ThiefHott Too much of everything

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

weezeralfalfa My least favorite S.T. film so far, being centered around illegal activities relating to horse racing and the story that a 6 year old girl is illegally put up for collateral for a $20. bet on a horse. Furthermore, her father committed suicide when he lost the bet. Had this film been made the following year, I doubt the Hays Commission would have passed this scenario. Doesn't sound like a story made for kids of Shirley's age to enjoy! Indications are that Shirley's father probably was about destitute and, since Shirley's mother had died, perhaps he didn't have anyone to help care for her. It does seem strange that Shirley doesn't seem bothered by having been dumped on strangers. Perhaps she was used to other people taking care of her while her father worked or looked for work, etc.. Menjou and Dorothy Dell several times have heated arguments, mostly over Shirley. I'm not sure they will make a good home for Shirley. Dorothy Dell is most positively impressed with Menjou when he prays for Shirley's recovery from a horse fall, and when he dumps a solution of "dope" he was supposed to inject into a horse to hopefully make it win the race, but then likely die after the race.Why do we know Shirley weighed 40 1/2 lbs.? Because the gangsters bet on her weight and had an appropriate scale available.Dorothy did most of the singing of several new songs composed by the team of Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin. Shirley apparently was too young to be trusted with the major singing and dancing assignments. The rather catchy theme song: "Laugh You Son of a Gun" was played during the opening and closing credits. It's also sung by Dorothy, followed by Shirley. Dorothy sings "Low Down Lullaby" when trying to put Shirley to sleep(Dorothy also falls asleep). She also sings "I'm a Black Sheep Who is Blue" formally at the cabaret where she worked. "The Sidewalks of New York" and "The Bowery" were sung by a group of gangsters dressed up like the Knights of the Round Table, with which Shirley was infatuated.

MartinHafer "Little Miss Marker" has been remade many times. Now, after seeing some of these films it's nice to finally see the original. The story is based on a Damon Runyan story and was one of Shirley Temple's earliest full-length roles.The film stars Adolph Menjou as Sorrowful Jones--a hard-hearted bookie whose all-consuming love of money and gambling is soon to be challenged by a cute kid. That's because a sap leaves her (Shirley Temple) at the gambling establishment--with the intention on coming back for her. But, when he loses, he kills himself--leaving little 'Marky' an orphan. Now you'd think that Jones would take the child to the police. However, he comes up with a scheme with an even harder-hearted guy, Big Steve (Charles Bickford)--they'll register a horse in the child's name and then take the kid to the cops AFTER the big race! There is a problem with the plan, however--they don't realize how absolutely marvelous the child is and how she'll melt their stony hearts. There's much more to the film than this--see it and have a nice time doing so. The film gets very high marks for entertainment value, and Temple IS about the cutest thing you've ever seen! The film isn't perfect and makes little sense, but if you can just sit back and enjoy the film for what it is, then you will no doubt be happy you did. A swell film.

jayraskin This is a precode film, so the bad guys don't have to be punished for their crimes, and its a good thing because most of the lovable characters would have ended up with long jail sentences if the film had been made a year or two later.This movie may be disappointing for Shirley Temple fans as she does relative little. Most of the movie concerns the rough gangsters whose life is disrupted by her. They are wonderful characters, while Temple does little more than act like "the doll" that the characters often call her.Adolph Menjou and Dorothy Dell really carries the movie. Menjou gives an hilariously understated performance as cheap gambler "Sorrowful Jones" Menjou was a fashionable dresser, so it is particularly funny to see him unkempt in wrinkled clothes for most of the movie. Whereas Walter Matthau played the role with a wink, Menjou plays it quite straight. Sorrowful Jones is a sorrowful human being in this movie. Dorothy Dell gives a terrific Mae West style performance as gangster moll/nightclub singer Bangles Carson. It is assured and polished, and it is impossible to believe that she was only 19 when she did it.Incidentally Dorothy Dell and Dorothy Lamour were best friends as teenagers. When she won the Miss USA beauty pageant, Dorothy Dell invited Dorothy Lamour to come with her to Hollywood. In her autobiography, "My Side of the Road," Lamour notes that they went to the premiere of the Marx's Brother's "Animal Crackers" together in 1930. Dell helped and influenced Lamour to start her career.Also watch some of the great comic actors in small parts here. Lynn Overman as Regret and Warren Hymer as Sore Toe are flawless.This film is more than an excellent Shirley Temple star vehicle, it a comic masterpiece with Shirley Temple as the icing on the cake.

kenjha Shirley's dad doesn't have the money to bet on a horse race so he puts up his daughter as collateral! Furthermore, nobody finds this particularly alarming. Shirley takes being abandoned by her father and living with seedy strangers pretty casually. It's supposed to be a charming comedy based on a Damon Runyan story, but the plot is not only boring but rather disturbing, and it's hardly worth a chuckle. Fortunately for both Menjou and Bickford, they would survive this and go on to make some fine films. Sadly, Dell, who plays the love interest of both Menjou and Bickford, died in an auto accident only a week after the film was released at age 19.