It's All Here In One Package
Added 3/12/2009
This might be the best of all the Shirley Temple movies of the 1930s because its so interesting start-to-finish.
The only annoying person is Edna May Oliver, who plays the standard mean old lady who is out to ruin things for the ""good guys" Fortunately, she's not in a lot of scenes and eventually even changes her thoughts for the better. The rest of the film is nothing but nice people who are a lot of fun to watch. George Murphy and Phyllis Brooks are the typical for Temple movies: a super nice, handsome young couple which gets together in the end.
Edward Ellis plays a nice old man and Donald Meek nearly steals the show with some funny lines and funny faces. I thought James Durante would be funny, but he had more of a straight than comedic role.
Other features which make this movie stand out from normal Temple fare were unique characters (midgets, twins, penguins and more) and a tremendous amount of songs and dances (much more than normally heard).
All the elements that made Shirley Temple's films so successful are rolled up into this movie. Great stuff!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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"Dontcha be a grumpy!"
Added 7/20/2008
Betsy (Shirley Temple) is a little orphan girl who knows that the world should just all "smile, smile! Smile and be happy!" Her cheery attitude gets her adopted into a theatrical family who resides at a hotel, but the landlady wants her money, and the troupe has none. Fortunately for Betsy, the landlady's nephew (George Murphy) is sympathetic to their cause and wants to help.
Little Miss Broadway is pleasant but standard. The story is absolutely unimportant; the stars are really the highlight.
One of the most exciting things about this movie is the brilliant supporting cast, a bunch of character actors with plenty of personality. The most famous one is Jimmy Durante whose trademark nose and gravelly voice are just foundation for smiles. Donald Meek and Edna Mae Oliver play well off of each other as spouses who never agree. El Brendel appears in the jazz band and has a few cute scenes with a penguin. I have found that most people dislike him, but I adore his childlike grin and phoney accent. George and Olive Brasno appear as (what else) two midgets from a show; they are best remembered today for their several appearances in the Our Gang films.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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it's all here in one great big package
Added 1/18/2008
Little Miss Broadway is yet another charming movie that stars the great Shirley Temple. The plot moves along at a good pace and I thought that the acting was very convincing.
The action begins when Betsy Shea (Shirley Temple) is adopted out of a girl's orphanage by William J. "Pop" Shea (Edward Ellis), who manages the Hotel Variety in New York. Betsy will be living in the Hotel with "Pop," his daughter Barbara Shea (Phyllis Brooks) and a host of actors and vaudevillians who are mostly out of work.
Things heat up when Sarah Wendling (Edna May Oliver), who owns the Hotel Variety, finds out that the hotel is back due on the rent--to the tune of $2,500! That was very big money in those days; and Sarah Wendling eventually gets so angry with the situation she plans to tear down the hotel. Meanwhile, her nephew Roger Wendling (George Murphy) falls in love with Barbara Shea--and things get very complicated and messy.
Will Sarah Wendling tear down the hotel and leave dozens of people homeless? She certainly won't be willing to help her nephew Roger financially if he has anything to do with Barbara Shea. Will "Pop" Shea and the others living in the hotel be able to raise the required back due rent money? How does Betsy figure into the plot? Will she stay at the hotel or will she return to the orphanage? No spoilers here, folks--you'll have to watch the movie to find out.
The choreography shines in the final ten minutes of the film when there's a lot of singing and dancing numbers; look for a wonderful number featuring George Murphy and Shirley Temple.
The DVD comes with the glorious black and white version of the movie; the restoration is wonderful. There is also an option to watch a colorized version of the movie instead.
Overall, Little Miss Broadway is a charming Shirley Temple vehicle that leaves you smiling and wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I recommend it for Shirley Temple fans and people who want their children to "discover" Shirley Temple. Look also for a fine performance by Jimmy Durante as one of the entertainers living in the hotel.
6 out of 6 people found this helpful.
