vincentlynch-moonoi Let's see...Shirley Temple's best film? Probably not. I would give that kudo to "Heidi". But this is darned good, and one of the few that I actually remember watching as a child...over 50 years ago. In fact, whenever I see Guy Kibbee in an old movie, I think also of this film. And, this is the only film I think of when Buddy Ebsen comes to mind. And then there's that spritely tune "At The Codfish Ball", and the memorable dancing with Ebsen.Temple really was quite remarkable for her age, and while it is easy to criticize the sentimentality of the 1930s, why not just sit back and enjoy the flick. No, it isn't in the same league as films today...but thank goodness.Sometimes supporting casts simply do their jobs. Here they shine. Guy Kibbee is delightfully gruff as Captain January, the lighthouse keeper who adopted Starr (Temple). Slim Summerville is just right as the slightly goofy but lovable Captain Nazro, January's friend (and their mock arguments are a hoot). Sara Haden is the stern truant officer (whom you may recognize as Andy Hardy's aunt). And the wonderful Jane Darwell is on hand as a widow smitten with Captain January.It's been about 50 years since I saw this flick, and I still remembered the ending. That's good film-making!

MartinHafer I had an unusual opportunity to see both the original 1924 version of "Captain January" (Starring Baby Peggy) and the 1936 version (Starring Shirley Temple). And, while I will freely admit that Shirley was an amazing talent, I actually preferred the original a bit more. Much of it might be because the singing and dancing in the remake seemed a bit out of place with such a sad story. Part of it might be that I just prefer originals in almost every case.The story is not exactly the same as the original. The biggest difference is WHO Captain January is. In the 1924 film, it was the child's nickname but in this film, it's the name given to the child's adoptive father. Either way, the child was found along the shore following a shipwreck where the child's parents were killed. She was raised by a nice old lighthouse keeper (Guy Kibbee) and years later, a nasty old biddy wants to take the child away and put it in an orphanage because she feels the man is a bad influence on the kid. In the original, it was the child's aunt and uncle who threaten to take the kid and the old biddy was only a minor character. Either way, it all ends well--and everyone, naturally, is very happy.This is a good family film....but not a great one. Shirley was fine and the film enjoyable but it just didn't seem like an improvement on an already lovely film. Worth seeing, but I recommend you see both.

ccthemovieman-1 Here's another "cute" Shirley Temple movie with interesting characters and a decent share of good song-and-dance numbers. The story is similar to a few other Temple films in which a nasty person takes Shirley away from the good people but the good guys prevail in the end. It was a tried-and-true formula in the Temple movies.Here, the "villain" is truant officer (Sara Haden) who wants to take Shirley away from good guy "Captain January" (Guy Kibbe). Kibbe and Slim Summerville are fun to watch as peers and friends who squabble all the time. Haden is effective in her role because you just want to slap that woman!Shirley and Buddy Ebsen team up for a very entertaining song-and-dance routine to "The Codfish Ball," the best song in the movie.The film gets a bit uncomfortable when Shirley gets taken away but ends in the normal tearfully-happy Shirley, as always, back with her loved ones and the people who really care about her. Those include the "widow" played by Jane Darwell and the school teacher, acted by June Lang.All in all, it's the normal Temple movie that provides good feelings, something we viewers always need.

synoopy I have loved this movie since I first saw it in 1984. My favorite Temple flick. It is a good story and quite typical of the Shirley Temple movies of the time, but what stands out to me is the songs and innocence of the period.