As you have probably guessed by now, Shirley Temple is the shining light in this rather hum-drum musical comedy. Composer, songwriter, producer Jay Gorney was ecstatic with his prized find, after auditioning close to 150 little girls for this picture. Shirley Temple was exactly what was needed to add some sparkle. As she was rushed into the production, the studio decided to save time, by having Shirley Temple teach James Dunn the dance routines she already knew, rather than teaching her something different. For the next five working days, she and Dunn rehearsed their routine between the few non-musical scenes she had to do. Finally, after lunch one day they were ready to film her song and dance with Dunn. Upon leaving the studio commissary with her mother, an excited Shirley skipped down the stairs, and slipped, falling head first onto the red-brick paving. A small cut on her forehead began oozing blood, a cold compress was immediately applied, but the lump grew larger as the ice melted. Filming was due to start, in desperation Mrs. Temple pulled one of her loose curls across the bump and plastered it down as a spit curl. It did the job, and after that it would always be fifty-six curls and one spit curl. "Stand Up And Cheer" was the big break Mrs.Temple had been waiting for and Shirley Temple was now on her way to becoming the biggest child star of all times.
Review of Stand Up and Cheer!
