As the son of silent film stars Lila Lee and James Kirkwood, the young Kirkwood followed his parents into show business, appearing on Broadway in Junior Miss, Small Wonder, and Welcome Darlings and in such films as Oh God, Book II (1980) and Mommie Dearest (1981).
What man in the Depression years would welcome a darling, dependent girl?
"I am very pleased to welcome Mr Darling to our board.
One of the many examples of his sensitivity was his perfect synchronization with Ms. Langmayr as she slowed down, ever so slightly, on the aching line "Welcome, my darling boy, you have stood out there so long" in Mahler's "Wo die Sschönen Trompeten Blasen" ("Where the Beaufitul Trumpets Sound").
Ruth Kelly, the transport secretary, welcomed Mr Darling's statement.
So why should today's effusive backbench welcome for Alistair Darling's new mini-budget announcement on personal tax allowances be any different in the long run?
Dr John Philpott, chief economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD): "On the face of things the latest productivity figures should be welcome news to Alastair Darling as he begins his first full week as chancellor.
Darling enthusiastically welcomed Eddington's report, as did his transport officials in Whitehall.
I am almost tempted to present them with a biscotti and whisper devilishly, "Welcome to the dark side, darling.
After Staff College, Camberley, in 1955, Davie felt that having missed Sandhurst he had reached a glass ceiling in his army career, so welcomed the approach from Stormonth Darling to join NTS as his chief of staff.
