The Little Colonel **** (1935, Shirley Temple, Lionel Barrymore, Evelyn Venable, John Lodge, Bill Robinson) – Classic Movie Review 9279

Director David Butler’s 1935 The Little Colonel stars little Miss Shirley Temple at her best, and includes the famous staircase tap dance sequence between the young heroine and Bill Robinson often seen in clips.

As Miss Lloyd Sherman, Shirley totters sweetly through the film, set in the post-Civil War South, settling family arguments and spreading love and happiness.

Lionel Barrymore enjoys himself entertainingly as Colonel Lloyd, the grumpy old former Civil War Confederate colonel, who has initially fallen out with his daughter, Southern belle Elizabeth Lloyd (Evelyn Venable), over marrying the Yankee Jack Sherman (John Lodge) – Temple’s ma and pa.

The Little Colonel is heaven for those who like US Southern charm, cute sentiment and sugary cuteness – and Shirley of course. Robinson’s tap-dancing with Shirley is an unchallengeable total treat.

It is filmed by Arthur C Miller and William V Skall in black and white and Technicolor.

Song: ‘Love’s Young Dream’ by Thomas Moore.

Also in the cast are Hattie McDaniel, Sidney Blackmer, Stephen Chase [Alden Chase], William Burress, Frank Darien, Robert Warwick, Geneva Williams, Avonie Jackson, Nyanza Potts, Thomas Kallard, Dave O’Brien, Harry Strang and Lillian West.

The Little Colonel is directed by David Butler, runs 80 minutes, is made and released by Fox Film Corporation, is written by William M Conselman, based on the novel by Anne Fellow Johnston, is shot by Arthur C Miller and William V Skall, is produced by Buddy G DeSylva, is scored by Cyril J Mockridge, Hugo Friedhofer and Arthur Lange, and designed by William S Darling.

There is also a computer colorized version.

Bill Robinson and Shirley Temple dance My Old Kentucky Home (1853) (music by Stephen Foster).

The six-year-old Temple memorised all the lines of the film. When Barrymore forgot a line and she prompted him, he flew into a rage and a crew member took Temple away. Barrymore apologised to Temple, and they remained friends.

Other Shirley Temple movies: Heidi, The Little Princess and Wee Willie Winkie.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9279

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com