Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Forumrxes Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

weezeralfalfa WARNING: Several blackface musical numbers are included. If sensitive to such, best not to view this film or close your eyes during these portions. Our story takes place in 1852 in NYC. The screenplay is driven by several conflicts, There's the conflict between wealthy Mrs. Drew and her nephew Allen over the worth of plays and actors. Allen, who is interested in theater, and in marrying an actress, gets no financial help from Drew for his theater projects. Furthermore, she says if he persists in marrying an actress, he will not then be welcome into her house. Allen also has to decide definitely which actress he wants to marry, as he has recently changed his mind several times.The major conflict is between Shirley's desire to obtain the finer things in life and an education , by living with Mrs. Drew, or to continue living with her grandfather "The Professor", in his apartment in the slums, where there are lots of kids and dogs to play with and perform street entertainment for change. Mrs. Drew offers $5000. to "buy" Shirley. The Professor initially rejects this temping offer, but later accepts it to replace the $800. he lost on an antique swindle he fell for that was supposed to pay for the startup of a show: "Uncle Tom's Cabin". But Shirley finds she's very lonely without her grandfather, her dog, and the neighbor kids to play with. She suggests that her grandfather marry Mrs. Drew as the obvious solution, but this isn't taken seriously. Thus, The Professor gives back the $5000., but sells her his worthless "antique" watch for $1000., enough to cover his debt. Too late, she asks an antique expect, who tells her it's worthless. She calls for police to arrest him. They find him functioning as the director's aid in a performance of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". He dons blackface and extra clothes for Uncle Tom, and goes out on the stage when cued, but the real Uncle Tom player goes on the stage at the same time. He is caught; however, Mrs. Drew decides to stay for the rest of the show. She's very impressed with the play, and especially Shirley's part(Elyza)in it, and changes her mind about the worth of plays and actors. This may mean that Allen can get married to an actress without her disapproval. Also, she drops the swindle charge against The Professor , deciding that the $1000. she lost was worth it. The Professor kisses her neck, suggesting the possibility of a marriage, as Shirley hoped....Helen Westley, who played Mrs. Drew, was generally pleasant in her role when not forced to sponsor plays or when being swindled. She played matronly authoritarians mostly, and is an important character in 3 other S.T. films.The film begins with a street performance by Shirley and the neighbor kids, singing and dancing to "Hey, What did the Blue Jay Say?" Later, Shirley , along with 2 African Americans, dance to "He was a Dandy". When Shirley is considering leaving her grandfather, she sings "Picture Me Without You".. Later, she sings the African American spiritual "Get on Board", with a blackface chorus behind her. The minstrel show after the play consists of Shirley singing and dancing in front of a large chorus of men in blackface, at least one of whom: Stepin Fetchit was an African American in blackface! The song was Dixie-anna, quite catchy for a show song.

mark.waltz Can you imagine Shirley Temple as one of the Bowery Boys? Well, here in 1852, she plays a ragamuffin street entertainer being raised by a pickpocket grandfather (lovable Frank Morgan). Dimples gets the attention of an aging society matron (equally lovable Helen Westley) who, for some reason, has a hatred of the theater and everything that it stands for. Her nephew (Robert Kent) wants to put on a Broadway production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and use Dimples for the role of Little Eva. Desperate for money after being cheated into buying a fake watch for $800 of the show's money, Morgan agrees to let Westley take Temple in for $5000.00. Eventually, he sells HER the fake watch for $1000 and stays on with her to be with Shirley. The show goes on but when Westley finds out that the watch was fake, she tries to have Morgan arrested. But then she sees Temple on stage dying as Little Eva and has to face both her hatred towards the theater and her decision to imprison Temple's grandfather.It's a predictable story with a few musical moments, including a minstrel show at the end that might raise a few eyebrows. But that was life in Hollywood in the 30's, and producers didn't think about who they might offend then, let alone the future. Add Stepin Fetchit as Westley's servant, and you have double the offense for some audiences.Minus this socially unaware concept fortunately gone (but available to be seen to show how wrong it was), "Dimples" is a cute little film that was made during Temple's heyday as Box Office gold. She's always been a little too cutesy pie for my tastes, but I can understand how late depression audiences could take her into their hearts as a sign of hope for the future. I much prefer the talents of the veterans here, Frank Morgan and Helen Westley, who manage to avoid being background furniture when sharing scenes with her. They are adorable. Here, they are the type of grandparents many audiences could relate to or desire for their own. Morgan, rascally yet undeniably charming, and Westley, somewhat cranky, but oh, that heart of gold, are well paired here. Both had very long careers in films, and Westley seems to have been overlooked as a major character player. She could play gruff characters like Parthy in 1936's "Show Boat" or be lovable like the blind grandmother opposite Temple in "Heidi". Try not to fall in love with her here or in the 1937 Loretta Young screwball comedy "Cafe Metropole". She's also wonderful in the 1934 version of "Anne of Green Gables".While not outstanding, "Dimples" is still quite likable in spite of its shortcomings. Overlook the bad taste of black-face and stereotypes and a cute little film emerges.

arete5000 Minstrel Shows, Stepin Fetchit, Blackface........kind of makes you long for the good old days when the colored knew their place. Negroes far and wide will once more call for their mammies when they take a gander at this 79 minute romp in the antebellum South. Shirley Temple couldn't have poisoned the well more if she came out and tap danced in a Klan hood. Once more playing the adorable waif (cast with the kind-hearted but sketchy grandfatherly type), Dimples shuffles her way into your big ol' racist heart with a big helping of maudlin sentimentality. Zanuck proved that with a commodity like Temple, no script was too hokey. Spike Lee could learn a thing or two about directing from this one. Who says the Hollywood musical is dead?

smaniaci What a charming musical! Shirley Temple is absolutely adorable. I love when she sings "Get on Board" as Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Her character is dressed in white. I love plenty of song and dance. It does not make me tired at all. What it does, is make me so very happy. The title alone, Dimples, is very charming. Shirley Temple herself as a child has had what the title says. That was for quite a long time. I have been very glad of that. It is a very old movie, but then again I like old ones. Whatever age you are, it is a must that you like good movies. This especially holds true for most of Temple's films. They are absolutely irresistible. Maybe someday I'll put on a song-and-dance myself. Who knows? The number "Miss Dixie-Anna" at the end makes it a great movie. Would I dare to say anything else about the ending? I really don't know for sure. No one wants to know that in advance. They want to see for themselves, thank you. Please let everyone enjoy this really good vehicle of Little Miss Temple.