Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 4 (1938)

Includes:Just Around the CornerCaptain JanuarySusannah Of the MountiesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 024543252993 Manufacturer No: 2235299 Product Description

very entertaining

i love Shirley Temple she's really America's sweetheart
long time ago and even now... June 5, 2008

A Shirley Temple for today

No, sex, no violence, no evil, just plain and fancy human drama. The ever-orhpan Shirley, displays her multitalented skills and they all live happily ever after. Stories from a kinder, gentler scene in A Struggleing America.
Just the calm needed for unsettled seasons such as ours. February 9, 2008

Nostalgia for Baby Boomers and their Parents

This entire Shirley Temple series includes some of her best, some of her worst, and some mostly average. Captan January was clearly one of her best, Just Around the Corner was one of those "try to feel good" movies of the depression era that seems way too contrived, and Susannah of the Mounties is pleasant enough, but not very special.

In Captain January, we have the memorable scene of a very little Shirley Temple and a very tall, lean Buddy Epson dancing a whirlwind dance routine. It is quite amazing how a really little child like that could dance and sing and act so well. She and Captain January (her guardian, though informally) join up with other characters to do some marvelous singing and playing around, very entertaining. But there is also a real tear-jerker of a story involving the people who love the dear little girl and those (especially the new truant officer) who do not.

Just Around the Corner, in contrast, is a completely contrived story of a hotel manager (Shirley's father) losing his job due to the depression, and staying on as the maintenance man. Shirley, of course, is completely irrepressible and cheers everyone up. The only really clever part of the plot is when Shirley is shown a picture of "Uncle Sam," who needs help, and mistakes the rich old crab who took over their penthouse for that same Uncle Sam. Well, his name is Samuel, he looks rather like the political cartoon's depiction, and he's her playmate's uncle, so it's a natural. But the old "let's hold a benefit show" is just too contrived. She's cute, but the story is just plain stupid. There are also some rather offensive stereotypes of blacks, but then this was long ago, and I think the producers were trying to be kind, giving jobs to black performers.

Susanna of the Mounties would be a lot better movie if it did not perpetuate some pretty stupid stereotypes of Native Americans. Or, in this case, Native Canadians. Shirley becomes the blood "brother" of the tribal chief's son, and there seems to be a sincere effort to portrey the natives as good people. And it is an adventuresome story. But I kept thinking how much better it would have been if they had used a more dynamic actor in the role of Shirley's father. January 14, 2008

Shirley Temple DVD'S

Shirley Temple DVD'S are wonderful for any age. She is a delight and I am well pleased with my purchase. January 2, 2008

Captain January

Great old movie from the 1930's - Heartwarming for the entire family,
Warm story, great scenes and bit of history.
Tim Harrison October 19, 2007

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