The Little Colonel (1935)

We have a first rate cast here, and minimally offensive racial issues for the times, unlike in "The Littlest Rebel". Yes, Bill Robinson and Hattie McDaniel fill roles typically filled by African Americans of the 1870s, as before slavery was abolished, the African Americans often butcher proper English language, and Lionel Barrymore, as Colonel Lloyd, does once call African American children pikaninnies. Hattie serves as housekeeper and cook, and sometimes participates in the action. Robinson serves as Shirley's dance companion and friend ,as well as Colonel Lloyd's butler and companion. Shirley and Robinson do two dances together. The first is the well remembered stair step dance, first Robinson alone, then Shirley joins in, after she sees what Robinson does. Later, they dance together in the stable to "Oh, Suzanna".We have two major conflicts we want resolved. One is between Colonel Lloyd(Barrymore) and the family of his daughter, Elizabeth, which includes Shirley. Colonel Lloyd is a dyed in the wool Southerner and Confederate, this being the 1870s, and Elizabeth's husband is a damned Yankee. To the Colonel, that's the worst thing that could happen to her. The Colonel(who looks very much like Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame) and Elizabeth swear they don't want to see each other again. So, it's up to Shirley to try to make amends. She is allowed in the Colonel's mansion, whereas her mother is not. She tries to match the Colonel in bluster, alternating with little girlish fun and tricks. Shirley, is the little Colonel, of course(an honorary rank conferred by the commander of an army outpost in the West). She takes her rank quite seriously, as seriously as does her grandfather, who soon finds out she is as stubborn as he and her mother.The second major conflict is between Shirley's father: Jack, and his 2 prospecting partners. His partners claim there is some gold on their claim, but they still want to sell their shares of the claim to Jack. Their asking price requires all of Jack's savings, but he finally gives in. Bad decision. The supposed evidence for gold is fake, and Jack finds none. He decides to return to Elizabeth and Shirley, who are living in an abandoned cottage Elizabeth inherited from her mother, near Colonel Lloyd's mansion. It appears they may soon have to go to the county poor house unless they can somehow get help from the Colonel. But, they have a lucky day. A railroad representative shows up and offers a handsome sum for rightaway rights on Jack's claim. But the deed is not immediately available, being kept in a bank. So, the representative suggests he return the next day, and leaves. Then, Jack's two old partners show up wanting to buy back their shares in the claim.(How they got the news that the claim is suddenly valuable is not discussed!). When Elizabeth brings the claim document, they pull a gun on them, ordering John to sign over the claim to them. Shirley runs for help from the Colonel, who reluctantly decides to travel to the cottage. He outshoots the one with a pistol as he opens the door. Also, luckily, the sheriff soon arrives, Hattie having fetched him. The Colonel has broken his rule that he would never enter the cottage. Thus, he decides it's time to make a whole-hearted amends. Thus, the swindlers inadvertently solved one problem, while a relay of people simultaneously solved the new problem of the swindlers. Handsome John Lodge, who played Shirley's father, was a member of the politically prominent Lodges, and would enter politics later. Evelyn Venable, who played Shirley's mother was quite beautiful, classy, and smart. Later, she would teach classical Latin and Greek, and sponsor Greek plays.Some of the other musical numbers include a harp solo by Elizabeth at the very beginning, and a combo of "Wade in the Water" and "The Sun Shines brighter", during an outdoor baptism in the river. Shirley was so impressed with the power of this sacrament to wash away one's sins, she pretended to be a minister and dunks her small friend Henry Clay twice, presumably because he had so many sins. Shirley was the dominating personality in the film, as cute and mischievous as ever.

The film begins just after the US Civil War. The Colonel (Lionel Barrymore) hates Yankees and is shocked when his daughter announces she's marrying one. In fact, he disowns her and she leaves. Time passes and now after several years, the daughter returns to her hometown with her adorable child, Lloyd (Temple). As for the husband, he's a businessman and is expected to soon join them.For some time, the daughter and father ignore each other--both too proud to bend. However, Lloyd isn't afraid to talk to her grandpa when she sees him. In fact, she's VERY spunky and a bit bratty. So, when he talks down to her, she gives him what for and throws mud on him! Later, she returns and apologizes...and the pair begins a friendship. Over time, Lloyd's sweetness is able to mend fences and create a happy ending. But before this, she has to help her family, as some evil swindlers have taken her father captive! Oh my! The interplay between Temple and Barrymore is great. Partly this is due to their both begin fantastic actors. Partly it helps because in this film, Shirley does not play all sweetness but is also delightfully bratty and strong-willed. She also is MAGNIFICENT in the scenes where she dances with Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson--the best of their several movies together. All in all, a completely delightful film--one of Shirley's very best. And, at the end there is a VERY garishly colored segment--very vivid--actually TOO vivid! By the way, although you don't hear her sing much in films, Hattie McDaniel was also a professional singer and you get to hear a bit of her lovely voice as she BRIEFLY sings a song. Also, although black characters fare much better in this film than in other Shirley Temple films of the era, some might blanch at the fact that all the black people are VERY happy living in the segregated post Civil War South.

