Hideously racist Shirley Temple film set in the South during the Civil War, far more offensive than The Little Colonel. In that film little Shirley was just the granddaughter of a former slave owner, who made friends with blacks; here she is the daughter of a slave owning couple, living in happy bliss, with smiling dancing slaves and quaint tea parties. Bill Robinson dances for the children's entertainment and he and his fellow slaves get tea for the little overdressed kids.
This happy scene is interrupted by news of the civil war. Dad goes off leaving Shirley, mum and the slaves scared and alone - some nasty Yankee soldiers come along, and ransack the house, forcing Shirley to put on boot polish and pretend to be a slave. There's also a sleeve where Willie Best, as a dimwitted servant, wonders what it means to be free as he has no idea and Shirley nods in agreement.
Many scenes in this are very reminiscent of Gone with the Wind - a gentlemanly Southern house party interrupted by news of Ford Sumter, faithful slaves who stay at home, the raid by nasty Yankees, mum dying of an illness, a flee through enemy territory on a horse and buggy. Maybe Margaret Mitchell saw it when finishing off her novel.
Further detracting from the fun is stiff John Boles (male leads in Shirley Temple films always came back for a second helping eg James Dunn) and the sight of Willie Best having to make a fool of himself, although Bill Robinson manages to maintain some dignity. He does several dances with Shirley, some of which are quite good, especially the one at the end. Indeed, to give this movie its due, it picks up at the end, with Boles and Shirley trying to escape through enemy lines, Robinson and Shirley busking, and Abe Lincoln coming to the rescue. Too little too late but at least it's something.
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