A few movies have been made based on the Damon Runyan short story of 1932. This was the first and it kept the title. As with most films that have had remakes, none can equal the original. Indeed, when Paramount remade the movie just 15 years after this, it's first film, the studio had the good sense to revise the plot considerably. There wasn't another up and coming girl to play Shirley Temple's part, so the studio changed the focus to be more on the male lead with much more comedy. Bob Hope played the role of "Sorrowful Jones," which was the title Paramount gave its second picture in 1949, with Lucille Ball playing the moll. That made the second film very good in itself. But, the later renditions - with Walter Matthau and Tony Curtis couldn't match either of these first two films. They weren't bad, but each remake seemed to be one notch or star lower than the previous one.
"Little Miss Marker" of 1934 is notable in two aspects. First, it was the breakout film for Shirley Temple - her 23rd picture since her start in films in 1932. Most of those were shorts and uncredited parts until 1934. Within two months she would have leading roles for more than two dozen films until she reached her teen years. From 1940 to 1944,she made just a couple of films and then reemerged as a teen star and then young woman actress for another dozen movies before she switched to TV. She left show business entirely in 1963 when she was in her early 30s.
The second notable aspect of the film is its close identify with the story, and more real nitty-gritty of its setting. And that shows mostly in the character of Sorrowful Jones as played by Adolphe Menjou. From the time and setting of Runyan's story, one would expect bookies such as Jones to be hard as nails. And Menjou plays the part superbly. He and his crowd are guys who probably had it hard as kids, either with immigrant parents who worked hard to support their families, or perhaps with one or both parents deceased early.
So this story plays out very nicely as little Marthy Jane, the Marker, begins to get to Jones and the others. But, it's gradual, and believable. What comedy there is in this film is of the subdued nature, or natural humor involving the cute little girl and her fantasies. She names Sore Toe, Canvas Back and the others of Sorrowful's crowd after characters from the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
This is an enjoyable film that people of all ages should enjoy for all time Here are some favorite lines.
Canvas Back, "Listen, Sorrowful, I and Sor Toe has an idea." Sorrowful Jones, "I doubt it." Canvas Bac, "N, it's an idea, and t is as follows: we'd like to put the bite on you."
Sorrowful Jones, "Well, that serves me right. Every time I get big-hearted..." Regret, "When was the other time?" Sorrowful, "No wise cracks."
Dizzy Memphis, as Black Knight, "I done thought your pappy came and got you." Marky Jane, "Maybe he forgot me." Dizzy, "Does he go around forgettin' you?" Marky Jane, "He forgot me once at the circus, and they arrested the man that found me."
Bangles Carson, "I sing myself to sleep." Sorrowful Jones, 'Yeah, you singin's like that."
"Little Miss Marker" of 1934 is notable in two aspects. First, it was the breakout film for Shirley Temple - her 23rd picture since her start in films in 1932. Most of those were shorts and uncredited parts until 1934. Within two months she would have leading roles for more than two dozen films until she reached her teen years. From 1940 to 1944,she made just a couple of films and then reemerged as a teen star and then young woman actress for another dozen movies before she switched to TV. She left show business entirely in 1963 when she was in her early 30s.
The second notable aspect of the film is its close identify with the story, and more real nitty-gritty of its setting. And that shows mostly in the character of Sorrowful Jones as played by Adolphe Menjou. From the time and setting of Runyan's story, one would expect bookies such as Jones to be hard as nails. And Menjou plays the part superbly. He and his crowd are guys who probably had it hard as kids, either with immigrant parents who worked hard to support their families, or perhaps with one or both parents deceased early.
So this story plays out very nicely as little Marthy Jane, the Marker, begins to get to Jones and the others. But, it's gradual, and believable. What comedy there is in this film is of the subdued nature, or natural humor involving the cute little girl and her fantasies. She names Sore Toe, Canvas Back and the others of Sorrowful's crowd after characters from the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
This is an enjoyable film that people of all ages should enjoy for all time Here are some favorite lines.
Canvas Back, "Listen, Sorrowful, I and Sor Toe has an idea." Sorrowful Jones, "I doubt it." Canvas Bac, "N, it's an idea, and t is as follows: we'd like to put the bite on you."
Sorrowful Jones, "Well, that serves me right. Every time I get big-hearted..." Regret, "When was the other time?" Sorrowful, "No wise cracks."
Dizzy Memphis, as Black Knight, "I done thought your pappy came and got you." Marky Jane, "Maybe he forgot me." Dizzy, "Does he go around forgettin' you?" Marky Jane, "He forgot me once at the circus, and they arrested the man that found me."
Bangles Carson, "I sing myself to sleep." Sorrowful Jones, 'Yeah, you singin's like that."