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I love Shirley Temple. Other kids watched Barney in the 1990s. I hung out with my Depression-era grandparents and watched "Captain January" and "Little Miss Broadway" while eating baked apples, curled up under a hand-knit blanket.
Just before Shirley Temple Black passed away I started checking out her films from the library, and I eventually purchased this set to watch with my grandmother. I can't do anything but praise this collection. The films each come on their own DVD ("Wee Willie Winkie" is double sided, one version the original sepia), the folders have clear, big photographs of Shirley in various roles and short film summaries, and each movie (except "Stowaway") is offered in color or black and white. The films are well preserved; there is no dust littering the screen and the dialogue and music is clear. "Little Miss Marker" and "Now and Forever" are not included, but they were made by other studios with Temple on loan-out so perhaps that is why. ("Our Little Girl" does not seem to have been released except on VHS either; it is another serious Shirley Temple role and worth a watch if you can find it.)
Many people have noted that some of Temple's films are outright racist. This is true, and there is little point in denying it. The minstrel show at the end of "Dimples" made me cringe, as did the depiction of Frank Morgan's "butler". "The Littlest Rebel" even implies that African Americans enjoyed slavery. However, to toss Temple's movies aside because of these things would be a mistake, and censoring them, as my grandparents did, does a disservice to the intelligence of children. America has a history of racism. Because of Temple's continuing popularity, we forget that these films were made in the 1930s and are products of their time.
Yes, you should let your kids watch them because they need to know that at one point (and still today) we treated other people horribly because of their skin color. It is a fact, and one that should be remembered and discussed. And one excellent contradiction to the studio system's inherent racism is Temple's brilliant partnering with the insanely talented Bill Robinson (Will anyone ever again tap dance like Robinson? Likely not.). Temple, placed in films with racist overtones by the studio, was the first white woman to dance with a Black man on screen, and she held his hand. In many ways, Robinson's roles were meant to support how Black men and women were seen by society, but Robinson played his roles with quite a few notes of subversiveness. It's disappointing that he didn't have more screen time.
You can avoid the racist issues of several of Temple's films or you can confront it and see the problems as a learning experience. I will not lie and say it is a comfortable experience, but it is one necessary to have. In any case, how wonderful that seemingly simplistic films made with a 1930s child star can reveal so much and inspire such discussion.
Note: Shirley Temple Black wrote her autobiography "Child Star" about her time in the movies, and it is hilarious, smart, and heartbreaking. It is sadly out of print but available from many used book sellers and libraries. Definitely worth a read.
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Reviews with images
What's not to love?
I've always liked Shirley Temple and her classic films. I used to see them on TV when I was younger, and just loved watching her perform. This set takes me back to when I hadn't a care in the world, ah, childhood. Being older now, I have a whole new appreciation for these amazing films. The talent held by young Shirley and her Co-stars is just something to see. Back when a pretty face wasn't what got you cast, you had to sing, dance, act, and everything in-between. I was a bit hesitant to purchase this set as I was really hoping for a B&W set, luckily this set has the option to view in B&W or color! I love the original take as it feels more nostalgic to me, but the color option is there if you want it on most of the films. I did have one DVD that was scuffed up, but it plays just fine so I don't really mind. Overall, this set is absolutely perfect for me, and was exactly what I was looking for.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2023
I've always liked Shirley Temple and her classic films. I used to see them on TV when I was younger, and just loved watching her perform. This set takes me back to when I hadn't a care in the world, ah, childhood. Being older now, I have a whole new appreciation for these amazing films. The talent held by young Shirley and her Co-stars is just something to see. Back when a pretty face wasn't what got you cast, you had to sing, dance, act, and everything in-between. I was a bit hesitant to purchase this set as I was really hoping for a B&W set, luckily this set has the option to view in B&W or color! I love the original take as it feels more nostalgic to me, but the color option is there if you want it on most of the films. I did have one DVD that was scuffed up, but it plays just fine so I don't really mind. Overall, this set is absolutely perfect for me, and was exactly what I was looking for.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2014
Top reviews from other countries
Jose Armando Pino Esquivel
Que tiene sus principales películas de la niñez
Reviewed in Mexico on November 19, 2021
