Franklin McAlister III

(2012-04-28 11:15:24)

One of the funniest Shirley Temple movies

This is one of the good movies that Shirley Temple made because I justlove how you get so much laughter out of it. I just laughed like crazywhen that one neighbor helped get little Shirley out of the upstairsbedroom and down the ladder to the other house then he got trapped upthere because the ladder fell off the side of the house. I just crackedup and laughed because of how many funny scenes there are in thismovie. I really laughed when the Aunt came upstairs and found that manin the bed instead of little Shirley. I also got a huge amount oflaughs out of one of the final scenes in the movie when Shirley istaken away from her Aunt and how she fakes loosing her voice just toget back around the people she loves.

Ron Oliver

(2012-04-27 21:00:02)

Another Shirley Temple Crowd Pleaser

A frantic radio producer must find the perfect Little MissAmerica for an advertiser's national program. He discoversherin his country neighbor, REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM, anincredibly talented & precocious moppet, who proceeds tocharm all around her & bring happiness into the lives ofthosewho love her.Little Shirley Temple turns in another crowd-pleasingperformance in this pleasant family film - which bearsalmostno resemblance to the Kate Douglas Wiggin classic. It's easytosee why the little tyke was Hollywood's top star for years.Hersmile & vivacity are still stunning decades later.This time Shirley is surrounded by a plethora of male talent:rugged Randolph Scott, giving a slightly wooden performanceno doubt caused by the chagrin of playing second fiddle toaten-year-old; peppy Jack Haley, always eager to please;veteran William Demerest, displaying some of his bestpratfalls; laconic comic Slim Summerville, the unlikeliestlover;flustered Franklin Pangborn, as a very nervous organist;andthe great Bill `Bojangles' Robinson, given distressingly littletodo in his role as a farmhand - until the film's final momentswhen he gets to shine in a tap routine with Shirley.Helen Westley is great fun as grumpy Aunt Miranda; lovelyGloria Stuart is given little to do except look, well,lovely.That's champion character actress Eily Malyon as theReverend's cake-eating wife. Movie mavens will recognizeoldClarence Wilson as a shyster attorney.Shirley sings `An Old Straw Hat' & `Come And Get YourHappiness', as well as a medley of her past hits.Query: Why do film makers think radio audiences are thrilledby listening to tap dancing? In films like this you don'taskquestions like that.

bkoganbing

(2012-04-16 10:26:17)

"I'm Very Self Reliant"

Although the film has absolutely nothing to do with the plot of Rebeccaof Sunnybrook Farm as written, the film is a really enjoyable one withthe self reliant Shirley at her best.She has to be because Darryl Zanuck really went out of his way to giveher a bunch of scene stealing character players as support for hisgolden little moppet. Jack Haley, Helen Westley, William Demarest, SlimSummerville all have their moments. Even Franklin Pangborn has a briefscene with Temple as a flustered organ player who is hired by a radiostation to provide substitute music in case a live performer can't goon. He muffs his big chance in a hilarious scene.Randolph Scott is a frustrated radio programmer who's looking for achild radio star to be Little Miss America. He hears all kinds ofShirley Temple wannabes and then hears the genuine article. But hisdumb cluck of an assistant, Jack Haley, forgets to keep her in thestudio.Frustrated Scott goes back to his farm which just happens to be next towhere Temple's deadbeat stepdad parks the prodigy. Shirley is now withher Aunt Helen Westley and another cousin Gloria Stuart. When Randydiscovers her, his problems seem over.Of course when the deadbeat stepdad William Demarest discovers Shirleyis a budding radio star he schemes to get custody of her. But ourlittle heroine being very self reliant is up to the challenge as she isin every one of her films.I'm not writing any give aways but this is a Shirley Temple movie andthere's only one way they turn out.

SpookyPie88

(2012-04-15 16:12:12)

An adorable film...

