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.
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.