Film Review of Baby Take a Bow: Shirley Temple in 1934 Comedy Drama with James Dunn

Second chances abound in Baby, Take a Bow by writers Philip Klein and Edward E. Paramore Jr.; producer John Stone; and director Harry Lachman. L William O’Connell, Alfred deGaetano, and David Buttolph handle cinematography, editing, and music. Filming showcases California’s Movietone City.

The 76-minute comedy drama adapts James P. Judge’s 1927-presented play Square Crooks. Its distributor was Fox Film. Its USA-release date was June 30, 1934.

The movie begins with Larry Scott (Ray Walker) punching fellow train passenger Private Investigator Welch (Alan Dinehart) for harassing Kay (Claire Trevor). Sing-Sing’s warden (Samuel S. Hinds) congratulates Eddie Ellison (James Dunn) on his 4-months-early release. Eddie credits Kay’s 18-month wait.

The 9:20 a.m. train for Niagara leaves in 30 minutes. Eddie and Kay get married at the Falls. Eddie starts work as factory owner Stuart Carson’s (Richard Tucker) chauffeur. Six years later, Eddie welcomes Larry’s:

• Being released from Sing-Sing;

• Chauffeuring for Stuart;

• Getting engaged to Jane (Dorothy Libaire), Eddie’s daughter Shirley’s (Shirley Temple) tapdance instructor;

• Taking Jane and Kay to the Cameo’s “10,000 Years in Sing-Sing”.

Stuart’s wife’s (Olive Tell) pearl necklace goes missing. Sing-Sing parolee Trigger Stone (Ralf Harolde) is the thief. Welch mentions Eddie’s and Larry’s Sing-Sing years to:

• National Insurance Company’s head;

• Stuart.

Eddie and Larry are fired on Shirley’s birthday. Eddie and Shirley dance and sing “On Account-a I Love You”. Eddie gives Shirley the best gift: a ballet dress, not dollhouses or roller skates. A radio news release interrupts to report the Carson necklace theft. Larry recalls Popular Mechanics‘ article about Zulus sewing jewels under their skin.

The next morning, police chase Trigger. The necklaces gets dropped in:

• Shirley’s hand by Trigger;

• Eddie’s pocket by Shirley;

• The coffeepot, then the carpet sweeper by Eddie.

Welch halts the search of Eddie’s apartment. He is back before Eddie and Kay open the sweeper. Welch opens the sweeper, which maid Anna (Lilian Stuart) previously empties.

Shirley finds the necklace in the garbage. She goes to show Eddie. Trigger is left restrained while Shirley’s parents get the police.

Trigger convinces Shirley to release him by:

• Claiming to be restrained so as not to peek on Eddie;

• Convincing her to help him fool Eddie.

Trigger grabs Shirley. Shirley screams. Trigger takes Shirley hostage when Eddie, Kay and police hear and react to the shouts.

The movie ends with:

• Eddie following Trigger to the roof;

• Trigger injuring Eddie;

• Eddie overpowering Trigger;

• Shirley retrieving the necklace;

• Detective Flannigan (James Flavin) telling Shirley about the $5,000 reward for the necklace’s return;

• Welch tumbling through the skylight onto a bed in the apartment on the floor below.

My special thanks to:

• Talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the Internet;

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for superior on-campus and on-line resources.