Customer Reviews

The Poor Little Rich Girl

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shirley Temple is charming in this darling story of a young girl named Barbra going on her idea of a vacation. She meets new and exciting people like Tony, an Italian papa, and The Dolan family, radio stars that invite Barbra into their radio act. The story is heart-warming and filled of surprises, but ends happily. Shirley sings and dances consistantly throughout the film, but my favorite song at the radio program is "You've gotta eat your spinach baby!" My mom always use to say that to me as a little girl! If you are a big Shirley Temple fan, you will of course enjoy Shirley in this enchanting film. The movie also contains other excellent actors and actresses like Alice Faye, Jack Haley (the Tinman from "The Wizard of Oz"), and Gloria Stuart in her early years before "Titanic." Add this film to your Shilrey Temple Collection!

When eight year old Barbara Barry, the daughter of a wealthy, widowed soap manufacturer, sneezes three times at the dinner table, the strict servant Collins (Sara Haden) sends her off to bed. Woodward, (Jane Darwell) another servant - who has a kinder approach - suggests that little Barbara be sent to a school in the Adirondacks where she can be happy with many other children her own age...A thoroughly delightful Temple vehicle, this colorized video will please children from 5-95. The picture bears little resemblance to the 1912 Eleanor Gates novel because many of the incidents in the movie come from a Ralph Spence story entitled BETSY TAKES THE AIR. A highly successful version - which was much truer to the original book - was filmed as a 1917 silent starring Mary Pickford. Amusingly, Shirley sings the song BUT DEFINITELY in a manner a'la Crosby singing WHERE THE BLUE OF NIGHT MEETS THE GOLD OF THE DAY. By 1939, this movie reaped a $2.5 million profit. One of Shirley's better films, to be sure.

Shirley Temple is one of the greatest child stars in the world, her popularity soaring during the Depression era, and beloved still today. She was a real prodigy and phenomena, the likes of which we'll never see again -- bona fide adorable with thousand watt personality and a confidence and self-reliance that was never obnoxious. In her films, adults are usually conveniently dispatched to allow her an autonomy and series of adventures that makes her a great child heroine for children; invariably she also sets the adult world straight.

"Poor Little Rich Girl" is one of her best films, because it is not only a wonderful Temple vehicle, but a great musical in its own right and a pleasure to watch. Temple plays Barbara Barry, the over-protected and bored daughter of a wealthy widowed soap manufacturer. She is to be sent to school, where she will have the needed companionship of other children, when her nurse (Sara Haden) is injured. Barbara meets a vaudeville pair (Alice Faye and Jack Haley) and ends up in a radio song and dance act, Dolan and Dolan, sponsored by a rival soap company of her father's.

Along with the abundant charm and talent of Shirley Temple, there is the glorious Alice Faye and ebullient Jack Haley. The criminally underrated Alice Faye was a wonderful, sensual singer and here gets to croon several songs (and display the many facets of her personality, which was as multi-faceted as Ginger Rogers). It is especially wonderful to hear Faye's rendition of "But Definitely" in contrast to Shirley's version. Unlike some musicals, the song-and-dance numbers are woven beautifully into the plot, since it is set in the world of radio, and they are superb. The film is topped by a fabulous and intricate tap routine set to "I Love a Military Man" danced by Temple, Faye and Hailey.

The only sour spot is the heartless way the nurse is dispatched but otherwise, the film is absolutely delightful. There are terrific radio jingles along with the songs and the world of 1930's radio is a wonderful showcase for this talented, vivid cast.

THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL is one of Shirley Temple's most delightful offerings. She plays Barbara Barry, the daughter of a rich soap manufacturer (Michael Whalen). While being taken off to boarding school, her governess is run down by a car and in the confusion Barbara wanders off into the city. Taking on the persona of her favourite storybook character Betsy Ware, she moves in with a pair of vaudeville hoofers (Alice Faye, Jack Haley) and joins their act. Hilarity ensues when the troupe is employed by a rival soap company, and Barbara's other life is exposed.

