Film Review of Red Haired Alibi: First Feature Film Role for Shirley Temple in 1932

by DerdriuMarriner

Merna Kennedy and Shirley Temple learn how to survive prohibition and shootouts in the 1932 film version of "Red Haired Alibi."

A natural redhead attracts attention wherever she goes.

Striking hair and looks get her jobs in Columbus and NYC. Will she find second chances with a divorced father after working as a gangster’s red-headed patsy in “Red Haired Alibi”?

Shirley Temple appears in her first feature film role in "Red Haired Alibi."

A career in feature films begins in 1932 with "Red-Haired Alibi."

Gloria Shelton (Shirley Temple) with her stepmother, Lynn Monith (Merna Kennedy)
Gloria Shelton (Shirley Temple) with her stepmother, Lynn Monith (Merna Kennedy)

 

A red-headed patsy gives a Red Haired Alibi by writer Edward T. Lowe, producer Sig Neufeld, and director Christy Cabanne. Harry Forbes, Irving Birnbaum, and Corson Jowett handle cinematography, editing, and sound. Filming showcases California.

The 75-minute drama adapts Wilson Collison’s (November 5, 1893 - May 25, 1941) 1932-published novel. Its distributor was Tower Productions. Its USA-premiere and release dates were October 15 and 21, 1932.

The movie begins with 23-year-old Lynn Monith (Merna Kennedy) selling Hotel Savoy #722 guest Trent “Jack” Travers (Theodore von Eltz) Lorigan. Trent gifts Lynn the perfume. He takes Lynn to Columbus, Ohio’s Gartenhaus Kopf Krause for club sandwiches, with

  • His coffee;
  • Lynn’s milk.

20-story offices replacing the Savoy leaves Lynn unemployed. From Victoria Hotel #501, Lynn messages Cortland #5-7219, Mansfield Apartments. Miss Hoffman’s Agency, 10 E. 43rd Street, offers nothing. Lynn plops down on Robert Shelton’s (Grant Withers) hat. Bob’s wife runs off to party. Bob thanks Lynn’s attending “Vanities” with:

  • Card;

  • Red roses.

Trent leaves Chicago the following month. Al picks up Lynn at 7:30 p.m. Trent presents big-city:

  • Jobs;

  • Morgues;

  • Streetwalking.

He proposes:

  • Clothing allowance, with $600 advanced;

  • $100/week;

  • 87th Street, Schuyler #8-3527.

He takes Lynn to:

  • Dinner, 10 the next night: Lynn is mute around Bee Lee (Marion Lessing) and Morgan (John Vosburgh). Silver Moon headwaiter Harry (Harrison Greene) offers Lynn private dining. Trent uses the window to plant “pineapples” (grenades) at Morgan’s and sneak back for Lynn’s “10:30 p.m.-onward” alibi.

  • Masquerades: Trent gets hit on the left forehead. Bee and Morgan grab Trent’s “only the best” cigarettes. Trent overpowers Morgan’s thugs. He sends Morgan’s motorboat seaward.

  • Theater: Trent shoots Morgan 20+ minutes later at Willard Antiques. He has Lynn alibi him in Cleveland since Sunday.

Detective Corcoran (Fred Kelsey) and Inspector Regan (Purnell Pratt) find Lynn with Trent’s telegram dated 9/6/1932. They posit quick departures or demises. Mrs. A.S. Johnson’s White Plains employment agency will not hire without references.

Bob contracts Lynn as almost-four-year-old daughter Gloria’s (Shirley Temple) nurse. Lynn escorts husband Bob to Grand Central Station. Stalker Trent orders Lynn to bring $10,000 to Peacock Inn’s north side dining room veranda at 8:30 p.m.

Lynn brings nothing. Trent calls White Plains’ Captain of Detectives. Trent perishes when Lynn shoots. Captain Kent (Huntley Gordon) problem-solves switches and throttles when Lynn’s car stalls on Lane Road.

The movie ends with:

  • Kent contacting Regan since “John Smith” is Trent;

  • Manager Margoli’s (Paul Porcasi) and waiter Henri’s (Arthur Hoyt) eavesdropping implicating Lynn;

  • The medical examiner identifying the fatal bullet as .45 caliber, not Lynn’s/Trent’s .32.

  

"Red Haired Alibi (1932) PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD" (1:07:20) Shirley first appears at 0:40:28, a little under 2/3 of the way through the film

Uploaded Nov. 2, 2013, by PizzaFlix to YouTube ~ URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCCXWO1bs0U

Acknowledgment

 

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

 

Image Credits

 

A career in feature films begins in 1932 with "Red-Haired Alibi."
Gloria Shelton (Shirley Temple) with her stepmother, Lynn Monith (Merna Kennedy): Classic Movie Vault @movievaultroku, via Twitter Sep. 28, 2018 @ https://twitter.com/movievaultroku/status/1045779618031181824/photo/2

Red Haired Alibi (1932) PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD" (1:07:20) Shirley first appears at 0:40:28, a little under 2/3 of the way through the film
Uploaded Nov. 2, 2013, by PizzaFlix to YouTube ~ URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCCXWO1bs0U

four-segment panoramic view of Grand Central Station main concourse: four-segment panoramic view of Grand Central Station main concourse
David Iliff (Diliff), photography and stitching; Janke, horizontal correction; CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Central_Station_Main_Concourse_Jan_2006.jpg

 

A scene, critical for the unfolding of "Red Haired Alibi," occurs in this historic station in New York City.

four-segment panoramic view of Grand Central Station main concourse
four-segment panoramic view of Grand Central Station main concourse
the end which is also the beginning
the end which is also the beginning

Four Movie Collection features The Red-Haired Alibi, Law of Vengeance, The Little Princess and Shirley's Short Collection ~ Available via Amazon

Shirley's Shorts: Dora's Dunkin Doughnuts; Glad Rags to Riches; Kid N Africa; Kid n Hollywood; Managed Money; Merrily Yours; Pardon My Pups; The Pie Covered Wagon; Polly Tix in Washington; War Babies; Biggest Lil Star of the 30s
Hollywood Legends: Shirley Temple - 4 Movie Collection - The Little...

Red-Haired Alibi and Stolen Jools -- DVD single-disc ~ Available via Amazon

Red-Haired Alibi / Stolen Jools (Single-Disc)

Shirley Temple Black's autobiography ~ Available via Amazon

Child Star: An Autobiography

Shirley Temple in 1932, the year of "Red Haired Alibi," her first feature film role ~ Available via AllPosters

Shirley Temple, Early 1930s

Me and my purrfectly purrfect Maine coon kittycat, Augusta "Gusty" Sunshine

Gusty and I thank you for reading this article and hope that our product selection interests you; Gusty Gus receives favorite treats from my commissions.
DerdriuMarriner, All Rights Reserved
DerdriuMarriner, All Rights Reserved
Updated: 10/01/2024, DerdriuMarriner
 
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DerdriuMarriner on 09/03/2014

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Web Developers Delhi on 09/03/2014

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DerdriuMarriner on 04/15/2014

Web Design Delhi, Thank you for visiting and commenting.

Web Design Delhi on 04/15/2014

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