Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

mark.waltz Southern civil war officer John Boles goes on the run behind enemy lines, leaving his household at the mercy of invading northern troops. Sweet Shirley Temple does all she can to aid mother Karen Morley and slaves Willie Best and Bill Robinson, befriending the pickaninny children and cheering them up when they're blue. Black shoe polish turns her instantly into a black child, fooling all but one northern soldier and none of the audience. She works her way into the heart of Northern officer Jack Holt and when the agonies of the war leads to tragedy, Temple must continue to help out daddy while remaining continuously cheerful.While this remains entertaining simply as a Shirley Temple vehicle, as history, it is hogwash. Temple further goes down cloying territory with a re- written version of "Polly Wolly Doodle", later parodied for its sickening sweetness by Julie Andrews in "S.O.B.". The other major flaw is that Temple is totally miscast as a supposed Southern child, a part that should have gone to the Atlanta born Jane Withers. I can understand the black adults being loyal to protecting Shirley but Boles and Morley are far too nicely presented as slave owners, a stereotyped presented in Hollywood seemingly for decades. All is forgiven though when Shirley and Bojangles do their sidewalk dance in exchange for train fare to see President Lincoln, an embarrassingly absurd finale.

spnmike Awesome tap dancing but really racist. Shirley Temple in blackface? All the little slave girls stammering with affection wanting so badly to give the white master's daughter a birthday present? This movie completely propagates the myth of the benevolent slave-holder. Also the James Henry character is portrayed with such a low IQ its surprising that he can breathe, every scene he is in seems to be prompting the audience to chuckle along at the "ignorant negro". Also, Shirley Temple is weirdly sexualized in this movie. There are scenes where at least three different adult males are nestling so closely face to face with the little girl that it is CREEPY. This movie was recently shown on TCM (Turner Classic Movies),which also just showed "Birth of a Nation" which I think they should change their name to RCM: Racist Cracker Movies, because they show films like these on their network (ergo implying that they are "classic", whatever that means) without preluding them with any critical discussion on the representation of racial dynamics in the films.

JohnnyOldSoul There are two very good opportunities afforded by this film. One, it's entertaining, fast-paced, and Shirley really shines.The second is a chance to talk to your children about the way black characters and white characters interact in this film. Some younger children may be confused by the divide between the black characters and the white characters (especially those who attend racially-diverse schools,) but this is a good time to explain to them the racist attitudes of the time period, and ask them how it makes them feel.The best way to combat racism is not to sweep it under the rug, but to teach children where we were, how far we've come, and how far we still need to go. Give children the credit they deserve, they will understand.This film is a perfect opportunity to relate to your children and instill guidance.

ccthemovieman-1 This was the first Shirley Temple movie I ever watched (on VSH....hey, I'm not THAT old) and I still consider it one of her best.That's because it has a great mixture of drama, comedy, song/dance and suspense. Almost all the characters are likable. The two dances scenes with Temple and Bill Robinson are excellent....a joy to watch. I don't know if Shirley ever looked cuter than in this film. She runs the gamut of emotions in here quite frequently.The 74-minute story never has a lull. John Boles and Karen Moreley are people you root for, Willie Best provides good comedy and there is a surprising amount of suspense.Overall, however, this is simply a sweet, sentimental film that leaves you feeling good after watching it.....and what's wrong with that?