THE LITTLE COLONEL (Fox, 1935), directed by David Butler, stars Shirley Temple in one of her more famous movie roles during her early years as a young performer. Aside from her initial teaming with legendary dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (4th billed during opening credits, bottom billed in the closing), with whom she does a memorable "stair" dance, it places her against odds with the crusty Lionel Barrymore, on loan out assignment from MGM, sporting white hair, bushy eyebrows and droopy mustache in the old Southerner/ or Claude Gillingwater Sr. tradition, and what a pair they make.Based on a story by Annie Fellows Johnston, the plot opens with a prologue set in 1870s Kentucky on a Southern plantation where Colonel Lloyd (Lionel Barrymore) disowns his beloved daughter, Elizabeth (Evelyn Venable) for eloping with a "Yankee", Jack Sherman (John Lodge). During their six years in Philadelphia, Jack and Elizabeth have been blessed with a child, Lloyd (Shirley Temple), whom they witness being commissioned as a "little colonel" by soldiers on a western outpost. With John remaining at the post, Elizabeth returns to Kentucky where she and Lloyd settle in an old cottage left to her by her late mother that happens to be next door to her father. After meeting his granddaughter with an introduction of getting mud thrown on him, he finds her to be just as stubborn and quick tempered as he. In spite of their rugged start and similar personality traits, Grandpa eventually warms up to Lloyd, though his stubbornness keeps him from having anything to do with his daughter, even when learning of swindlers Swazey (Sidney Blackmer) and Hull (Aden Chase) in their home threatening the ailing Jack and Elizabeth to turn over the deed to worthless property they sold him that has been proved valuable.THE LITTLE COLONEL, a leisurely paced story with familiar theme, relies mostly on the strength of its leading players, Temple and Barrymore. It's also one of the better films in which Temple does not typically play an orphan. Evelyn Venable, whose career failed to take off after a promising start opposite Fredric March in DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY (Paramount, 1934), provides the opening playing the harp and singing "Love's Young Dream" to her guests. The song is later reprized by Temple serenading to her grandfather as he envisions his daughter at the harp. John Lodge, virtually forgotten but better known for his performance as Count Alexi in THE SCARLET EMPRESS (Paramount, 1934) starring Marlene Dietrich, has little to do until the final half of the story. Hattie McDaniel, four years away her Academy Award winning performance in GONE WITH THE WIND (1939), supports as the Sherman maid, Mom Beck. Dressed in "Aunt Jemima" attire, she shares amusing moments with Colonel Lloyd's butler (Robinson), sharing time together with the "little colonel" at a spiritual gathering witnessing a woman getting dunked in the river where she's having her sins washed away as Negroes sing "The Sun Shines Brighter." Aside from the aforementioned "stair dance," Temple and Robinson do an encore tap dancing to Stephen Foster's "Oh, Susannah" in the stable to harmonica playing by May Lily (Avonne Johnson). Johnson, along with Nyamza Potts as her little brother, Henry Clay, support as Temple's playmates. As in many Temple films, there's a pet dog, this time a pooch named Fritzi. Others in the cast include William Burress (Doctor Scott); Geneva Williams (Maria); and Robert Warwick (Colonel Gray).Priot to 1985, THE LITTLE COLONEL played frequently on commercial television with the closing segment, filmed in Technicolor, usually absent, with story coming to an abrupt conclusion either after Barrymore's closing line or next scene of McDaniel successfully breaking down the door after being locked in by one of Sherman's "guests." When distributed on video in 1988, the closing Technicolor segment was restored, and shown intact at 82 minutes on cable TV broadcasts on the Disney Channel (early 1990s), American Movie Classics (1996-2001) and finally the Fox Movie Channel. THE LITTLE COLONEL is currently available on DVD in black and white or colorized versions.The success of THE LITTLE COLONEL brought forth a similar theme and title of THE LITTLEST REBEL (1935), reuniting Temple with Bill Robinson once again, with plot set during the Civll War instead of after-wards. Both classic films with Temple (and Robinson) at the peak of their careers. (***1/2)

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.