Product Details

• Actors: Shirley Temple, Jack Oakie, Charlotte Greenwood, Arleen Whelan, George Montgomery
• Directors: Allan Dwan
• Writers: Don Ettlinger, Edwin Blum, Hilary Lynn
• Producers: Harry Joe Brown
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: August 2, 1995
• Run Time: 79 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303364780
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,439 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Poignant Fox Farewell for Shirley Temple, February 19, 2001

By 

"sopera" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Young People [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Young People" was Shirley Temple's final film under contract at Twentieth-Century Fox. Although she would go on to make some excellent movies as a teenager and young adult, "Young People" effectively marked the end of her reign as a child star.

In this picture Temple plays Wendy Ballentine, the adopted daughter of two vaudeville stars (Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood). She literally grows up onstage (just as Temple grew up before film audiences in the 1930s), stealing scenes from her parents and becoming an integral part of the act.

However, the Ballentines yearn for a more stable and "normal" existence, and, thus, retire from show business to take up residence in a hamlet in the countryside. It isn't an easy transition: the townsfolk seem to have a poor opinion of "show people" and shun the Ballentine family. Wendy also has trouble adjusting to life offstage: she reads "Variety" at home, teaches her entire class to do splashy musical theatre numbers and tap dances around her living room.

Of course, all ends well. On their way out of town (returning to the warm world of vaudeville), Wendy and her parents rescue a local child in a storm. The Ballentines save the day, the town is grateful, and the residents finally learn to peacefully coexist with their colorful neighbors.

Temple's Fox swan song was not her strongest picture story-wise, but it did inadvertently give her the chance to say farewell. One of the most touching scenes in the film is the Ballentine's last performance at the theatre, where, after giving a show-stopping tap number, Wendy addresses the audience and thanks them for their support over the years.

Oakie and Greenwood, as the senior Ballentines, gave wonderful performances. They actually were ex-vaudevillians, and were given some great opportunities to show off their numerous talents. Temple, of course, was also top-notch in her dance and acting.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sweet movie, you can watch with your kids, June 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Young People [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My six year old daughter and I watched this film together and enjoyed it very much. Shirley Temple as always, gave it her best, as well as the other actors. The story is touching and teaches children about the importance of being open to change. It teaches about caring for your fellow man, and being a good citizen. I would recommend this for parents and young children to watch together.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Temple's last Fox musical, June 24, 2009

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Young People (DVD)

YOUNG PEOPLE (1940) was, despite it's mix of the regular Temple movie trappings, an even bigger flop at the box office than THE BLUE BIRD, released earlier that same year. Back in black-and-white, and with the "child star" cuteness becoming a slightly uncomfortable fit for the rapidly maturing twelve-year-old Temple, it lacks a certain zest; although Temple gives a great performance and is matched every step of the way by her co-stars Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood.

The story follows vaudeville team Joe and Kitty Ballantine (Oakie and Greenwood) and their adopted daughter Wendy (Temple) as they attempt to retire on a farm in New England, only to find hostility and scorn from their old-fashioned, small-minded neighbours.

This was Shirley's last movie for Fox. After her two failures in 1940 (and with no scripts on the immediate horizon), it was decided, in an agreement between producer Darryl F. Zanuck and Temple's parents, to finally terminate her contract. Oddly enough, one of the songs in the film ("Young People") contains lyrics that keenly reflected Temple's personal situation at the time. Audiences wanted Shirley to remain a curly-haired moppet, Temple wanted to grow up. Something had to give...

YOUNG PEOPLE features a clever prologue in which we actually "see" the Wendy/Temple character grow up whilst performing in the Ballantine's act. This was achieved by using a body double for long-shots, intercut with footage of Shirley herself performing "The Beaches of Waikiki" from 1935's CURLY TOP, and "Baby, Take a Bow" from 1934's STAND UP AND CHEER! Despite it's shortcomings, YOUNG PEOPLE is a solid movie and a worthy and touching coda to Shirley Temple's Fox years.