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Rating:  - The Best of Shirley
Of all the Shirley Temple movies I have watched, this showcases her talet the best. Sweet storyline for "America" Littlest Sweetheart."
Rating:  - Shirley Charms
Shirley Temple's movie career was in its peak years when she made this movie that capitalizes on her best characteristics. Though she says she is eight years old in the movie and she even looks like she could be eight, in reality she was about ten years old. Shirley was a veteran actress who was cute and charming with little effort.
This movie primarily shares the title of the book with the same name. Beyond the title, the movie is quite different from the book. Rebecca Winstead (Temple) is the ward of her stepfather, Uncle Harry Kipper (William Demarest, a veteran actor who would later be a regular on "My Three Sons"). Unfortunately, Uncle Harry has issues with keeping a regular job. Good things appear to be happening when Shirley auditions and gets a job with Tony Kent (the late great Randolph Scott) as Little Miss America. Because of a misunderstanding, Rebecca and Uncle Harry left the studio and disappeared, putting Tony Kent into serious trouble with his biggest sponsor.
Uncle Harry takes Rebecca to her Aunt Miranda (Helen Westley, who appeared in several other Shirley Temple movies) and dumps Rebecca. Rebecca meets her cousin Gwen Warren (Gloria Stuart, who decades later would appear in one of her most memorable roles as elderly Rose in the blockbuster "Titanic") and Aloysius (Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, in his third appearance in a Shirley Temple film). As Rebecca tells us many times in the movie, she is self reliant and she manages to charm everyone she contacts, even grumpy Aunt Miranda.
Rebecca accidentally encounters Tony Kent, who is still looking for her. It turns out that Tony has a house right next to Aunt Miranda's house. Unfortunately, Aunt Miranda is against Rebecca appearing in a radio broadcast and Rebecca, Gwen and several others have to go to great lengths to get Rebecca out of Aunt Miranda's house and into Tony's house for her first radio broadcast.
The radio broadcast is successful, but too successful because Uncle Harry is listening and decides that he wants Rebecca, or at least her money. We also learn that Uncle Harry has a new wife, whose only desire is money. Things become a little tearful when Uncle Harry shows up with a lawyer and court papers that prove that Uncle Harry is Rebecca's legal guardian.
Will Rebecca escape Uncle Harry's clutches? Will Gwen and Tony end up happy? What about perpetually grumpy Aunt Miranda? Will she see happiness? Many answers await you!
I enjoyed this movie. I thought the movie had a good balance of comedy and pathos, and I thought the movie had good pacing. However, I know that younger audiences, who are accustomed to faster-paced movies and have different standards for comedy, may fail to find this movie funny or interesting. You may want to keep the differences in era in mind if you are buying this movie for a younger person who is unfamiliar with Shirley Temple.
Shirley Temple is perfectly charming in this movie. She sings. She dances with Bill Robinson, who was a phenomenal dancer. Shirley is cute and charming and even though portions of this movie seem contrived and unbelievable, it is easy to ignore the plot problems because of Shirley. Shirley Temple fans will enjoy this movie, as well as Randolph Scott fans and Gloria Stuart fans. I strongly recommend this movie as one to watch if you are just starting to appreciate Shirley Temple.
Enjoy!
Rating:  - Rebbeca of Sunnybrook Farm
I bought this for my three year old niece - she thought it was boring.
Rating: - Shirley Temple At Her Peak
It's almost strange to look at these "Shirley Temple films" at various stages of your own life. You view them differently as you grow older. It also depends, I suppose, on how familiar you are with 1930s films. Many of them are dated, especially with the language, songs and comedy of the period, so you have to acclimate yourself.
After a decade away from her films, I viewed this one recently and found both good and bad things about watching it. The positives, however, far outweighed the negatives and I believe this is one of Shirley's more entertaining efforts.
After starring now for about five years, it's obvious how comfortable she had become in her roles. She looked extremely confident in here and why not? She had her act down pat. She even performed one song that was medley of her hits from previous movies. Yup, she was a veteran at the ripe old age of 10 and at the peak of her career in the 1930s.
In this movie was the normal mixture of characters, meaning a crabby old woman, a nice young couple that you wanted to see get married, a couple of wacky cronies, good 'ole Bill Robinson nearby....and the regular happy ending. The wholesome and pretty woman in here was Gloria Stuart. She was the same lady in 1997's "Titantic." The leading man was western star Randolph Scott and the old biddy was Helen Westley. The goofballs were Slim Summerville, Jack Haley and William Demarest. This was one of the better casts in the Temple movies.
The only drawback, really, was the total lack of credibility, scene after scene of things that made no sense...such as an entire orchestra and chorus setting up inside a quiet farmhouse and the occupant (Westley) unaware of it??!!! There are a number of scenes that just leave you shaking your head in amazement. So....you just have to suspend all belief and just enjoy the comedy, Shirley's tremendous talent and appeal, and all the pleasing songs and dances in here. That done, you've spent an enjoyable 80 minutes.
Made during the Depression years when Americans desperately needed to feel good, Shirley Temple was perhaps the best at filling that need. Some 70 years later, she still ranks as the greatest child entertaining in United States history and her films still put a smile on one's face. She still makes us feel good.
Rating: - Shirley Temple is the best child star ever!!!!!
Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm is a delightful and perfect movie. It is so good you can watch it over and over again without even getting bored. Shirley Temple is absolutely charming with her cute songs, lovable charm and happy songs. I love the songs she sings in this movie. They are happy and have great tunes. Also Phyliss Brooks does a wonderful job of singing. Along with the rest of the cast who each warm your heart. This perfect movie is full of comedy, cuteness and class.
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