Customer Reviews

Stand Up & Cheer [VHS]

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

 

 

This movie was never intended to feature Shirley Temple as a star. At the time this movie was made, she was a minor child actor who had never been on film before, and had she not subsequently been made famous by other movies, her role in this film would have been either forgotten, or relegated to an obscure footnote in the history of American movies. It is totally dishonest of the current distributors of "Stand Up and Cheer" to give Miss Temple top billing and a photograph on the cover of the VHS. She was not the star of this movie at all! She has a 2-bit part in a movie that starred bigger names in Hollywood. But if you are Shirley Temple die hard who must have everything she ever did, buy this film (caveat emptor). If you are a student of the American cinema, and want to see how good (or bad) an early talkie was, then you should certainly buy this movie, if nothing else for its historical significance. If you want to see rare film footage of "The Princess of American Song" Sylvia Froos (one of the great voices of the 1930s), BUY THIS VIDEO. But don't buy this if you are expecting a sweet, polished performance from Miss Temple a la "Heidi".

I bought this movie mainly because Shirley Temple was going to be in it. From reading some of the reviews, I knew it would not be one of her best. After watching the movie, I realized it was not her acting that was lacking, but the plot of the movie itself. Some aspects of the movie were detestable, such as the scenes with the black man playing an idiot and kissing up the white people in the movie (I, as an African American was disgusted); however, it must be realized that such things reflected the times in which the movie was made. Also, the movie's plot didn't really move along and many times was confusing or boring, although it did do an good job at showing what that time period was like in America. As for Shirley, her scenes, though few, were the best in the film. I loved the dance routine, but besides those few scenes the movie was not very enjoyable. If you want some of Shirley's better works, I suggest you buy Bright Eyes (my personal favorite), Poor Little Rich Girl, or Wee Willie Winkie.

The film that began Shirley Temple's career at Fox, "Stand Up and Cheer," really isn't much to cheer about.

The premise is actually rather fun: In the dark days of the Depression, the US Government decides to form a Department of Amusement to restore joy to the American people through song and dance. Many of the principals, including Madge Evans and Jimmy Durante, are excellent. However, the film is quite dated and several scenes, such as one in which a man is coaxed into a fish tank, are rather offensive.

There are only two things that save this film from being a total disaster: the final celebration sequence and the three short scenes with James Dunn and Shirley Temple. Dunn and Temple are both extremely talented and work very well together (they went on to appear together in seveal more films). Their musical number, "Baby Take a Bow," is the film's high point. Dunn, as the quintessential 'tall, dark and handsome' song and dance man, is definitely a charmer, and Temple, at only five years old, handles the choreography with enthusiasm and poise.

This is not the best film to buy...try to catch it on TV or watch for the dance routine on a Temple documentary instead.

Okay, so there is too little Shirley Temple to go around. But still, this movie would be just fine without Shirley. I didn't buy it because of her, I got because I LOVE WARNER BAXTER! After June Knight, he is my favorite actor. He carries this film with the usual expertise, but I get a little sad seeing him in these ol' musicals when he used to do such great work in silents. As is typical of most musicals of the 30s, the plot is awfully thin in Stand Up and Cheer. If you are going to buy this because you want to see Shirley Temple, you had better buy Curly Top or Heidi or something, because Shirley Temple is not billed very highly. SHE IS NOT THE STAR! The Stars are Warner Baxter, Madge Evans, Sylvia Froos and James Dunn, the musical dude that I recognized from Take a Chance(1933). I liked that better than this, probably becuase of the story and MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE MUSICAL ACTRESS, THE VIVACIOUS JUNE KNIGHT!! James Dunn is Shirley's dad in this, and he was also with her in some other films. Shirley does one quite cute number in here, Baby, Take a Bow. So buy this if you like Sylvia Froos(Princess of Song) or Waner Bxter, and you'll be satisfied. I am!

This is the worst Shirley Temple movie I have ever seen. It is not a Shirley Temple movie at all. She is only featured in it at the most, 4 times. The whole movie was silly, but not in a good way. A guy that jumps into a fish tank, a talking penquin, political figures acting like children or gymnast.. The movie was not realistic at all.. Hardly a story line. Just when the plot started to get good (minus the dumb parts), the movie ended! If you get this movie just because you are a Shirley Fan, it is NOT worth it!

