I have a confession: I have not seen any of the famous Shirley Temple films she made as a little child. I have seen Since You Went Away, I’ll Be Seeing You (in which I don’t remember her at all), The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (which I’m pretty sure I watched during last year’s Summer Under the Stars and found a bit cringe-inducing) and Fort Apache. Fort Apache I watched just three days ago, as one of the Henry Fonda films. Here she was not a child at all. Anyway, one might think that since today is Shirley Temple day it would be a perfect occasion to fill the gaps in my film diary. Alas, the stars did not align. But the film I did choose for today is still the earliest among the Shirley Temple vehicles I’ve seen so far (she is fourteen at the time of the film’s release).
Miss Annie Rooney (1942)
Miss Annie Rooney is a young teenager living with her father and grandfather. The father is a bit of a hustler, one of those men with several “billion dollar ideas” a week, none of which ever amount to much. The grandfather is pretty much the one who is taking care of the house which I found interesting and refreshing since in the majority of stories of motherless households the daughter would take over the „feminine” (ugh) duties. Annie is a romantic soul who loves poetry, art, and beauty. She fancies herself a sophisticated young lady and is drawn to finer things.
One day, while at the way to the dance with her childhood friends, she meets Marty, a sweet, kind of dorky boy. Oh, and he’s rich. Marty enjoys Shirley’s company and the two become closer and not everyone is happy about that.
The film is very cute. Shirley Temple is adorable, of course, but all the other young actors hold their own. There are many funny moments when the teens, kids, really, talk about how old and mature they are. Plus, it’s a great look into the lifestyle and the language of young people in the 40s.
The film is mostly fun and pleasant but several moments I found quite heartbreaking, like when father promises Annie a new dress but then doesn’t show up in the store (she does get the nice dress, don’t worry) or when Marty’s parents are acting like awful snobs.
I have to say, I was worried it was going to be one of those films in which the father gets gross when faced with the reality of his daughter growing up but there wasn’t really much of that (the father was a disaster in enough aspects already). But that is definitely something to think about, I’m not that familiar with Temple’s biography but I know enough about child stars to realize how sexualized they are from early age (remember those infamous countdowns to the Olsen twins turning eighteen?). I am glad that this film, in which Temple is not really a little girl anymore, is wholesome and appropriate – even though she did receive her first on-screen kiss (on the cheek).
Swingin' at the Seance 