Film Review of The Littlest Rebel: Shirley Temple and Bill Bojangles Robinson in 1935 Musical Drama

by DerdriuMarriner

Is it possible for a little Confederate girl, uprooted by events at Fort Sumter and busking with her family's tap dancing slave for train fare, to meet President Lincoln?

Civilities are respected by some and not others during the War Between the States.

Bad news darkens everyone’s day. A dance-loving adult and a dance-loving little girl decide to turn the tide in “The Littlest Rebel.”

Shirley Temple and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (May 25, 1878 – November 25, 1949) made musical history with their tap dancing rapport in four movies:
"The Little Colonel" in 1935,
• "The Littlest Rebel" in 1935,
• "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" in 1938, and
• "Just Around the Corner" in 1938.

Shirley Temple's Virgie Carey brazenly aims her slingshot at Union Army Colonel Morrison in The Littlest Rebel.

costume by Gwen Wakeling (March 3, 1901-June 16, 1982), Academy Award (1950) for Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah costumes
costume by Gwen Wakeling (March 3, 1901-June 16, 1982), Academy Award (1950) for Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah costumes

 

Believing, dancing, fighting, and loving are survival skills in The Littlest Rebel by writer Edwin J. Burke; producers Buddy G. DeSylva and Darryl Zanuck; and director David Butler. John F. Seitz, Irene Morra, and Cyril J. Mockridge handle cinematography, editing, and music. Filming showcases distributor studios in Los Angeles, California.

The 70-minute drama adapts Edward Peple’s (August 10, 1869 - July 28, 1924) 1911-published, same-named play. Its distributor was 20th Century Fox. Its NYC-premiere and USA-release dates were December 19 and 27, 1935.

The movie begins with Virgie (Shirley Temple) celebrating birthday #6 on April 12th in Cary Plantation’s ballrooom. Parents (John Boles, Karen Morley) and workers James Henry (Willie Best), Mammy (Bessie Lyle), Moses (Jesse Graves), and Sally Ann (Hannah Washington) celebrate. Virgie favors Dancing Uncle Billy (Bill Robinson). The attack upon Fort Sumter, South Carolina at 4:30 a.m. starts the War Between the States (April 12, 1861 - April 9, 1865) and terminates festivities.

Captain Herbert Cary leads colleagues to Virginia’s Richmond regiments. Civilians remain to protect crops, possessions and resources. Union Colonel Morrison (Jack Holt) ushers in troops upon Herbert’s departure.

Scattered and stressed parents, playmates, and workers concern Virgie. Parthian volley-like, she slingshots Morrison as soldiers leave. Although admiring Virgie’s aim, Morrison, who has a same-aged daughter, warns against disrespect. Virgie sings “Dixieland”.

Herbert becomes Confederate General Robert Edward Lee’s (January 19, 1807 - October 12, 1870) scout. Union officers are aware of Herbert’s information-gathering. During his final sneak-visit home, Herbert barely misses Union trackers. Sergeant Dudley (Guinn Williams) orders troops to search buildings and grounds for food supplies and valuables. He pushes Mrs. Cary downstairs for protecting Virgie -- whose skin is boot-polished black -- from apprehension and punishment.

Morrison apologizes. Dudley is lashed 25 times. Morrison leaves when 3 gunshots signal failure to detain Herbert within Union-held territory. Virgie slingshots Morrison.

Billy accompanies Mrs. Cary and Virgie into the woods, away from Confederate-Union fighting. Mrs. Cary’s cloak covers Virgie during downpours. One month later, Billy leads Herbert to a torched plantation. Mrs. Cary perishes.

Morrison finds Herbert’s attic hideaway. Union guards halt Herbert’s carriage despite Morrison’s issuing mended Union clothing and Union passes to get Virgie to Herbert’s sister in Richmond. Dudley recognizes Virgie.

A court-martial declares Herbert and Morrison spies. A Union Major (Douglas Wood) knows a D.C. judge who knows Abraham Lincoln (Frank McGlynn Sr.). Dancing in public squares pays Billy’s and Virgie’s train fare.

The movie ends with the 16th U.S. President (1809-1865):

  • Chomping apples with Virgie;

  • Having secretary John Hay (Karl Hackett) expedite pardons to Union General Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885);

  • Releasing Billy and Virgie to Union quarters to sing “Polly Wolly Doodle” to hanging-spared Herbert and Morrison.

 

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson as Dancing Uncle Billy and Shirley Temple as Virgie Carey solve financial worries in tap dancing clip.

Shirley Temple - The Littlest Rebel - 1935 ~ Uploaded to YouTube on August 21, 2011 by Damien Chemillé ~ URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=776oLm9GXxQ

Shirley Temple - The Littlest Rebel - 1935 ~ full-length movie

Uploaded Jan. 15, 2018, by dd235686 to YouTube ~ URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVsow9YCZkE

Acknowledgment

 

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

 

Image Credits

 

Shirley Temple during the filming of The Littlest Rebel (1935)
costume by Gwen Wakeling (March 3, 1901-June 16, 1982), Academy Award (1950) for Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah costumes: Conrad J. Barrington @cjubarrington, via Twitter Aug. 7, 2020, @ https://twitter.com/cjubarrington/status/1291940503055810563

Damien Chemillé. "Shirley Temple - The Littlest Rebel - 1935." YouTube, Aug. 21, 2011, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=776oLm9GXxQ

dd235686. "Shirley Temple - The Littlest Rebel - 1935." YouTube, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVsow9YCZkE

1935 The Littlest Rebel, who else Shirley Temple
oil painting of Virgie Cary (Shirley Temple) by Joseph A. Maturo (Jan. 21, 1876-1938): WallaceReid* @WallaceReid_, via Twitter, Dec. 5, 2020, @ https://twitter.com/WallaceReid_/status/1335426901381324800

 

Shirley Temple as Virgie Carey in The Littlest Rebel

oil painting of Virgie Cary (Shirley Temple) by Joseph A. Maturo (Jan. 21, 1876-1938)
oil painting of Virgie Cary (Shirley Temple) by Joseph A. Maturo (Jan. 21, 1876-1938)
the end which is also the beginning
the end which is also the beginning

Shirley Temple in The Littlest Rebel -- DVD ~ Available via Amazon

The Littlest Rebel

Shirley Temple Black's autobiography ~ Available via Amazon

Child Star: An Autobiography

Littlest Rebel, Shirley Temple, 1935 ~ Available via AllPosters

reproduction of vintage postcard
Littlest Rebel, Shirley Temple, 1935

Shirley Temple: in costume for "The Littlest Rebel" ~ Available via AllPosters

Shirley Temple

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: 12/02/2024, DerdriuMarriner
 
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DerdriuMarriner on 03/23/2014

Mira, "The Littlest Rebel" is one of Shirley Temple's most popular and most memorable movies. She displayed so much talent at such a young age. I think that you will enjoy "The Littlest Rebel."
I have written reviews of all of Shirley's films, all of which I've seen many times. I am in the process of releasing them here.

Mira on 03/23/2014

I plan to watch this movie. That black-and-white photo is her is so good! I had a thought this might have been one of her first films but I see on imdb.com that she did 12 movies in 1934, 11 movies and 1933, and 5 movies in 1932, before this one! True, some of them were shorts, but still! Of the 12 movies she did in 1934, only one was a short. I can't wait to see her at seven :-)

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