Shirley Temple definitely deserved some of her popularity after thistailor-made vehicle. The film is as adorable as the young star. Itfollows Rebecca (Temple) as she tries to fulfill her dream of singingon a popular radio show. She does this with the help of a few adultfriends who compliment Temple perfectly. Temple herself, shines in thisfilm. Singing, dancing and acting she shows a natural talent forperforming and clearly enjoys herself with this film. All in all Iwould recommend this film to anyone. It might not be the best ShirleyTemple film but it will keep you entertained all the way through andthe enchanting lead will captivate you.

ccthemovieman-1

(2012-04-10 17:28:59)

Shirley Temple At Her Peak

It's almost strange to look at these "Shirley Temple films" at variousstages 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 comedyof the period, so you have to acclimate yourself.After a decade away from her films, I viewed this one recently andfound both good and bad things about watching it. The positives,however, far outweighed the negatives and I believe this is one ofShirley's more entertaining efforts.After starring now for about five years, it's obvious how comfortableshe had become in her roles. She looked extremely confident in here andwhy not? She had her act down pat. She even performed one song that wasmedley of her hits from previous movies. Yup, she was a veteran at theripe 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 crabbyold woman, a nice young couple that you wanted to see get married, acouple of wacky cronies, good 'ole Bill Robinson nearby....and theregular happy ending. The wholesome and pretty woman in here was GloriaStuart. She was the same lady who appeared in 1997's "Titantic."" The leading man was western star Randolph Scott and the old biddy wasHelen Westley. The goofballs were Slim Summerville, Jack Haley andWilliam Demarest. This was one of the better casts in the Templemovies.The only drawback, really, was the total lack of credibility, sceneafter scene of things that made no sense...such as an entire orchestraand chorus setting up inside a quiet farmhouse and the occupant(Westley) unaware of it??!!! There are a number of scenes that justleave you shaking your head in amazement. So....you just have tosuspend all belief and just enjoy the comedy, Shirley's tremendoustalent and appeal, and all the pleasing songs and dances in here. Thatdone, you've spent an enjoyable 80 minutes.Made during the Depression years when Americans desperately needed tofeel good, Shirley Temple was perhaps the best at filling that need.Some 70 years later, she still ranks as the greatest child entertainingin United States history and her films still put a smile on one's face.She still makes us feel good.

lugonian

(2012-04-10 09:35:08)