Shirley Temple was great in all 4 scenes of this movie. If you're a Shirley Fan, get "Baby Take A Bow" to see a better plot. I think many get mixed up in thinking that this was a Shirely Temple movie becuase she was on the cover. But the main plot isn't even about her. "Stand Up and Cheer" is not one to see if you want Shirely Temple movie. There are other Shirley movies much better than this one out there.

Shirley Temple gets little more than an enlarged cameo role in Stand Up And Cheer, a mediocre musical from Fox. Shirley outshines many of her adult peers in her musical number; she's absolutely adorable and she acts brilliantly especially considering her age! The plot moves along at a relatively good pace and most of the musical numbers are actually rather well done. The plot, however, is razor thin and frankly I thought it was hokey at its best and dumb at its worst.

The action begins when the president creates a new position in his cabinet for Secretary of Amusement to help the country forget its woes during the depression. When offered the position, showman Lawrence Cromwell (Warner Baxter) accepts the position and eventually Lawrence becomes romantically involved with his assistant secretary of the children's department, Mary Adams (Madge Evans).

But things won't be so easy for Cromwell. Corporate moguls want the country to remain unhappy so that they can make huge profits as always. (Please don't ask me to explain this; it's just ridiculous.) One of the moguls takes Lawrence on a sea voyage to try to bribe him to leave the office and permanently undermine the Department of Amusement. Naturally, Lawrence Cromwell doesn't accept the bribe; he chooses to keep on fighting to help the nation get back on its feet and "out of the red" through amusement.

Shirley Temple fits in as a young child auditioning for Cromwell; and she gets a job from Cromwell despite the fact that she's a tad too young to officially be awarded the job. Shirley dances wonderfully--now if only she could have had the same genius at the age of seven to write a better plot for the movie the film could actually have gone somewhere! Look for James Dunn to play Jimmy Dugan, Shirley's father. James Dunn gives a great performance himself.

Although I've said a lot there's still more. We have the pure delight of watching painfully dated and embarrassing portraits of African American people in the "Aunt Jemima" character; and Stepin Fetchit plays what is today considered a very offensive role as a not very smart black man who just happens to be named George Bernard Shaw. Ouch! In fact, major OUCH!

If you decide to watch this movie, please just do so for the musical numbers--especially the one with Shirley, the "hillbilly" number with the dancing ladies and the strong finale. There's so little plot in the movie it's as if there's no plot at all; this is the first movie in quite a while that had a plot I genuinely considered dumb. It's a shame that Madge Evans, James Dunn and Warner Baxter couldn't be in a better quality film together; but they do act well with what little they are given and Shirley shines like gold!

The only DVD extra (besides scene selection) is a trailer for another film that is actually a REAL Shirley Temple film.

Enter please--but at your own risk. Sorry.

Two and one-half stars.

The only reason I give this a 3 instead of a 1 or 2 is because Shirley temple is in it, but only for 10 or 12 minutes. This "movie" is actually a review, showcasing different acts, but I think Shirley Temple and James Dunn have the best one.This is Shirley's first performance for Fox, and she is absolutely adorable. Like other reviews there is a thin plot that brings these acts together. The President has appointed a Secretary of Amusement to cheer up a nation that is suffering during the depression. I think if you are a Shirley Temple fan, and like to follow her career through movies you would enjoy this one.

I love most of the Shirley Temple movies, but this one is NOT one! Shirley temple is in this movie maybe a mere 5 minutes and then it's history for her, as she never returns. And the movie is horrible! I viewed bad acting, poor lines, and one of the dumbest of all the dancing scenes that ever hit the screen. Really, this movie had nothing to do with her. They had her in the movie for some unknown reason, one in which I can't figure out. But when she finally did appeared singing and then dancing, it was so cute, as she was younger and very talented in her role and surpassed all these silly untalented and unknown actors. Movie is not intended to be a part of ones "Shirley Temple" collection, you can gladly pass this one up. Very disappointed!

If you want to watch a Shirley Temple movie DO NOT GET THIS ONE! She's in it maybe 3 minutes. This really isn't a Shirely Temple movie!! Very bad movie even if it wasn't touted as a Shirley Temple movie.