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"Little Miss Broadway (1938) ... Shirley Temple ... Legend Films (2005)"
Added 8/4/2007
Legend Films and 20th Century Fox present "LITTLE MISS BROADWAY" (released: 16 September 1938) (72 mins) (B&W/Color Versions) - Under Irving Cummings (Director), David Hempstead (Producer), Darryl F. Zanuck (Producer), Harry Tugend (Screenwriter), Jack Yellen (Screenwriter),Walter Bullock - Composer (Music Score) / Songwriter), Louis Silvers - Musical Direction/Supervision / Composer (Music Score), Harold Spina (Songwriter / Composer (Music Score), Walter Thompson (Editor), Nick Castle (Choreography), Geneva Sawyer (Choreography) - - - - - - 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 --- Incidentally, outtakes of Little Miss Broadway exist showing Shirley Temple doing a frighteningly accurate impersonation of her costar Jimmy Durante (ha-cha-cha-cha-cha!)
the cast includes:
Shirley Temple ... Betsy Brown Shea
George Murphy ... Roger Wendling, Sarah's nephew
Jimmy Durante ... Jimmy Clayton, Jazz Bandits bandleader
Phyllis Brooks ... Barbara Shea
Edna May Oliver ... Sarah Wendling, owner, Hotel Variety
George Barbier ... Fiske, attorney
Edward Ellis ... William J. 'Pop' Shea, manager, Hotel Variety
Jane Darwell ... Miss Hutchins, orphanage matron
El Brendel ... Ole
Donald Meek ... Willoughby Wendling
BIOS:
1. Shirley Temple
Date of Birth: 23 April 1928 - Santa Monica, California
Date of Death: Still Living
2. Jimmy Durante
Date of Birth: 10 February 1893 - New York, New York
Date of Death: 29 January 1980 - Santa Monica, California
3. Irving Cummings (Director)
Date of Birth: 9 October 1888 - New York, New York
Date of Death: 18 April 1959 - Los Angeles, California
If you enjoyed this film, check out Legend Films and 20th Century Fox present "The Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 1" (Heidi/Curly Top/Little Miss Broadway) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- now in COLOR and Glorious Black and White --- In 2004, Shirley Temple teamed with Legend Films to restore, colorize and release her earliest black and white films, as well as episodes of her 1960 television series, The Shirley Temple Storybook Collection --- a patented coloring and remastering process makes her picture perfect charm more vivd than ever --- no one can resist Shirley's charm in all her heart warming films.
Hats off and thanks to Barry B. Sandrew Ph.D. (Founder, COO, CTO & Board Member) and his Legend Films Staff --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '20s, '30s & '40s --- order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Legend Films where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector --- all my heroes have been cowboys!
Total Time: 72 mins on DVD ~ Legend Films Video. ~ (8/30/2005)
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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cute musical
Added 5/5/2007
LITTLE MISS BROADWAY stars Shirley Temple in another harmless musical confection especially tailored to her talents. As in most of her film vehicles, she plays an orphaned show-biz wiz who comes to the rescue.
Temple plays the sparky orphan Betsy Brown, who lives with her surrogate family at the Hotel Variety, a favourite spot for showbusiness types. Things look grim when the hotel is to be torn down for a new development. Betsy decides to appeal for help from the cranky landlady Sarah Wendling (Edna May Oliver).
There are plenty of prime opportunities here for Temple to display her musical skills ("Be Optimistic", "How Can I Thank You?", "We Should Be Together", "If All the World Were Paper", "Swing Me an Old-Fashioned Song"). She is joined by a talented cast, not least of which Jimmy Durante, who turns in a spirited performance. Edna May Oliver was unrivalled when it came to playing snooty society dames, and she doesn't disappoint, playing the foil for Temple's sweetness. George Murphy and Phyllis Brooks supply the romance.
LITTLE MISS BROADWAY will be a charming addition to your Shirley Temple collection!