This movie is a real charmer. Shirley sings "Oh My Goodness" as her dolls come to life and dance for her, as well as her classic "Spinach Baby" and "When I'm with You". The finale dance of "Military Man" is another highpoint. Alice Faye sings the delightful ballad "But Definitely".

With Gloria Stuart, Jane Darwell and Sara Haden.

This in my opinon is a hidden Temple gem and even if your not a Temple fan and enjoy watching movies with your kids or grandchildren this one to rent or buy.

A good cast and a happy ending make this movie worth buying. Of course, there is a lot of cute music, cheerful dances, and lovable moments. The cast in this one is perfectly cast and I fell in love with Shirley's widower father--for you feel that on-screen chemistry that many of hollywood's leading men had with little Shirley. Shirley's "debut" dad does a great job and Hayley does a good job as what becomes Shirley's foster dad. You also see the old grump from Bright Eyes make an apparence in this movie. So, you have a great cast in this corner.

Lots of good songs and dance numbers make this movie so charming.

Temple is simply charming and captiviating in this one- once again you see all that on-screen charisma. This Shirley movie is not to be missed a great treasure and a must-see for any temple fan.

In this movie Shirleys talents shine. Her singing and dancing are a cut above. I especially love when she sings to her dolls!
The dance sequence in the end with Alice Faye and Jack Haley is incredible! I just LOVE this movie!!!

I have seen this movie many times, and it is still just as good as the first time. I recommend it to anyone who loves Shirley Temple movies. See it today!!

This movie is so funny it is one of my favorits.

Why haven't Poor Little Rich Girl and Our Little Girl been released on DVD? For those of us who have grown up watching these movies and are trying to complete our collection in DVDs, I'm afraid we might be dead before somebody decides to finally release them. It's no wonder people resort to burning their own DVDs or buying them from overseas to complete their collections.
Come on MGM, please release these last two movies so we can complete our collections. If you were smart, you would have worked out a deal with Paramount and released their two and your last 2 in one set. As it is, I've already purchased the two from them and am just waiting for these now.

Poor Little Rich Girl is a charming Shirley Temple vehicle with superb performances by Jack Haley and Alice Fay, too. Filmed in glorious black and white, the plot unfolds at a very good pace; and the musical numbers are so well done it's impossible to feel bored watching this film. The choreography and the cinematography are excellent and the script was well written. There's a fair amount of character development but the song and dance numbers really take the spotlight.

When the film starts, we quickly meet little Barbara Barry (Shirley Temple), who lives a rather pampered but solitary existence in her wealthy workaholic father's mansion. Barbara's father Richard (Michael Whalen) is very busy with his soap company and he keeps up to date with all the latest advertising tricks including radio shows to promote his brand of soap. However, one day Richard Barry is persuaded by a household servant to let Barbara go to a school her late mother attended; and Richard agrees. He wants Barbara to be with other children.

What no one knows, however, is that these plans are soon to be scuttled by unanticipated events. Barbara's nurse is accidentally killed by an oncoming car just outside Grand Central Station in New York; and Barbara, not knowing this because she has stayed inside the train station, walks away innocently and decides she will go on a "vacation." She then meets an organ grinder and his family; and it isn't much longer before she then meets vaudeville performers turned radio show hopefuls Jimmy Dolan (Jack Haley) and his wife Jerry (Alice Faye)--and Barbara, now referred to as Bonnie Dolan, joins their act for what the small child thinks is the pure fun of it.

There's even more to the story up to this point and--afterwards--but I won't add too much to spoil it for you. How will Barbara ever be reunited with her father; and how do things go after Barbara joins Jimmy and Jerry? Sure, parts of the story are a little bit contrived but it's very enjoyable to watch this film anyway.

Look for fine performances by Gloria Stuart as Margaret Allen, an assistant to Barry's rival soap manufacturer, Simon Peck (Claude Gillingwater). Henry Armetta is just great as Tony the organ grinder; and John Wray plays the mysterious and threatening Flagin, a man who for some unknown reason is following Barbara rather closely, probably with bad intentions.

I recommend this film for fans of Shirley Temple and the other actors in it; and people who enjoy classic musicals from the 1930s will not be disappointed.