Managed Money (1934)

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

Ewart Adamson (dialogue)
Ewart Adamson (story)
(more)

Release Date:

23 February 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

Young Mary Lou tries to help her brother Sonny raise money so that he can attend a military academy.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Prospecting | Mirage | Financial Problem | Chemistry Set

Cast

Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Sonny Rogers (as Junior Coghlan)
Shirley Temple	...	Mary Lou Rogers
Harry Myers	...	Mr. George Rogers
Huntley Gordon	...	Police Officer
Virginia True Boardman	...	Mrs. George Rogers
Helene Chadwick	...	Mrs. George Rogers
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sidney Miller	...	Sidney - Sonny's friend
Kenneth Howell	...	Harry Vanderpool (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Lamont

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ewart Adamson		dialogue
Ewart Adamson		story
Ernest Pagano		dialogue
Ernest Pagano		story

Produced by
E.H. Allen	....	producer

Cinematography by
Dwight Warren		(photography)

Sound Department
Charles A. Noyes	....	sound

Production Companies

• Educational Films Corporation of America

Distributors

• Fox Film Corporation (1934) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-1 Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Passport Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Frolics of Youth (#4): Managed Money" - USA (series title)
"Measured Money" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

USA:21 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Educational Films Corporation of America

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mary Lou Rogers:What makes you do that Sonny?
Sonny Rogers:Mary Lou, I can't make the stirring if you keep cutting in.

Silly, But Has Some Good Moments

Overall, this is pretty silly and rather far-fetched, but it has some good moments, mostly thanks to young Shirley Temple. Like a great many of her short features, the story throws together a lot of offbeat ideas that don't always fit together very well. It seems to have been designed strictly as a showcase for Temple and for her co-star Junior Coghlan, who plays her older brother Sonny.

The story starts with an implausible premise and then builds on it. When Sonny's father cannot afford to send him to a military academy, Sonny and his friend decide that prospecting for gold in the desert is the natural solution to their problem. The rest of the plot ties together Temple stowing away to join them, a hooting owl, a chemistry set, an amnesiac, and other incongruous elements. It's goofy, but there are times when it is actually rather entertaining.

Temple is always full of energy, and it's a little unfortunate that her cute appearance and lively persona led to her being cast in so many insubstantial features. This one does have some amusing moments, though, and although it's probably not worth seeing more than once, it works all right as light entertainment.