Rebecca of Radio Land

REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM (20th Century-Fox, 1938), directed by AllanDwan, stars Shirley Temple as the title character in a screenplaysuggested on but not entirely from the story written by Kate DouglasWiggin. Returning to the formula best suited for Temple's musicaltalents following her performances in the more faithful adaptations tothe literary works of 1937's WEE WILLIE WINKIE and HEIDI, REBECCA isactually a rehash of Temple's earlier effort, THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL(1936), which not only has her singing some songs composed for thatproduction, reuniting her with co-stars Jack Haley and Gloria Stuart,with much of the setting taking place in a radio station, but anotherwell staged military dance number finish.The story revolves around Anthony Kent (Randolph Scott), a radiostation manager, assisted by Orville Smithers (Jack Haley), on apromotional talent search auditioning hundreds of little girls fortheir upcoming "Little Miss America" campaign sponsored by CyrusBartlett (Paul Harvey), an important client for Crackling Grain Flakes.Enduring through the intercom of listening of one bad singer afteranother vocalizing the same song of "You Got to Eat Your Spinach, Baby"over and over again, plus having to deal with overbearing parents, Kentfinally gets to hear Rebecca Winstead's (Shirley Temple) singing and isvery much impressed by her. However, due to a misunderstanding byOrville, Rebecca, accompanied by her stepfather/manager Harry Kipper(William Demarest), leave the studio thinking the audition a failure.Now that he has found himself evicted from their 950 10th Avenueapartment, and flat broke, Harry, who is unable to support hisstepdaughter, decides to have Rebecca live upstate with her AuntMiranda (Helen Westley) at Sunnybrook Farm. Realizing Orville'smistake, and now at this point of a nervous breakdown, Kent decides toget away from it all by taking a rest on his farm in the country, whichalso happens to be at Sunnybrook. Eventually the paths of Kent andRebecca meet, thanks to a little piggy, and discovering that Rebecca isthe talented child he's been searching for, he sets out to star her onthe "Crackling Grain Flakes Hour," but there's only one problem, AuntMiranda, who detests show people, especially since her late daughterhad married an actor, refuses to give Rebecca permission to perform onthe radio. Gwen (Gloria Stuart), Rebecca's first cousin, also livingunder Miranda's roof, and in love with Kent, schemes in having Rebeccasneak out at night on a hook to book broadcast set in Kent's home. Allgoes well, even after Miranda hears her on the radio, until UncleHarry, now remarried to a tough babe (Ruth Gillette), returns toSunnybrook Farm with an attorney (Clarence Wilson) to reclaim histalented stepchild.Amusing moments consist of Haley's love for Scott's temperamentalfiancГѓВ©e (played by Phyllis Brooks), who performs with him but refusesto give him the satisfaction; William Demarest's frequent pratfalls onAunt Miranda's loose board in front of her home; and Helen Westley asthe strong-willed Miranda, who continues to hold a grudge on Scott'sservant, Homer Busby (wonderfully played by Slim Summerville), herformer fiancГѓВ©, due to some misunderstanding 25 years ago. One thingabout Wesley's character, every time she speaks, one expects her to layan egg. Also in the cast are Alan Dinehart as Mr. Purvis, Kent's radiostation rival; J. Edward Bromberg as Doctor Hill; and best of all,Franklin Pangborn as Hamilton Montgomery, a substitute organ playerwaiting for his big chance to go on the air; and Bill Robinson asMiranda's dancing farm hand.The motion picture soundtrack includes: "Happy Ending" (sung by PhyllisBrooks); "You've Got to Eat Your Spinach, Baby" (sung by individualauditioning girls); ""An Old Straw Hat" (sung by Shirley Temple);"Crackling Grain Flakes" (sung by quartet); "Alone With You" (sung byPhyllis Brooks and Jack Haley); "Come and Get Your Happiness" (sung byTemple/by Jack Yellen and Sam Polgrass); a medley of Temple oldies: "Onthe Good Ship Lollipop" (by Richard Whiting and Sidney Clare); "AnimalCrackers in My Soup" (by Ted Koehler, Irving Caesar and Ray Henderson);"When I'm With You," "Oh, My Goodness," and "Goodnight, My Friends(formerly "Goodnight, My Love" (all sung by Temple); and "The Parade ofthe Wooden Soldiers" (performed by Temple and Bill Robinson/by SidneyMitchell, Lew Pollack and Raymond Scott).One of the better radio musicals of the period, Temple shines as thelittle girl who is very self-reliant. This is also the initial film inwhich she loses her legendary curls, which comes after living underAunt Miranda's roof on Sunnybrook Farm. And speaking of legendary, hertap dancing opposite Bill Robinson ranks one of their better teamefforts, even if the tapping takes place on the radio for listeners tohear and not see, except for the movie viewing audience. REBECCA OFSUNNYBROOK FARM is not the sort of movie for grammar school students tobase a book report on, for that this is the least faithful of theearlier screen treatments, 1917 with Mary Pickford, and 1932 withMarian Nixon. It seems interesting that the writers didn't come upon amusical version to the book from which it is based, as MGM later didwith THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), and not stray away from its originalconcept, but overlooking these major changes, with no harm done, itdoes make fine family viewing.Distributed on video cassette and later DVD, REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARMis currently available in both colorized and black and white versions.Formerly shown on American Movie Classics from 1997 to 2001, it'stelevision broadcast can be found on the Fox Movie Channel. (***1/2)

sol-

(2012-04-07 15:44:19)

My brief review of the film

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

Petri Pelkonen

(2012-04-06 20:19:47)

Come and get your happiness with Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple tries the farm life as Rebecca, who wants to be a singerstar on the radio.Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is directed by AllanDwan.It's loosely based on Kate Douglas Wiggins' book.Shirley Temple isso adorable in the lead as Rebecca.Gloria Stuart plays Gwen, Rebecca'scousin and Kent's romantic interest.Sadly Ms. Stuart passed away onSunday Sep 26 at the age of 100.She got to do a lot in a hundredyears.There's some fun stuff in this movie, like when they get Rebeccaout of the house so she can go and sing on the radio.The musicalnumbers bring you in a good mood.An Old Straw Hat is delightful.Comeand Get Your Happiness was really good.Shirley Temple's movies havebrought so much happiness and joy to the world.And those are the twothings we always need.