Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

A frantic radio producer must find the perfect Little Miss America for an advertiser's national program. He discovers her in his country neighbor, REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM, an incredibly talented & precocious moppet, who proceeds to charm all around her & bring happiness into the lives of those who love her.

Little Shirley Temple turns in another crowd-pleasing performance in this pleasant family film - which bears almost no resemblance to the Kate Douglas Wiggin classic. It's easy to see why the little tyke was Hollywood's top star for years. Her smile & vivacity are still stunning decades later.

This time Shirley is surrounded by a plethora of male talent: rugged Randolph Scott, giving a slightly wooden performance no doubt caused by the chagrin of playing second fiddle to a ten-year-old; peppy Jack Haley, always eager to please; veteran William Demerest, displaying some of his best pratfalls; laconic comic Slim Summerville, the unlikeliest lover; flustered Franklin Pangborn, as a very nervous organist; and the great Bill `Bojangles' Robinson, given distressingly little to do in his role as a farmhand - until the film's final moments when he gets to shine in a tap routine with Shirley.

Helen Westley is great fun as grumpy Aunt Miranda; lovely Gloria Stuart is given little to do except look, well, lovely.

That's champion character actress Eily Malyon as the Reverend's cake-eating wife. Movie mavens will recognize old Clarence Wilson as a shyster attorney.

Shirley sings `An Old Straw Hat' & `Come And Get Your Happiness', as well as a medley of her past hits.

Query: Why do film makers think radio audiences are thrilled by listening to tap dancing? In films like this you don't ask questions like that.

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 who appeared 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.

When adorable Shirley Temple gets dropped off, at her aunt's country farm, by her irresponsible uncle, she gets to know the simple life. Only life in the country isn't so simple. Her aunt, Helen Westley, has a decades-long feud with her old beau and neighbor, Slim Summerville. She refuses to speak to him, relaying messages through Shirley even when they're all in the same frame. Then there's the other neighbor, Randolph Scott, a handsome talent scout who's dating a radio singer, Phyllis Brooks. Jack Haley is in love with Phyllis, but she won't give him the time of day. And Gloria Stuart, Shirley's cousin, is trying to fight her feelings for Scottie.

In case that isn't complicated enough, Helen Westley is anti-show business, and Shirley's already auditioned for a Little Miss America radio contest! This is one of the more complicated Shirley Temple movies, which makes sense since she's growing up. She can handle more plot than Curly Top or Stand Up and Cheer. And supposedly, her audience can, too.

Shirley sings a few songs in this one, notably a medley of other songs she's performed in her older movies. While it is very cute for Shirley to sing a medley of her previous hits, it's also bittersweet. She's growing up, and she has to acknowledge that the days of her being a charming little tot are over. For her to "remind" us of her hits, it's also a reminder that those movies were a long time ago. For those who like a good story and lots of jokes sprinkled in the script, this might be your favorite Shirley Temple flick. Helen and Slim's feud is hilarious, and I always love Jack Haley. Scott and Stuart don't do much, but for no fault of their own; it's Shirley's show. Literally!

Lately, I have watched a bunch of Shirley Temple movies. I used to think they were all very schmaltzy, but this isn't always the case. Plus, since she was such a lovable and adorable child, even a bit of schmaltz manages to work. Of the dozen or so Temple films I've seen in the last month, I would place "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" among the very best. And, after over 70 years, it's still very enjoyable.

This film begins with Rebecca being shuttled about by her no-good uncle (William Demarest) from one audition to another. At the final audition, Rebecca wows the producer (Randolph Scott) and sponsor but the dumb assistant (Jack Haley) tells the girl that she was rejected when she really wasn't. At the end of their ropes, the uncle dumps the child on her aunt--an old grouch living at Sunnybrook Farm. The aunt is happy to take the child and Rebecca soon endears herself to everyone (big surprise). In a coincidence you'll only see in movies, her new neighbor happens to be the producer--who has been frantically searching for the child for his show. But, when he eventually discovers who she is, the aunt is not about to let the girl 'ruin her life by going into show business'! What's next? See the film.

While the film has almost nothing to do with the novel "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm", it manages to work very, very well. Much of it is the writing--the script has a nice sense of humor and is better written than normal. In addition, a wonderful supporting cast helps by not placing all the film on the shoulders of little Shirley. In addition to Haley, Demarest and Scott, Gloria Stuart, Slim Summerville and Bill Robinson round out the cast. Overall, a treat--a Shirley Temple film that manages to make you smile and keeps the saccharine level in check. Well worth your time. Plus, it made my wife laugh and smile throughout--a positive statement indeed as she's even more cynical than me when it comes to films.

A pleasant if not brilliant Shirley Temple vehicle, the young actress shines as the charming Rebecca and she sings quite well too. The film itself is formulaic and very predictable with typical characters, but it nevertheless does the job reasonably well, providing an opportunity for Temple to display her talents as and actress and as a singer. The songs are a delight to listen too as well. The main setback for the film is the amateurish editing - at least three or four times continuity is broken by the presence of jump cuts - however this can easily be ignored in light of the charms of the film. It supposedly is not faithful to the source material, but as a film on its own, it does fine.