When watching this Shirley Temple film, it is easy to see why The Little Colonel was such a crowd-pleaser. This film has a long Old South story to tell, that is both sentimental and predictable. The story has young Shirley Temple up against gruff old Lionel Barrymore, as her stubborn grandfather. For her sidekick, she has favourite Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and the two of them are sheer magic together. One of their best scenes is the famous staircase dance. But the film was in danger of losing Lionel Barymore. At the time this movie was being filmed, Mr.Barrymore was suffering with severe arthritis, in extreme pain he had difficulty walking. A large blackboard was wheeled on-stage with all of Barrymore's lines chalked up. During filming he was stumbling on his lines and innocent Shirley Temple told him what his line was-- 'Mr. Barrymore, you're supposed to say so-and-so here.'The humiliated veteran actor exploded, yelling "I'm thirty years in this business!" Being warned not to swear in front of the child, Mr. Barrymore tried his best to storm of the set to his dressing room. Director David Butler went after him and came back with the bad news, he felt Shirley had made him look ridiculous, and to get somebody else to do the picture. It was now up to Shirley Temple to go alone and make up with him. She did, by telling him he was the best actor in the world, and asking for his autograph. As always, little Shirley Temple saves the day. It should also be noted that Shirley was known as "One Take Temple" because of her amazing ability to memorize her lines as well as all of the other players, before she could even read or write. The sheer magnetism of Shirley Temple always makes The Little Colonel a very enjoyable film to watch.

The film begins just after the US Civil War. The Colonel (Lionel Barrymore) hates Yankees and is shocked when his daughter announces she's marrying one. In fact, he disowns her and she leaves. Time passes and now after several years, the daughter returns to her hometown with her adorable child, Lloyd (Temple). As for the husband, he's a businessman and is expected to soon join them.

For some time, the daughter and father ignore each other--both too proud to bend. However, Lloyd isn't afraid to talk to her grandpa when she sees him. In fact, she's VERY spunky and a bit bratty. So, when he talks down to her, she gives him what for and throws mud on him! Later, she returns and apologizes...and the pair begins a friendship. Over time, Lloyd's sweetness is able to mend fences and create a happy ending. But before this, she has to help her family, as some evil swindlers have taken her father captive! Oh my!

The interplay between Temple and Barrymore is great. Partly this is due to their both begin fantastic actors. Partly it helps because in this film, Shirley does not play all sweetness but is also delightfully bratty and strong-willed. She also is MAGNIFICENT in the scenes where she dances with Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson--the best of their several movies together. All in all, a completely delightful film--one of Shirley's very best. And, at the end there is a VERY garishly colored segment--very vivid--actually TOO vivid!

By the way, although you don't hear her sing much in films, Hattie McDaniel was also a professional singer and you get to hear a bit of her lovely voice as she BRIEFLY sings a song. Also, although black characters fare much better in this film than in other Shirley Temple films of the era, some might blanch at the fact that all the black people are VERY happy living in the segregated post Civil War South.

It's Kentucky in the 70's. Southern belle Elizabeth Lloyd runs off to marry Yankee Jack Sherman. Her father (Lionel Barrymore) is a former Confederate colonel during the Civil War. He is still proud of the past and vows never to speak to his own daughter again. Six years later, the couple is out on the western frontier and their daughter Lloyd Sherman (Shirley Temple) is the soldier's beloved honorary colonel. While Jack heads further west, Elizabeth returns home to live in a ramshackle family cottage with her daughter. Walker (Bill Robinson) is the old Colonel's faithful servant.

A modern audience may have an issue with the portrayal of the black characters but it's a 1935 movie about the post civil war era. On top of that, all the black characters are on the side of good and it's most notable for mixed-race dance sequences. In the film advancement category, there is also the color footage to close out the movie. In the end, it's all about the adorable Shirley Temple with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Their dances are cute but I wouldn't call them epic. Barrymore is perfectly cranky. I think it would be easier to kill off the father. That would be a better reason for Elizabeth to return home. I also don't like the railroad story and killing off the father would eliminate that. Overall, Shirley Temple is doing all of her cutesy stuff and that's more than enough.