I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Virgie Cary (Shirley Temple) is a precocious child on a plantation estate. Uncle Billy is her dutiful slave servant and James Henry is the slack-jawed slow-witted one. The war breaks out during her 6th birthday party. Her daddy joins the rebel army. The plantation falls behind Yankee lines. Captain Cary sneaks home to visit as a scout. Marauding Yankees are searching for him and Virgie puts on black face to hide. The kind Colonel Morrison stops the troops' pillaging.This is a different era in Hollywood. It's the vision of antebellum south where slavery is gentle and harmless. Slaves are dutiful and submissive. One can't judge it in modern terms but one can't ignore the historical slant either. It's also a movie that is trying to appeal to a family audience. It does have the innocence of a child who doesn't see the point of the war. Its heart is in the right place for its time but times have moved on.

It's a good thing that both Shirley Temple is so adorable and that John Boles was on a mission of mercy trying to get his sick wife and Shirley's mother through the lines for proper care. Otherwise there ain't no other reasons to look at this ode to the Ante Bellum South that we see in The Littlest Rebel. I also could add Bill Robinson's dancing.Even today I find it unfathomable that people bought into this wonderful stereotype. The film opens with Shirley's birthday party with her peers being served by the happy slaves willing to do all for dear old master. Even the slave children who can't attend the party as equals get up a collection and make little Shirley a doll.The news of the firing on Fort Sumter interrupts the festivities and it's war. During the course of the war because of his knowledge of the terrain Boles becomes a noted Confederate spy. But then Karen Morley gets sick and he has to undertake a personal mission. Unfortunately it's with Jack Holt's Yankee uniform so he and Holt are in a jackpot.Without the entertaining of Shirley and Bojangles this second cousin film of Birth Of A Nation would rate a lot lower than it does.

Shirley's comfy confederate life is disrupted by Yankees invading her home and breaking up her family. It is perhaps unfair to criticize the performance of a seven-year-old, but her mugging can become tiresome for those who are not fans of the diminutive star. The acting of the adults is pretty bad, not helped by the corny script, awful dialog, and characters that don't resemble real people. McGlynn makes a laughably goofy Lincoln. The depiction of blacks is embarrassing, particularly Best as a mentally challenged slave, a character meant to be funny. The best thing about this mercifully short film is the dancing of Temple and "Bojangles" Robinson.

This film is absolutely my favorite of all Shirley Temple films I've ever seen.Why? Shirley's not just an Orphan(as in most of her films)that is adored by everybody and is adopted by a happy family at the end. This film is certainly a family film, that can be watched by kids and by adults with no doubts. It has a heart-warming story, that teaches how was the relationship between the Yankees and the other ones(sorry can't remember the name right now), and how the racism at the thirties was, of course it's not directly shown in the movie. And the scene when Virgie(Temple) meets the President Lincoln is such a sweetie(that scene is very remembered over here, it's in a very famous book too).And, as in almost all of her movies, Shirley shows her sweet smiles, dances with Bill Robinson and sings one of her cutest songs ever!(Polly-Wolly-Doodle).Anyway, Shirley is sweet as always and giving a great performance!