The Little Colonel

Crusty former Army colonel Lionel Barrymore is encouraged to patch things up with his estranged daughter after her marriage to a Yankee produces an adorably outspoken child who emulates her bossy grandfather. It's Shirley Temple in the Old South after the Civil War, scuttled after by housekeeper Hattie McDaniel and dancing up the staircase with butler Bill Robinson, and some will surely quibble with this Hollywood-ized version of time and place. Even though there's bad blood between relatives, everyone sparkles with sass and sentiment! The main joy here is in watching little Shirley outwit her elders, although the baptismal sequence at the river (complete with spiritual "wailing") provides an eerie shimmer that nearly seems to belong to a different film altogether. **1/2 from ****

A little girl tries to mend the relationship between her mother and grandfather. The Little Colonel is Shirley Temple at her best. She does a wonderful tap routine with Bill Robinson. Lionel Barrymore is good as the curmudgeonly grandfather, and Hattie McDaniel gives a wonderful supporting performance. Recmomended. First time viewing. 3.5/5

Though really a comedy-drama that focuses on the reconciliation of an estranged father and daughter in the years following the American Civil War, the film pairs Shirley Temple with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson in the first of four cinematic pairings between Robinson and the most successful child star of all time. Most of Temple's films contain a song and dance or two, and this one features the duo's famous staircase dance. --Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013

There will never be a child star to match Shirley Temple. A born actress, dancer, and entertainer. In this movie she has an amazing support cast of Lionel Barrymore who plays the part of a crusty grandfather but Shirley with her cute and charming ways soon melts the heart of the old grandfather. Hattie Mac Daniel plays the faithful servant and once again it made you realize just how much these beloved negroes sometimes knew more than " The white folks". The dancing down the steps with "Bojangles Bill Robinson" is something that can make you appreciate the talent of a young and not so young. The story line can be weak in places and the acting might be a bit corny to todays standards but if you need a feel good movie then drag out a Shirley Temple movie . You won't be disappointed.

I grew up with Shirley Temple. In 1932 she made 12 movies as an adorable baby doll of four years old. In 1933 she made four films; in 1934 eleven films the best was "Stand Up & Cheer" and "Baby, Take A Bow". In 1935 four films; in 1936 Captain January", in 1937 "Heidi"; in 1938 "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" and "The Little Princess". In 1940 two movies, and in 1941 her first flop. 1944 she made a comeback in "Since You Went Away" and "I'll Be Seeing You". 1947 she made three films including "Bachelor & the Bobby Soxer". 1948 "Fort Apache" when she met her first husband John Agar. In 1949 she made four good films the best of which was "A Kiss for Corliss". Nobody wanted little Shirley to grow up, so I must say my favorite film of hers was "The Little Colonel" in which she sang and danced so well with the famed Bill Robinson. In that film she played against the great Lionel Barrymore.

Personally, I think this is Shirley's best movie. It's got a good story (rare in children's movies), my favorite actor (Lionel Barrymore), great acting from a 5-yr-old child (Shirley), great dance numbers with Bojangles, lots of servant put-downs of their masters (as when Bojangles calls his master a fool) and also lots of humor, as when Shirley throws the chess set onto the floor, strikes an angry pose, and tells her Grandpa, "You're a bad man!". I smile every time I see that. The little 5-yr-old girl put the 70-something old guy in his place. If you've not yet seen the Little Colonel, I recommend you buy or rent it now. It's a great introduction to the actress Shirley Temple, and you can see why she was the number one star in 1936, 37, and 38.