Shirley Temple was the right antidote for the Great Depression of the 1930s, and she continues to entertain all of us big and little kids to this very day. That is a fact.
CURLY TOP ranks as one of her best films; Shirley is priceless, and singing "Animal Crackers in My Soup." A classic in itself. She and beautiful Rochelle Hudson make an exceptional team as orphan sisters (what else?) who catch the eye of wealthy man about town John Boles. He soon takes a liking to Rochelle, and could there be wedding bells?
One of those syrupy stories that only Hollywood could cook up for Shirley Temple and make it a winner. Applause to the one and only Arthur Treacher, as Bole's dutiful butler, who is likewise won over by Curly Top. Shirley and Arthur Treacher would go onto appear in a few more movies as they made a remarkable team.
Bottom line, had this story featured any other juvenile actor, it would never have made it. But with Shirley Temple, it's magic and one you can never get enough of. This puts a smile on your face from the very beginning.
Good support from veteran actress Esther Dale as the family matriarch and comedian Billy Gilbert as a cook. Billy at the time was doing a lot of work with Laurel and Hardy, a master of some of the most goofy characters.
Some of Shirley's best scenes are at the very beginning, at the orphanage, where she confronts the mean old guy running the place and immitates him in front of her friends. One to see.
This was also beautifully photographed, the stylish house on the beach a sight to see, and with all the sun flowers popping up. Can't do any better than that. Irving Cummings did a wonderful job directing this stellar cast, and you can tell that everybody was having fun. That's all it takes to make a wonderful film.
Cummings was originally a silent film star who switched to directing sound films, and many musicals with Alice Fay and Betty Grable. His next film with Shirley was POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL, rated as a classic and with Michael Whalen playing her dad. This would make a great double feature.
Always on dvd and remastered blu ray for us long time fans.
CURLY TOP ranks as one of her best films; Shirley is priceless, and singing "Animal Crackers in My Soup." A classic in itself. She and beautiful Rochelle Hudson make an exceptional team as orphan sisters (what else?) who catch the eye of wealthy man about town John Boles. He soon takes a liking to Rochelle, and could there be wedding bells?
One of those syrupy stories that only Hollywood could cook up for Shirley Temple and make it a winner. Applause to the one and only Arthur Treacher, as Bole's dutiful butler, who is likewise won over by Curly Top. Shirley and Arthur Treacher would go onto appear in a few more movies as they made a remarkable team.
Bottom line, had this story featured any other juvenile actor, it would never have made it. But with Shirley Temple, it's magic and one you can never get enough of. This puts a smile on your face from the very beginning.
Good support from veteran actress Esther Dale as the family matriarch and comedian Billy Gilbert as a cook. Billy at the time was doing a lot of work with Laurel and Hardy, a master of some of the most goofy characters.
Some of Shirley's best scenes are at the very beginning, at the orphanage, where she confronts the mean old guy running the place and immitates him in front of her friends. One to see.
This was also beautifully photographed, the stylish house on the beach a sight to see, and with all the sun flowers popping up. Can't do any better than that. Irving Cummings did a wonderful job directing this stellar cast, and you can tell that everybody was having fun. That's all it takes to make a wonderful film.
Cummings was originally a silent film star who switched to directing sound films, and many musicals with Alice Fay and Betty Grable. His next film with Shirley was POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL, rated as a classic and with Michael Whalen playing her dad. This would make a great double feature.
Always on dvd and remastered blu ray for us long time fans.