Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Crwthod A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

wes-connors Crusty lighthouse keeper Guy Kibbee (as Captain January) gently rouses a sleeping Shirley Temple (as Star) from her slumber. She sings and dances while getting dressed, and washes her cute face while magically putting on her pants and shirt. Little Miss Temple is estimated to be old enough for the third grade, but since she washed up from the Maine coast, Mr. Kibbee can't be sure of the girl's exact age. Local inspector Slim Summerville (as Captain Nazro) is like a surrogate uncle. Temple enjoys song and dance time with rubbery-legged fisherman Buddy Ebsen (as Paul Roberts). He would like to marry schoolteacher June Lang (as Mary Marshall), but the halibut aren't swimming...The fact that Temple lives with Kibbee and doesn't attend school irks newly appointed "truant officer" Sara Haden (as Agatha Morgan). It doesn't help that mean Ms. Haden walks in on Temple's guardians showing off a series of revealing tattoos. A "hula dance" by Temple was cut from the film, lest the star appear sexually suggestive; considering Temple is briefly seen donning her "grass skirt" while talking to Mr. Ebsen, excising the number can be understood. Marriage-minded Jane Darwell (as Eliza Croft) has a good supporting role. Also watch for "know-it-all" nephew Jerry Tucker (as Cyril Morgan) to forget 1492, and future "Bowery Boy" William "Billy" Benedict (as Bud) to deliver some bad news...Everything moves a nice pace, with seeming spontaneity and a sprinkling of whimsy; of course, it's really all very predictable (and a re-working of the 1924 silent starring "Baby" Peggy and Hobart Bosworth). The surreal interlude with Temple and Kibbee exchanging roles is a marvelously inserted piece of magic; it also ends at just the right moment, if you're paying close attention. With a fine soundtrack highlighted by "The Right Somebody to Love" (covered by The Mamas & The Papas as the lead song for their 1968 album) and "At the Codfish Ball", plus a perfect co-starring characterization by Kibbee, "Captain January" is quintessential Temple. She made better movies, but became a more calculating performer...This film is would serve as an excellent first (and possibly last) look at Shirley Temple, especially for young children.********* Captain January (4/17/36) David Butler ~ Shirley Temple, Guy Kibbee, Slim Summerville, Buddy Ebsen

ccthemovieman-1 Here's another "cute" Shirley Temple movie with interesting characters and a decent share of good song-and-dance numbers. The story is similar to a few other Temple films in which a nasty person takes Shirley away from the good people but the good guys prevail in the end. It was a tried-and-true formula in the Temple movies.Here, the "villain" is truant officer (Sara Haden) who wants to take Shirley away from good guy "Captain January" (Guy Kibbe). Kibbe and Slim Summerville are fun to watch as peers and friends who squabble all the time. Haden is effective in her role because you just want to slap that woman!Shirley and Buddy Ebsen team up for a very entertaining song-and-dance routine to "The Codfish Ball," the best song in the movie.The film gets a bit uncomfortable when Shirley gets taken away but ends in the normal tearfully-happy Shirley, as always, back with her loved ones and the people who really care about her. Those include the "widow" played by Jane Darwell and the school teacher, acted by June Lang.All in all, it's the normal Temple movie that provides good feelings, something we viewers always need.

Franklin McAlister III I like this movie because of how it has such a great happy ending. With the way that mean Truant officer wants to take little Shirley away from the people she has loved and known all her life it starts to look sad for her. Then when one of the men finds out she has an Aunt and Uncle still alive and they come and claim her before that mean truant officer can take her away things start looking good. Then when she is sitting in her room at her Aunt and Uncle's house she is just sitting there staring at the wooden doll that Captain Jaunary made for her. Then her Aunt and Uncle realize they need to do something to cheer her up. Then when they take her to a boat they have purchased and start showing her around she says that she likes it but then she is in for the big surprise. When her Aunt and Uncle call out for the Captain of the boat right there is her old friend Captain January and she is so happy to see him again. Then all of her other friends pop out as the crew! Right there is one of the only movies that the ending is so happy that every time I see it or think about it my eyes bust into tears of joy for that little girl.

tmpj Actually, Captain January is one of my favorite Temple flix because of the music. For many years, it was out of circulation, not shown on the tube, and not available on video. I finally got to tape it on AMC several years ago, and it's still fum to watch. The score is especially warm and interesting. It's supposed to be written by Louis Silvers, but it was fine writing by whomever the arranger/ orchestrator was. Not my FAVORITE Temple flick, 'cause she did several that are better than this in terms of substance. The main attractions are the music, her dance episodes with a young Buddy Ebsen ( was there ever such a thing?), and the mushy relationship with the Cap'n. And the whole family can get in on the act !!