In Hamilton McFadden's 1934 film "Stand Up and Cheer!," the unnamed off-screen president (actually Franklin D. Roosevelt) posits that the real reason for Great Depression was a sudden crisis of optimism. Additionally, wicked bankers were running amok and getting rich while the rest of the nation starved, leaving everyone nihilistic and horrified. The wasteful and corrupt Warren Harding administration followed by the Crash of '29 isn't mentioned, as McFadden's film sought to cheer people up, not make their depression — and the Depression — any worse. In "Stand Up and Cheer!," Fdr created a Department of Amusement and appoints a secretary (Warner Baxter) to oversee a feel-good, nationwide show to keep morale up.
The bulk of the 80-minute film is a series of auditions in the secretary's office wherein performers come in to sing and dance, effectively turning the movie into a revue. Modern audiences may bristle at some racist caricatures, notably actress...
The bulk of the 80-minute film is a series of auditions in the secretary's office wherein performers come in to sing and dance, effectively turning the movie into a revue. Modern audiences may bristle at some racist caricatures, notably actress...
- 4/17/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
While most kids were going through elementary school, Shirley Temple was becoming the biggest movie star in America. Her talents as a performer and prepubescent charisma delighted audiences of all ages. And Fox leveraged Temple’s image to cultivate a brand around the actor in a way that was rare for the time.
Temple made a lot of money for the people around her. But she didn’t get to keep most of it. Her parents took control of the majority of her earnings. And their mismanagement of Temple’s funds resulted in the loss of millions of dollars.
Shirley Temple was an icon of 1930s cinema
Temple was only three when she made her first steps into the entertainment industry. Her parents Gertrude and George took her to classes at Meglin’s Dance School in Los Angeles. Temple’s performances in the class caught the attention of Charles Lamont,...
Temple made a lot of money for the people around her. But she didn’t get to keep most of it. Her parents took control of the majority of her earnings. And their mismanagement of Temple’s funds resulted in the loss of millions of dollars.
Shirley Temple was an icon of 1930s cinema
Temple was only three when she made her first steps into the entertainment industry. Her parents Gertrude and George took her to classes at Meglin’s Dance School in Los Angeles. Temple’s performances in the class caught the attention of Charles Lamont,...
- 3/1/2023
- by Garrett Burke
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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