By 1942 the bloom was off the rose, the rose being Shirley Temple. Her performances in her teen years just didn't come across well, and I often wonder if it was because of how her mother shielded her from associating with other people of her age. In fact, the only really good Temple performance in her "later" career was in "The Bachelor And The Bobby Soxer" with Cary Grant.
This film is quite fun...not because of Shirley Temple, but in spite of Shirley Temple. Most of the teens here actually do quite well. Shirley seems the least natural of all of them.
William Gargan, nominally the male lead here -- as Shirley's father -- does alright...a sort of hapless ne'er-do-well...although it isn't much of a part. Guy Kibbee as Grandpop is much better, and this is a fairly endearing role...something he had quite a few of. Dickie Moore as the rich, geeky love interest for Shirley is excellent. You'll recognize Jonathan Hale as Moore's father. The other "kids" aren't very recognizable, but all do a decent job, particularly Roland Dupree as the other "man" ;-).
The plot here revolves first around teenagers acting like adults. And secondly the upper crust parents not being very accepting of lower class Annie Rooney. The crunch comes when Annie (Temple) is invited to Dickie's birthday party. The jitterbug dance at the party is really quite impressive.
Although I liked this film, there are a few problems here. For example, William Gargan is a little bit too much of a buffoon and a fool. It's just done over the top, and that aspect of the script lost credibility for me. And, the kids were just a little too adultish.
Of course, we all know everyone will live happily ever after.
This film is quite fun...not because of Shirley Temple, but in spite of Shirley Temple. Most of the teens here actually do quite well. Shirley seems the least natural of all of them.
William Gargan, nominally the male lead here -- as Shirley's father -- does alright...a sort of hapless ne'er-do-well...although it isn't much of a part. Guy Kibbee as Grandpop is much better, and this is a fairly endearing role...something he had quite a few of. Dickie Moore as the rich, geeky love interest for Shirley is excellent. You'll recognize Jonathan Hale as Moore's father. The other "kids" aren't very recognizable, but all do a decent job, particularly Roland Dupree as the other "man" ;-).
The plot here revolves first around teenagers acting like adults. And secondly the upper crust parents not being very accepting of lower class Annie Rooney. The crunch comes when Annie (Temple) is invited to Dickie's birthday party. The jitterbug dance at the party is really quite impressive.
Although I liked this film, there are a few problems here. For example, William Gargan is a little bit too much of a buffoon and a fool. It's just done over the top, and that aspect of the script lost credibility for me. And, the kids were just a little too adultish.
Of course, we all know everyone will live happily ever after.