The Little Colonel

The Little Colonel is a 1935 movie. It was directed by David Butler. The screenplay by William M. Conselman was adapted from a book of the same name by Annie Fellows Johnston. The movie features the famous staircase dance by Temple and Robinson.

The Little Colonel
Directed byDavid Butler
Produced byBuddy G. DeSylva
Written byScreenplay:
William M. Conselman
Novel:
Annie Fellows Johnston
StarringShirley Temple
Lionel Barrymore
Evelyn Venable
John Lodge
Bill Robinson
Hattie McDaniel
Music byCyril J. Mockridge
CinematographyArthur C. Miller
Distributed byFox Film
Release date
  • February 22, 1935 (1935-02-22)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.2 million[1]

Main cast

  • Shirley Temple as Lloyd Sherman
  • Lionel Barrymore as Colonel Lloyd, father to Elizabeth and grandfather to Lloyd Sherman
  • John Lodge as Jack Sherman, Elizabeth’s husband and little Lloyd’s father
  • Ellen Venable as Elizabeth Lloyd Sherman, Lloyd Sherman's mother and Colonel Lloyd's daughter
  • Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson as Walker, Colonel Lloyd’s butler
  • Hattie McDaniel as Mom Beck, Elizabeth's housekeeper

Response

Andre Sennwald in his New York Times review of March 22, 1935 wrote, "[a]ll adrip with magnolia whimsy and vast, unashamed portions of synthetic Dixie atmosphere". He further wrote that the movie was "so ruthless in its exploitation of Miss Temple's great talent for infant charm that it seldom succeeds in being properly lively and gay". He finished his review noting the audience applauded for a full eleven seconds after the final fade-out, and that the movie "ought to bring out the best in every one who sees it."[2]

References

Other websites