliantly play the parents of Tom, a boy who forever is getting himself into trouble with is scientific inventions and his misunderstood intelligence, which labels him a misfit among the town's people. This is where Fay Bainter excels as Tom's understanding, and lovingly patient mother. The dramatic ending to the story is very exciting. This film is both entertaining and touching, and perfectly fine for family viewing.

As much a fan I am of the MGM musicals, I must admit that I enjoy Mickey Rooney more as a dramatic actor in his younger days than I did as a musical star. Playing a variety of characters during the heyday of his youth (1937-1943), he showed a great versatility, although a little bit of him goes a long way. However, one of his best is "Young Tom Edision", the growing up adventures of one of the greatest Americans in history. From the moment you meet Mickey's Tom, waking up his younger sister Virginia Weidler with a clever communication invention, to his saving of a train in danger (all thanks to the signals he makes from another train's whistle to get his sister's attention), Rooney is outstanding. Ms. Weidler isn't bad, either, and almost steals the show. There's a very amusing sequence in school where Mickey is punished by his spinster teacher (Eily Maylon) and ends up almost setting the school on fire. This leads to an exchange between Maylon and Ma Edison (Fay Bainter) that equals the exchange between Auntie Em and Miss Gulch in "The Wizard of Oz".Bainter and George Bancroft are outstanding as the parents, and a spanking scene between Bainter and Rooney will definitely provide some laughs. 50 years later, the scene would be re-used to great "adult" comic affect in "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion". Great character players like Eugene Palette, Victor Kilian (now the father of Rooney's rival, after being his dead beat dad in "Huckleberry Finn"), and Clem Bevans. Every aspect of this film seems just right, and rightly sets the ending up for a sequel featuring Spencer Tracy.

MGM opens the first film in the studio's Edison biography project by promising, "This is a story of courage. The courage and triumph of a typical American boy. In all its essential facts, it is a true story. The boy actually did experience the adventures - the joys and sorrows portrayed here. His name might have been John Jones or Bill Smith. It happened to be Thomas A. Edison." Mickey Rooney plays "Young Tom Edison", and the movie ends with a cameo appearance by Spencer Tracy, star of "Edison, the Man" (released shortly). They weren't much like Thomas Edison or each other, but Mr. Rooney and Mr. Tracy were the #1 and #2 "Box Office" stars of 1940, according to Quigley Publications - so, these films were both very well-produced."Young Tom Edison" focuses on the Edison family (who disappear for the Tracy film): likewise precocious little sister Virginia Weidler (as Tannie), misunderstanding father George Bancroft (as Sam), and mysteriously ailing mother Fay Bainter (as Nancy). Rooney's adversary is "Dead End Kid" Bobby Jordan (as Joseph "Joe" Dingle), who gets repeatedly gets kicked in the shins.In the strangest scene, Ms. Bainter pretends to take over the beating of her sixteen-year-old son while his proud father listens to Rooney's painful cries. Later, gravel-voiced train conductor Eugene Palette (as Nelson) smacks Rooney so hard he develops an earache. Doctor Lloyd Corrigan says, "Sometimes there's nothing like a good box in the ears to sharpen a boy's senses." Edison subsequently suffered from deafness.***** Young Tom Edison (2/10/40) Norman Taurog ~ Mickey Rooney, Virginia Weidler, Fay Bainter, George Bancroft

This was always a favorite of mine when I would see it on television many years ago but I had forgotten how good a film it still is. I just saw it today on TCM and I have to say something about this under-appreciated gem. The cast is a terrific ensemble of filmdom's great character actors such as George Bancroft who appears in countless films, among them Stagecoach. He plays Tom's father with great heart and finally when he realizes who is son really is, they share a heartwarming thumping of the town's most obnoxious father, son pairing. Virginia Weidler is very good as Tom's sister. Another of Hollywood's most talented children, she appeared frequently with Mickey and Judy and also had a high profile role in The Philadelphia story.Fay Bainter has one of her best roles ever as Tom's mother, easily worthy of an academy nod. While the story may not resemble reality, it communicates some very important human truths about family. This film is every bit as good as The Yearling and should be considered a must for family viewing.