During Ronald Reagan's presidency there were several movies that kept getting brought up again and again because of comic/novelty value: King's Row (considered his best work, where he lost his legs), Bedtime for Bonzo (playing opposite a chimp), Knute Rockne All American (the "win one for he Gipper" speech), Hellcats of the Navy (his one effort co-starring Nancy) and this.... where he co-starred with Shirley Temple. It's also got the yuck factor of a plot concerning small town rumours that Temple is Reagan's illegitimate daughter, yet they fall in love.
So this is melodrama - meaning at least there's novelty seeing Shirley Temple in a non-comedy. There's also Miss Moneypenny, Lois Maxwell, looking very young and beautiful as a teacher at Temple's school; a young and handsome Rory Calhoun, as Shirley's age appropriate love interest who winds up dumping her for someone of his own social class. I got a kick out of seeing Shirley do some Shakespeare, playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
In fact the first two-thirds of this movie was enjoyable, which focuses on Shirley Temple and her stresses about her illegitimacy in town - it's vivid (if a tad cliched) depiction of a gossipy, small-minded town with its busy bodies and skeletons in the cupboard. I don't know much about Peter Godfrey, the director, but his handling was vigorous and strong, and it spanks along at a fair pace.
But then Ronald Reagan comes into the story (I was surprised how late his entrance is) and takes over and everything gets a bit yuck. Shirley confronts him, asks if he's her father, he says no, then they start hanging out together, along with Reagan's age appropriate girlfriend Lois Maxwell. There is gossip, Calhoun marries someone else other than Shirley, the town discover Ronnie is involved in the nuclear program and is a bit of a hero and start to love him, then Lois Maxwell leaves town telling him that he and Temple actually love each other.
Shirley has been expelled from school, and in a rainy, windy, well shot sequence (with the star looking beautiful) she goes to throw herself in the lake before being rescued by Reagan. Reagan then explains the girl the town think was Shirley's illegitimate mother was actually ga-ga and never had a baby - shades of King's Row (a much much times a hundred better film). Reagan teaches Shirley who you are is more important than where you came from and her adopted parents (whose importance is played down in the film - they hardly appear on screen) did a good job. Then Reagan and Shirley leave together on the train... it's hinted, though not clear, that they're a couple now.
This is too well directed to be a complete bomb but it's still pretty yuck. Poor Shirley Temple, she appeared in so many duds as a star around this time!
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