The Littlest Rebel (1935)

Shirley Temple's father, a rebel officer, sneaks back to his rundown plantation to see his family and is arrested. A Yankee takes pity and sets up an escape. Everyone is captured and the ... See full summary »

Director:

David Butler

Writers:

Edwin J. Burke (screen play) (as Edwin Burke), Edward Peple (from the play by)

Stars:

Shirley Temple, John Boles, Jack Holt

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shirley Temple	...	Virgie Cary
John Boles	...	Capt. Herbert Cary
Jack Holt	...	Col. Morrison
Karen Morley	...	Mrs. Cary
Bill Robinson	...	Uncle Billy
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Sgt. Dudley (as Guinn Williams)
Willie Best	...	James Henry
Frank McGlynn Sr.	...	Abraham Lincoln
Bessie Lyle	...	Mammy
Hannah Washington	...	Sally Ann

Storyline

Shirley Temple's father, a rebel officer, sneaks back to his rundown plantation to see his family and is arrested. A Yankee takes pity and sets up an escape. Everyone is captured and the officers are to be executed. Shirley and "Bojangles" Robinson beg President Lincoln to intercede.

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Plot Keywords:

remake | black stereotype | abraham lincoln character | father | plantation | 

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Taglines:

She's a bundle of charm from Dixie singing new songs- Dancing New Steps and mingling Tears with Laughter. (Print Ad- Gridley Herald, (Gridley, Calif.)) 17 January 1936)

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Musical | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one scene Shirley Temple disguises herself as a black child using boot polish; a controversial act by modern standards, this was not uncommon in early Hollywood films.

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Goofs

When the Union soldiers are caught looting, the commanding officer orders them to be flogged. The US Army according to the "History of the United States Army" stopped flogging at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861--this scene is obviously later in the war as Union forces are occupying the south.

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Quotes

Capt. Herbert Cary, aka 'Master Cary': Southerners never cry.
Virginia 'Virgie' Cary: What are these, then?
Capt. Herbert Cary, aka 'Master Cary': Raindrops.
Virginia 'Virgie' Cary: On a sunshiney day?

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Referenced in Bojangles (2001)

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Soundtracks

She and I
(1936) (uncredited)
Music by Cyril J. Mockridge and Bill Robinson

User Reviews

This film says more about North America in the 1930's than it does about the Deep South in the 1860's.

The thing which is racist about the film is not that it sets out to show anything evil about the black people - Shirley seems to be quite fond of her slaves, unless of course they do something wrong - but in the subtle way it suggests there was nothing wrong with the situation the Deep South was in before the civil war.

The black people are not only less intelligent than the whites (notice the girl so dumb she can't even remember a single line her mother told her to memorise to impress the young white child star - or perhaps she's just so nervous in the presence of the superior species that she can't remember), but they're completely happy being enslaved.

They absolutely love being told what to do by the six year old landowner's daughter, and the neighbourhood slaves just wait around for young Shirley to lavish some attention on them.

The thing I most regret about the film was that they forced the blacks to dance and entertain their white hosts like a bunch of chained elephants or circus freaks.

Its always a bad sign when the civil war is portrayed as a distruption to the desired state of affairs, as it is here and in Gone with the Wind.

1/5

Only youngsters, who don't yet understand that the only difference between white folks and black folks is skin pigment, which only evolved from a group of people living in an ultra-sunny climate for years, will be able to enjoy this film. But perhaps its better for society if you don't show it to them - the young are so impressionable, after all.

UPDATE: Can I point out that I've noticed people don't like this review, and I'm not surprised; its intentions were so innocent, it feels a shame to accuse it of causing offense, but unfortunately, I'd still suggest this one not be shown to impressionable kids for the reasons I have outlined above.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 December 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Pequena Rebelde

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1