Really Surprised!

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Being this the very first Shirley Temple movie I've ever seen, I must say it's my favorite. Shirley gives a great performance singing and dancing in all her numbers! And that one we can really call "musical". On the other ones we can see only one or two scenes with singing and dancing, but at this one you can see singing and dancing almost all the time.Shirley's an optimistic orphan who is adopted by a Vaudeville hotel "owner" and his daughter. She meets a guy (George Murphy, who is FABULOUS dancing with Shirley on the number "We Should be Together") trying to convince his aunt (Edna May Oliver, the real owner) to not close the hotel.Shirley looks so sweet in that movie, in all her numbers -- especially in "If the world was a paper", "We should be together" and "Little Miss Broadway".Anyway, this is a very enjoyable movie. Anyone who watches it can enjoy not just Shirley's performances but almost everything in the movie: the story, the characters, the songs, the dancing and so on. A heartwarming movie starring one of the sweetest Child-Stars of all the time with fabulous co-stars. A family movie that can be watched by children, adults and even teenagers and old people.

I thought this movie was funny as well as entertaining! I loved the part where Shirley and George Murphy were in a quiet room and Shirley made a huge bang by blowing into a bag, held it and popped it!!!! Shirley's routine with George was excellent. The only prob I have with this one is the ending cuts short. One minute she's saving the hotel the next George and Phillis Brooks ( Shirley's sister)are getting married!! A lot of other Shirley film actors are in this- Jane Darwell from Bright Eyes, Poor Little Rich Girl, Curly Top (my favourite Shirley movie). Phillis Brooks from Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm. Claude Gillingwater from Poor Little Rich Girl. I give this movie 9.5/10.

20th Century Fox was having a hard time coming up with original story material for Shirley Temple and this is one of their least inspired efforts. Yet, despite a weak script and the obvious fact that Shirley herself was getting a little too plump for her diminutive figure, there is a generous sprinkling of song routines to keep Shirley's fans satisfied. The added bonus is George Murphy as her dancing partner, no slouch in the tap-dance department.Edna May Oliver comes on strong as a cantankerous old woman who wants to close a theatrical hotel for boarders. Jimmy Durante has a few fun moments but one of his routines with Temple was cut from the final print.The courtroom finale has everyone doing a musical revue in court--something that could happen only in a Temple film! Shirley has a few pleasant ditties to sing: "Be Optimistic" and a song-and-dance routine with Murphy to "We Should Be Together". Not one of Shirley's best. Recommended only for Temple fans.

The highlight in this one is Edna May Oliver who made a wonderful detective in earlier films (she paired with James Gleason in several 30's efforts). I mean, to be mean to little Miss Everything--what can you say? Shirley looks a little chubby in this outting but no less talented as she reacts, moves that mouth, smiles and keeps up with famous hoofers.