Poor Little Rich Girl (1936 film)
Encyclopedia
The Poor Little Rich Girl is a 1936 American musical film
directed by Irving Cummings. The screenplay by Sam Hellman, Gladys Lehman, and Harry Tugend was based on stories by Eleanor Gates and Ralph Spence, and on the 1917 Mary Pickford
vehicle of the same name. The film focuses on a child (Temple) neglected by her rich and busy father who meets two vaudeville performers and becomes a radio singing star. The film received a lukewarm critical reception from The New York Times
, and, in 2009, was available on videocassette.
While Mrs. Temple was being interviewed on the set, Shirley strolled over and asked the reporter, "Why don't you talk to me? I'm the star." (Edwards 95).
and Harry Revel
wrote the film’s songs: “When I’m with You”, “Oh My Goodness”. You’ve Gotta Eat Your Spinach, Baby”, “But Definitely”, “Buy a Bar of Barry's”, “Military Man”, and “Peck’s Theme”. Shirley Temple sang all the songs and was joined by other cast members for several.
described the script as “formless and generally ridiculous” and the picture “virtually non-existent” but “as a display window for the ever-expanding Temple talents, it is entirely satisfying. Miss Temple, as some one has said, never looked lovelier. She dances in a manner which must delight her mentor, Bill Robinson; her voice has begun to take on torch-singer and crooner qualities. Beneath the fascinated gaze of a world-wide audience, a conscious artistry is developing along Hollywood and Broadway lines. It is an engrossing phenomenon: The precocious infant becomes a knowing child.” He lamented on behalf of Haley and Faye: “Short of becoming a defeated candidate for Vice President, we can think of no better way of guaranteeing one’s anonymity than appearing in the moppet’s films.”
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
directed by Irving Cummings. The screenplay by Sam Hellman, Gladys Lehman, and Harry Tugend was based on stories by Eleanor Gates and Ralph Spence, and on the 1917 Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
vehicle of the same name. The film focuses on a child (Temple) neglected by her rich and busy father who meets two vaudeville performers and becomes a radio singing star. The film received a lukewarm critical reception from The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, and, in 2009, was available on videocassette.
Plot
Barbara Barry is the young daughter of wealthy Richard Barry, a recently widowed soap manufacturer. An accident separates Barbara from her father and the girl masquerades as an orphan. She attracts the notice of two vaudeville performers, Jimmy Dolan and his wife, Jerry, who put her in their radio act, posing as their daughter. With the help of advertising executive Margaret Allen, the trio become an overnight success. Barry hears his daughter on the radio and the two are reunited. Subplots involve a romance between Barry and Allen, and a crook trying to kidnap Barbara.Cast
- Shirley TempleShirley TempleShirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
as Barbara Barry, Richard Barry's daughter - Michael Whalen as Richard Barry, a widower, Barbara's father, and a soap manufacturer
- Jack HaleyJack HaleyJohn Joseph "Jack" Haley was an American stage, radio, and film actor best known for his portrayal of the Tin Man and Kansas farmworker Hickory in The Wizard of Oz.-Career:...
as Jimmy Dolan, a vaudeville performer and Jerry's husband - Alice FayeAlice FayeAlice Faye was an American actress and singer, called by The New York Times "one of the few movie stars to walk away from stardom at the peak of her career." She is remembered first for her stardom at 20th Century Fox and, later, as the radio comedy partner of her husband, bandleader and comedian...
as Jerry Dolan, a vaudeville performer and Jimmy Dolan's wife - Gloria StuartGloria StuartGloria Frances Stuart was an American actress, activist, painter, bonsai artist and fine printer. Over a Hollywood career which spanned, with a long break in the middle, from 1932 until 2004, she appeared on stage, television, and film, for which she was best-known...
as Margaret Allen, an advertising executive - Claude GillingwaterClaude GillingwaterClaude Benton Gillingwater was an American stage and screen actor. He first appeared on the stage then in 92 films between 1918 and 1939....
, as Peck, Barry's competitor in soap manufacturing - Sara HadenSara HadenSara Haden was a character actress in Hollywood films of the 1930s through the 1950s.She was born Sarah Haden on November 17, 1899 in Galveston, Texas. Haden was the daughter of another character actress, Charlotte Walker, who was active in silent films and early talkies...
as Collins, a servant in the Barry home - Jane Darwell as Woodward, a servant in the Barry home
- Arthur HoytArthur HoytArthur Hoyt was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 275 films in his 34 year film career, about a third of them silent films. He was a brother of Harry O...
as Percival Hooch, Peck's assistant - Henry ArmettaHenry ArmettaHenry Armetta was an Italian movie character actor who appeared in at least 150 films, starting in silents as early as 1915 to a movie released in 1946, after his death.-Biography:...
as Tony, the organ grinder - Tony MartinTony MartinAnthony or Tony Martin may refer to:Education*Tony Martin , professor at Wellesley College known for racial controversies in the early 1990s.*Donald A...
as radio vocalist
Production
The film’s tacked-on musical number, “Military Man”, was a little fast and intricate for Temple. Without telling Mrs. Temple, the studio called back Haley and Faye to repeat the number with Temple‘s taps dubbed in. At the preview, Mrs. Temple boasted of her daughter’s clear taps, and scorned those who said the girl couldn’t do it (Windeler 171).While Mrs. Temple was being interviewed on the set, Shirley strolled over and asked the reporter, "Why don't you talk to me? I'm the star." (Edwards 95).
Music
Mack GordonMack Gordon
Mack Gordon was an American composer and lyricist of songs for the stage and film. He was nominated for the best original song Oscar nine times, including six consecutive years between 1940 and 1945, and won the award once, for "You'll Never Know"...
and Harry Revel
Harry Revel
Harry Revel was an English composer of musical theatre.Revel was born in London. Before emigrating to the United States in 1929, he wrote musicals for productions in Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna and London....
wrote the film’s songs: “When I’m with You”, “Oh My Goodness”. You’ve Gotta Eat Your Spinach, Baby”, “But Definitely”, “Buy a Bar of Barry's”, “Military Man”, and “Peck’s Theme”. Shirley Temple sang all the songs and was joined by other cast members for several.
Critical reception
Frank Nugent of The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described the script as “formless and generally ridiculous” and the picture “virtually non-existent” but “as a display window for the ever-expanding Temple talents, it is entirely satisfying. Miss Temple, as some one has said, never looked lovelier. She dances in a manner which must delight her mentor, Bill Robinson; her voice has begun to take on torch-singer and crooner qualities. Beneath the fascinated gaze of a world-wide audience, a conscious artistry is developing along Hollywood and Broadway lines. It is an engrossing phenomenon: The precocious infant becomes a knowing child.” He lamented on behalf of Haley and Faye: “Short of becoming a defeated candidate for Vice President, we can think of no better way of guaranteeing one’s anonymity than appearing in the moppet’s films.”