Little Miss Broadway
An orphan is provisionally adopted by the manager of a hotel populated by show business people. The hotel's owner doesn't like the entertainers and wants the girl returned to the orphanage.
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- Cast:
- Shirley Temple , George Murphy , Jimmy Durante , Phyllis Brooks , Edna May Oliver , George Barbier , Edward Ellis
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Reviews
Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
Blistering performances.
Little Miss Broadway is a very enjoyable movie musical format in miniature with bright,bouncy tunes,a plot that moves with light touches of comedy,sentiment and slight conflicts..All the main characters perform solidly,but THE main sharply etched brilliant performance belongs to Edna May Oliver...when I was a child,I was at first repelled by her "mean old pumpkin" ways...OH! but to look closer as one grows older..WOW! What subtle hysterical faces and brilliance beneath that unique face and her ever so subtle softness of heart which peeks out more and more towards the end..She truly stands out..such a marvelous artist!
Not-bad musical fluffball starring Shirley Temple, predictably sentiment-driven and extravagant, yet somehow fruitier than usual. Shirl plays an orphaned tyke adopted into a show-biz family overflowing with kooky characters (including tap-dancing midgets and a Swede with a pet penguin). A highlight of the film is the courtroom climax, which turns into a Busby Berkeley-styled musical production. Temple isn't at her peak here, in fact she seems rather unsure of herself on occasion. Fortunately, the rest of the players (including Jimmy Durante and Phyllis Brooks) are game, making up for the star's stiffness, and director Irving Cummings adds a good deal of eccentric pizazz. **1/2 from ****
What a spectacular Shirley Temple movie I have chosen to see. It is entitled "Little Miss Broadway." I have been, for long, a big lover of musicals.That is especially true for those with little Shirley Temple. She has adored audiences worldwide with her singing, acting, and tap-dancing in the films.This is one of those rare movies that I would automatically give the number 10 to. It has an array of great songs such as the title. Shirley opens her act with the song "Be Optimistic." That is one of those songs where you can learn a life lesson."Little Miss Broadway" -- the song and the film itself -- are indeed heartwarming. That is rare for a musical show or film. Since it is a 1930s filmusical with Shirley Temple, I'd say it is right up there with the rest.
The highlight in this one is Edna May Oliver who made a wonderful detective in earlier films (she paired with James Gleason in several 30's efforts). I mean, to be mean to little Miss Everything--what can you say? Shirley looks a little chubby in this outting but no less talented as she reacts, moves that mouth, smiles and keeps up with famous hoofers.