A waste of 90 minutes of my life

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Here Shirley Temple is Rebecca Winstead who is looking for fame and fortune. Well, maybe. But mainly she wants to sing. Her stepfather, played by William Demarest, who she calls Uncle, and who takes care of her now that her mother is dead, is the one who wants the fortune. He tries to get her on the radio and she would have been picked, but there was a miscommunication between Randolph Scott and one of his staff. When Randy tells him to find her, while he's going for a country vacation, the guy can't, because Uncle, fed up with taking care of her, drops her off at his sister-in-law, played by Helen Westley, in the country! Everyone in these Shirley Temple films is cranky, until they meet Miss Shirley. Helen Westley is no exception. She's held a grudge for 25 years against Slim Summerville for not showing up on their wedding day, because he got too drunk the night before the wedding. Slim lives next door and tries to nudge his way back into her life. Meanwhile, guess what, Randy is the next-door neighbor, who eventually finds the little girl. Will Helen let her niece sing on the radio? Will they have to go behind her back to do it? Will she ever forgive Slim? Will Randy get married to his fiancée or get smitten with another young lady he meets in the country, costar Gloria Stuart? Does Uncle show up again to take advantage of his now-profitable stepdaughter, since he does have legal custody in the eyes of the law? With the locale switching from New York to the country several times, it didn't turn out to be like what I expected at first, but it was very good, and, as an added bonus, it has Shirley and costar Bill "Bojangles" Robinson dancing. Franklin Pangborn has a very brief but memorable bit as a radio substitute who never gets to go on, until.... If you love Shirley Temple (you wouldn't be reading this if you didn't,) you'll enjoy spending time with Rebecca and company.

When young Shirley Temple believes she's been overlooked by a radio producer, her stepfather (William Demarest) drops her off at the farm of her crotchety aunt (Helen Westley). The producer (Randolph Scott) just happens to live next door right under Aunt Westley's chins, and has been searching for her after a misunderstanding at her audition. Westley hasn't been friendly with the neighbors for years due to a misunderstanding with Scott's basset faced servant (Slim Summerville) when they courted years ago. Scott manages to get Shirley on the radio without Westley knowing and she is an instant hit. But of course, the grouchy aunt finds out leading to a lot more complications, some touching reunions and the big finale with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Temple repeats some of her hits and dances with Bojangles while picking berries. The film is cute but ridiculous in spots, and Shirley is obviously a bit more mature than her character's 8 years. Still, worth watching for the charm of country life. Ah, those Green Acres.

Shirley Temple tries the farm life as Rebecca, who wants to be a singer star on the radio.Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is directed by Allan Dwan.It's loosely based on Kate Douglas Wiggins' book.Shirley Temple is so adorable in the lead as Rebecca.Gloria Stuart plays Gwen, Rebecca's cousin and Kent's romantic interest.Sadly Ms. Stuart passed away on Sunday Sep 26 at the age of 100.She got to do a lot in a hundred years.There's some fun stuff in this movie, like when they get Rebecca out of the house so she can go and sing on the radio.The musical numbers bring you in a good mood.An Old Straw Hat is delightful.Come and Get Your Happiness was really good.Shirley Temple's movies have brought so much happiness and joy to the world.And those are the two things we always need.

Shirley temple at her peak as a girl singer who is sought by two rival cereal companies to promote their radio commercials.Randolph Scott and Gloria Stuart provide the romance. Helen Westley, Slim Summerville and William Demarest head the supporting cast but it is 9 year old Shirley's movie from first to last, full of charm and innocence and loosely adapted from the childrens classic by Kate Douglas Wiggan. Shirley's numbers include "Come and get your happiness" and she also sings a medley of hits from her previous movies (among them On the good ship lollipop, When Im with you, Animal crackers in my soup and more)and dances with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. running time 71 mins b&w