Min and Bill (1930)

In a rough-and-tumble waterfront district, the resilient Min runs a bustling boarding house, where her heart is deeply entwined with her unofficial ward, Nancy. Abandoned as an infant, Nancy now helps with the boarding house chores in lieu of schooling, her world shaped by the working-class reality surrounding her. Their unconventional family is completed by Bill, a rugged fisherman and boarder, who provides a strong male presence in their lives. As Nancy blossoms into her mid-teens, their modest existence comes under scrutiny. A concerned truant officer questions the harsh environment and the lack of formal education, believing Nancy would be better off under the care of the local school superintendent. Torn between her fierce love for Nancy and the potential of a better life, Min reluctantly contemplates this proposition. However, the scenario is complicated when Alec Johnson, a character of dubious reputation, starts to show interest in Nancy, heightening Min's protective instincts. Just as Min grapples with these challenging decisions, a specter from the past resurfaces. Bella Pringle, Nancy's long-absent and morally questionable mother, returns, seeking to reclaim her daughter under the pretense of caregiving. Faced with this unexpected threat, Min is forced to risk everything, including her relationship with Nancy and her own life, to shield Nancy from her mother's toxic influence. "Min and Bill" is a heart-wrenching tale of love, sacrifice, and the lengths one will go to protect those they consider family, set against the backdrop of a waterfront teeming with life's harshest realities.

Min and Bill is a comedy movie featuring Marie Dressler.

Min and Bill is currently streaming on DIRECTV.