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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It's All Here In One Package
Added 3/12/2009
This might be the best of all the Shirley Temple movies of the 1930s because its so interesting start-to-finish.
The only annoying person is Edna May Oliver, who plays the standard mean old lady who is out to ruin things for the ""good guys" Fortunately, she's not in a lot of scenes and eventually even changes her thoughts for the better. The rest of the film is nothing but nice people who are a lot of fun to watch. George Murphy and Phyllis Brooks are the typical for Temple movies: a super nice, handsome young couple which gets together in the end.
Edward Ellis plays a nice old man and Donald Meek nearly steals the show with some funny lines and funny faces. I thought James Durante would be funny, but he had more of a straight than comedic role.
Other features which make this movie stand out from normal Temple fare were unique characters (midgets, twins, penguins and more) and a tremendous amount of songs and dances (much more than normally heard).
All the elements that made Shirley Temple's films so successful are rolled up into this movie. Great stuff!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
"Dontcha be a grumpy!"
Added 7/20/2008
Betsy (Shirley Temple) is a little orphan girl who knows that the world should just all "smile, smile! Smile and be happy!" Her cheery attitude gets her adopted into a theatrical family who resides at a hotel, but the landlady wants her money, and the troupe has none. Fortunately for Betsy, the landlady's nephew (George Murphy) is sympathetic to their cause and wants to help.
Little Miss Broadway is pleasant but standard. The story is absolutely unimportant; the stars are really the highlight.
One of the most exciting things about this movie is the brilliant supporting cast, a bunch of character actors with plenty of personality. The most famous one is Jimmy Durante whose trademark nose and gravelly voice are just foundation for smiles. Donald Meek and Edna Mae Oliver play well off of each other as spouses who never agree. El Brendel appears in the jazz band and has a few cute scenes with a penguin. I have found that most people dislike him, but I adore his childlike grin and phoney accent. George and Olive Brasno appear as (what else) two midgets from a show; they are best remembered today for their several appearances in the Our Gang films.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
it's all here in one great big package
Added 1/18/2008
Little Miss Broadway is yet another charming movie that stars the great Shirley Temple. The plot moves along at a good pace and I thought that the acting was very convincing.
The action begins when Betsy Shea (Shirley Temple) is adopted out of a girl's orphanage by William J. "Pop" Shea (Edward Ellis), who manages the Hotel Variety in New York. Betsy will be living in the Hotel with "Pop," his daughter Barbara Shea (Phyllis Brooks) and a host of actors and vaudevillians who are mostly out of work.
Things heat up when Sarah Wendling (Edna May Oliver), who owns the Hotel Variety, finds out that the hotel is back due on the rent--to the tune of $2,500! That was very big money in those days; and Sarah Wendling eventually gets so angry with the situation she plans to tear down the hotel. Meanwhile, her nephew Roger Wendling (George Murphy) falls in love with Barbara Shea--and things get very complicated and messy.
Will Sarah Wendling tear down the hotel and leave dozens of people homeless? She certainly won't be willing to help her nephew Roger financially if he has anything to do with Barbara Shea. Will "Pop" Shea and the others living in the hotel be able to raise the required back due rent money? How does Betsy figure into the plot? Will she stay at the hotel or will she return to the orphanage? No spoilers here, folks--you'll have to watch the movie to find out.
The choreography shines in the final ten minutes of the film when there's a lot of singing and dancing numbers; look for a wonderful number featuring George Murphy and Shirley Temple.
The DVD comes with the glorious black and white version of the movie; the restoration is wonderful. There is also an option to watch a colorized version of the movie instead.
Overall, Little Miss Broadway is a charming Shirley Temple vehicle that leaves you smiling and wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I recommend it for Shirley Temple fans and people who want their children to "discover" Shirley Temple. Look also for a fine performance by Jimmy Durante as one of the entertainers living in the hotel.
6 out of 6 people found this helpful.
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