Customer Reviews

Captain January [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A remake of a 1923 silent with the now-forgotten Baby Peggy, this is an amusing little Temple flick - one in which the little ones should enjoy. This was Shirley's initial 1936 release and it actually turned out to be one of her most fondly remembered movies. Based upon an 1890 novel entitled THE LIGHTHOUSE AT CAPE TEMPEST by Laura E. Richards, its the story of a poor foundling (how unusual for a Temple character!) named Star who is taken in by a kindly lighthouse keeper - the title character played by the talented Guy Kibbee. Shirley sings THE RIGHT SOMEBODY TO LOVE and her dance number with Buddy Ebsen is among her best while doing AT THE CODFISH BALL. During the filming of the latter's sequence, Temple had to climb a 45 foot stairway while a camera crane moved up beside her, catching her lines each time she turned on the stairs - timing the line exactly to the turn - Shirley never missed the synchronization once. Temple was easily the greatest asset the newly formed TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX had and this movie is quite a showcase for the little moppet. It's designed solely as its star's vehicle; Shirley appears in nearly every sequence: grinning, sobbing, dancing, singing, wriggling, pattering downstairs or spitting on her pinafore as the scenerio requires! The colourization process has improved substantially, so the kids won't complain about watching "old black and white movies"!

This is probably one of the only films besides for some tear-jerking romance movies that gets me to break down in tears each time I watch it. Shirley Temple gives an excellent performance as Star, a pint-sized orphan living with her savior, Captain January, in a lighthouse on the shore. When Star is ripped out of Captain January's arms as the cold truant officer tries to put her in an institution (I know- these are a likely basis for Temple flicks but who cant love them!), I bawl everytime as she yells to the grief-stricken Cap- "What did I do? Why are they taking me away from you?" It is the sadest thing ever to see a little girl, especially Shirley, break down like that- it gets me everytime.
This movie is indeed a Temple memorable- most def. one of her classics. She shines in this movie- dances surely the best she can with Buddy Ebsen- and bestows this beautiful relationship with the old sea Cap. The cap and Star both take care of each other and it is adorable to watch on screen. The songs in this movie are very cute and any child or Shirley fan will love this movie. I highly recommed it being a major Shirley fan myself. I grew up with her big smile, her bright eyes, her tiny dimples, and her curly top- Shes a big part of my childhood memories. I wish their were movies more like these that exist now...

This is a very good movie! I am a Shirley Temple fan, but I think that even if you are not, you will still love this movie! Shirley plays Star, a child that was in a ship wreck and was found by Captain January, a lighthouse keeper. There is an evil truant officer who is trying to take Star away from "Cap". This movie has something for everyone. It has a lot of really funny parts, but it also has a very good plot. There are some good songs in the movie, such as,"At the Codfish Ball","Early Bird",and "The Right Somebody To Love". This is a very good movie, A must see for anyone!

CAPTAIN JANUARY is pure vintage Shirley Temple. A short and very sweet film about a young orphan called Star, who lives atop a lighthouse with her adoptive father Captain January (Guy Kibbee). A truant officer tries to intervene and send Star away from her loving home. Fluffy musical with Temple singing and dancing with Buddy Ebsen to "At the Codfish Ball".

Temple and Guy Kibbee would later be reunited for 1942's MISS ANNIE ROONEY, and 1948's FORT APACHE. Also featuring Slim Summerville, Sara Haden and June Lang. This is a colourised version of the original black and white film.

This movie has a good dance sequence with Shirley and Buddy Ebsen. Shirley sings some good songs with friends. An uplifting and entertaining film.

I think this is really Shirley's best film (the others: Heidi and The Little Princess). The musical numbers are great, her co-stars wonderful (Buddy Ebsen, Guy Kibbee) - there's real chemistry there. If you don't cry your eyes out when Shirley is ripped out of Cap's arms when she tries to flee the truant officer with him on a rowboat, you might be made of stone. Happy endings abound in Shirley's films, however, and this one, like the others, is sweet and magical.

This is one of Shirley's best movies and, the color version looks fantastic!!! The print used is in very good condition and the color just looks quite stunning!!

The exciting thing of all about this release is that there is a fantastic restored scene that has not been seen since it was first released!!

This scene happens after Shirley ends her "AT THE CODFISH BALL" number. The scene where the old bearded guy tells Shirley about "spitting", and the scene shows him spit and then make a funny sound and then he has Shirley try it and she does and Shirley makes a spitting sound and then such a cute noise,she does this spitting 3 times and the sound 3 times and each time she does this, she looks so very adorable!!!

Of course this scene is a real treat for all of us who are big fans of little Shirley, and to see a NEW scene of her is a big time treat!!

As an extra on the DVD there is a newsreel of Shirley being anxious to pull the rope to a Will Rodgers momorial. Notice how she seems to get kind of mad when she is first shown, she does this thing with her arms and has such a face at that point and the guys around her all look at her when she does this.

This is a MUST HAVE DVD if you are a fan of little Shirley!!

where, today, can a person watch a movie, filled with fun, where actors are kind to each other while playing at intolerance? the scene where Shirley and her squirrely protectors break out and into a rowdy rendition of an operatic aria was heartrendering. the director was a man with a very big heart sure,it is a simplistic plot and all that but it beats the hell out of anything hollywood and it's sex and violence crazed producers will ever be able create.

This Temple film is very good. Little Shirley stars as the "daughter" of a lighthouse keeper who rescued her when she was a baby. A truant officer learns that "Star" doesn't go to school, makes her take an examination, and when she passes, angrily decides to sent Star to an institution. Unhappy Star gets a surprise from her sympathizing aunt and uncle. Includes lots of dancing. Not too cute like some of the Temple films. Lots of songs.

Star, a dancing, curly-topped little girl who dresses in sailor-like clothes and wants to be a sailor(taught this by the owner of the lighthouse, her rescuer) was rescued as a baby by the lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse keeper("Cap") grows to love her and keeps her, living in the lighthouse and learning sailor's ways. Then a strict truant officer comes and tells the happy pair that Star must go to school. Star takes an examination and passes, but the angry truant officer decides to take her away because she hadn't been legally adopted. Taken in by her wealthy aunt and uncle, Star is unhappy until her new guardians give her a special surprise. Includes "At the Codfish Ball" and "The Right Somebody to Love".