Film Review of Honeymoon: Shirley Temple in 1947 Comedy

Diving accidents can break and reunite lovers in Honeymoon by writer Michael Kanin; story ideator Hedwig “Vicki” Baum; producer Warren Duff; and director William Keighley. Edward Cronjager, Ralph Dawson, and Leigh Harline handle cinematography, editing, and music. Filming showcases California.

The comedy lasts 74 minutes. Its distributor was RKO Radio Pictures. Its USA-release date was May 17, 1947.

The movie begins with teenager Barbara Olmstead (Shirley Temple) flying from the U.S. Midwest to Mexico City. Fiancé/Corporal Phil Vaughn (Guy Madison) does not meet her at the train station. Vice consul David Flanner (Franchot Tone) indicates that Phil’s flight from Panama is delayed until the following day.

A military plane drops Phil off shortly after Barbara’s flight arrives. He goes to Consul Prescott’s (Gene Lockhart) offices. The clock ticks since Phil is on 48-hour leave.

Barbara cannot find accommodations. David deplores interruptions. He enjoys a rare evening off at fiancée Raquel Mendoza’s (Lina Romay) harp recital. Barbara faints from hunger and stress.

David dines with Barbara. They dance the jitterbug. The news upsets Raquel’s parents, Don Gaspar (Julio Villarreal) and la Señora (Corinna Mura).

All hotels are booked. Barbara considers visiting the Federal District’s 16 boroughs. David does not remember his dinner date with Racquel. Barbara enjoys:

• Sightseeing Xochimilco’s artificial islands (chinampas) and canals from a boatman’s (Salvador Baguez) gondola (trajinera);
• Singing “I Love Geraniums” and “Ven aquí” (“Come Here!”) with a singer (Mario Santos).

Barbara leaves after David:

• Falls out of the boat;
• Gets clothes from a serape shop owner (Rodolfo Hoyos);
• Hides from Raquel’s friends.

Phil anticipates Barbara’s visit to the planned location of their wedding night. He observes David running after Barbara. He punches him. He and Barbara stay in David’s hotel room.

Barbara and Phil cannot marry without:

• Health certificates: They attend a conference of Mexico City’s non-English-speaking doctors. Barbara persuades Dr. Diego (José Goula) to sign.
• Four observers: They buy witnesses (Eumenio Blanco, Tony Roux, Roque Ybarra).
• Parental consent: Judge Riberol (Charles Trowbridge) deplores Barbara’s fudged age on tourist cards.

They crash Raquel’s garden party. David entertains diplomats (Fred Godoy, Ralph Navarro, Ramon Muñoz) and politicians (Harry Denny, Franklin Farnum, Grant Mitchell, Forbes Murray, John Parrish). Phil hides in a tree. Barbara lambasts David’s procrastination. She passes out after:

• Diving into Raquel’s pool;
• Slamming into David.

Barbara awakens smitten with David. She refuses to marry Phil. David tries to spank sense into Barbara

The movie ends with Phil:

• Beating David for making Barbara cry;
• Bumping into Barbara in the pool;
• Finding Barbara uninfatuated with David;
• Marrying Barbara.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

A pool briefly confuses Mexican wedding plans for Barbara Olmstead (Shirley Temple) and Corporal Phil Vaughn (Guy Madison).
Channing Thomson @CHANNINGPOSTERS, via Twitter Oct. 12, 2014

"Mexico City Boats in Xochimilco": Lidia Lopez, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mexico_City_Boats_in_Xochimilco.jpg

Warner Archive. "Preview Clip / Honeymoon / Warner Archive." YouTube, Jan. 29, 2015, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdvqE-lmLi8