Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

MusicChat It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

tcaffert-1 I recently discovered that I enjoy Shirley Temple movies and I have been looking for them wherever I can find them. I came across one on YouTube and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. This movie has not been seen as often as other Shirley Temple films because it is NOT a Shirley Temple film, it is a Gary Cooper/Carole Lombard movie that also stars Shirley Temple. I thought that the performances were outstanding and both the script and the actors did a fine job of developing the characters. We get a thorough idea of what sort of man Jerry Day (Cooper) is right away, a crook but not a black-hearted one. He takes advantage of others but doesn't really hurt anyone. Toni (Lombard), his wife, enjoys their lifestyle hopping from place to place staying just a step or two ahead of the authorities. She doesn't actively participate in his illegal actions, but benefits from them, so she stays with him despite her misgivings. She finally decides to part ways with him over his very callous attitude toward his daughter Penny (Temple), who is living with the brother of his deceased wife in the U.S. He goes to Connecticutt and at first attempts to get $75,000 for giving up his rights to her. However, he meets and spends some time with her and discovers she is pretty and imaginative (chasing pirates with her invisible friend Mr. Cosgrove) and on the spur of the moment decides to take her with him. Penny meets Toni in Paris and is at first not too taken with her, but they grow on each other. They establish themselves as a family in Paris and Toni convinces Jerry to stop his con-man ways. So he gets a job in a real estate office that only pays $35 a week. After a while this pittance is not enough so he meets up with a jewel thief named Felix Evans who convinces him to steal a valuable necklace from Mrs Crane, a wealthy elderly woman who has been very kind to them. He does, but before Evans fences the jewels Penny discovers them hidden in her Teddy Bear and realizes her father is a thief - AFTER he promised "honor bright" that he didn't take them. Her reaction breaks his heart and when he tries to retrieve them from Evans, they shoot each other. The jewels are returned, but Jerry is convinced he will die from his injuries (and that he deserves to), so he arranges with Mrs. Crane to adopt Penny and sends her off to an expensive boarding school. In the end, Toni calls for a doctor, the gunshot wound triggers a police investigation, and when the movie ends Jerry lives but is ready to go off to prison and Toni stands by her man.It was 1934 and still early in the careers of both Cooper and Lombard but they were already stars when this film was made. Temple was just starting out, so I am surprised that she received third billing on the title card. Despite her inexperience, Shirley's acting in this film is remarkable, especially considering she was only six years old at the time! I have read criticisms of the plot holes and the acting of both Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard. I believe that reviewers who point fingers at these things are failing to take into account that the actors were still developing their on- screen personalities. Lombard, for example went on to be most well known for "screwball" comedies and this movie was made before she made that mark. Also, America was still working its way out of the Depression and movies were a cheap way to enjoy some free time. They were made quickly and simply and the scripts were rarely works of art. Other reviewers have commented that they did not like this movie because, unlike all of Shirley's other films, this one doesn't have the usual happy ending. This movie has a dark side to it and was DEFINITELY not made for children. Well I like a bit of variety, and therefore I was very pleasantly surprised by this. I recommend it to fans of any of the actors.

ccthemovieman-1 The year 1934 was when Shirley Temple played three major movies and really began to make a name for herself. Unfortunately, the studios had to experiment to see what the public best liked about here. Two of those things were singing and dancing. Another was a short, interesting film that kept people's attention and got their minds off The Depression. You know the other keys to Shirley's successful films.This film achieved none of the above, despite the star presences of Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard and despite a very good director in Henry Hathaway. In addition, there are too many talky parts in here which become simply boring, and too many arguments between a sullen Lombard and Cooper. To top it off, you didn't get the normal feel-good ending which is what the public wants. I guess they learned after this movie.

Caz1964 This is a very rare film and probably the least known from Shirley Temple as it isn't on any of her collections.The reason why is probably because it doesn't have a happy ending,unlike all her other films.Its also not a musical,although she does belt out one song called' The world owes me a living'.The film was made in 1934 and originally in black and white,the version i have is in colour and on VHS,i would say they have done a fine job as the colour does look realistic,unlike i would say the colourised films of Laurel And Hardy which are dreadful.The film is good for its age and the story hasn't dated at all,I'm surprised no one has tried to do a remake.At times the film is a little bit to talky as some of the scenes with Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard seem really dragged out, in some scenes they seem to take fifteen minutes to say what they could have said in five.Although don't be put off by this because this film does have some genuinely good moments in it,especially when {Jerry}Gary Cooper steals a necklace,and hides it in Shirley's teddy bear.The tension and slow build up to his actions,{while at the same time his daughter is singing to an audience in another room}is very well directed.Gary and Caroles edgy facial expressions when they are put under scrutiny are also very good.In all this is a good film from the early 30's,accept it for its age.

KyleFurr2 This is a pretty bad movie directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard and Shirley Temple. Cooper plays a thief who is married to Lombard and they are not getting on that well. Cooper finds out he has a daughter, played by Temple, and he winds up keeping her over his relatives objections. Cooper tries to quit being a thief and be a good father but he's in debt and it's the only way he can get the money. Guy Standing offers him one last job but Lombard wants him to quit and Cooper doesn't want Temple to find out. Shirley Temple only sings one song here and it's pretty short and it's hard to see why Cooper or Lombard would want to do this movie.