Our Little Girl (1935)

Don Middleton is so caught up with his work he neglects his wife Elsa. Lonely Elsa begins to spend more time with Don's best friend and they become attracted to one another. Don and Elsa ... See full summary »

Director:

John S. Robertson

Writers:

Stephen Morehouse Avery (screen play), Allen Rivkin (screen play),

Stars:

Shirley Temple, Rosemary Ames, Joel McCrea

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shirley Temple	...	Molly Middleton
Rosemary Ames	...	Elsa Middleton
Joel McCrea	...	Dr. Donald Middleton
Lyle Talbot	...	Rolfe Brent
Erin O'Brien-Moore	...	Sarah Boynton
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Mr. Tramp
Poodles Hanneford	...	Circus Performer
Margaret Armstrong	...	Amy
Rita Owin	...	Alice
Leonard Carey	...	Jackson

Storyline

Don Middleton is so caught up with his work he neglects his wife Elsa. Lonely Elsa begins to spend more time with Don's best friend and they become attracted to one another. Don and Elsa decide to get a divorce, unaware of the effect their problems are having on their daughter Molly. When Elsa announces plans to remarry, Molly runs away from home.

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | compassion | search | marital problem | unfaithfulness | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 May 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Heaven's Gate

Filming Locations:

Lake Sherwood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shirley Temple later said that she developed a "big crush" on Joel McCrea while filming this movie.

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Quotes

Rolfe Brent: You know, Don, it's uncommon that you would risk such a lovely girl with someone as susceptible as I am.
Dr. Donald Middleton: Well, if you don't think I worry about it, you're crazy.

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Connections

Featured in Biography: Shirley Temple: The Biggest Little Star (1996)

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Soundtracks

"Lullaby to a Doll"
(1935) (uncredited
Music by Lew Pollack
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Sung by Shirley Temple

User Reviews

One Of The Few Unappealing Temple Movies

Shirley Temple was in a few - not many - movies that just were not appealing. In most of her films, she overcomes a bad start in life (orphanages, etc.) or overcomes an evil, nasty person (usually Edna Mae Oliver or someone similar) but is seen happy most of the time and singing and dancing here and there. It's when the negative elements of the story are overemphasized (i.e. Blue Bird, Baby Take A Bow) that her films often lose appeal. That's the case in this movie.

"Our Little Girl" is simply too depressing, a negative storyline in which Shirley's parents are ready for a divorce. Her mother has an affair with a friend and the father is away all the time on business, ignoring the family.

When Temple ("Molly Middleton") is happy or cute, she's too cute in here, her sugary personality overdone. Meanhwhile, there is only one song and no dance numbers. People buy or rent Shirley Temple movies to feel good, not to get depressed or weighed down with broken-family soaps. There are plenty of other movies like that.