[.ca] The Shirley Temple Collection: Littlest Rebel, Vol. 9

Amazon.com essential video:
Forget about its potentially politically incorrect subject manner. Shirley Temple, America's sweetheart by the time this film was made (1935), utterly charms as Virgie Cary, a plucky baby belle during the Civil War. Virgie is the treasured daughter of a Confederate officer, Capt. Herbert Cary (John Boles). Captain Cary ventures back to his decaying plantation for but a glimpse of his beloved family. Meanwhile, Virgie has managed to captivate a Union officer, Colonel Morrison (Jack Holt). Colonel Morrison becomes sympathetic enough to their plight that he assists Captain Cary's escape, only to have them both caught and set for execution. Trust plucky Virgie--who enlists the help of Abraham Lincoln (!)--to help get them out of their scrape. As with any Temple film, there's a message of familial love and perseverance. And even though there's a celebration of the Old South's genteel ways, Virgie's affection for her family's slaves comes through, as Temple and Bill "BoJangles" Robinson (as loyal Uncle Billy) happily dance together. The film is based on a 1914 silent film of the same name. --N.F. Mendoza

Sweet little movie but very dangerous for it's time:
The movie The Littlest Rebel was a very cute, sweet little movie- fun family entertainment. The story of a little ''Southern Belle'', and her mission to rescue her father from the Yankee Troups, and later execution. The plot is pretty standard, Shirley of course is a very cute, and a quite appealing young actress. But the film's message is slippery, even dangerous at times. Incorrectly portraying black slaves as carefree, happy, childlike and ignorant, this movie was one of many which reinforced the South's idea of a ''happy slave.'' This was dangerous considering that at this time segregation and discrimination were rampant in Southern cities. The movie itself is sweet and family-oriented, very worth seeing, but the film is symbolic of a very dangerous system and idea.

Lots of Tap Dancing!:
I bought several Shirley Temple movies for my kids (2 yrs, 3 yrs, and a blind 15 yr old). I was hoping for lots of music, singing & dancing, and was highly disapointed in several of the movies. Of the 10 Temple movies we currently own, The Little Rebel and Curly Top are the only 2 that are getting worn out from repetitive viewings. The kids love this one and so do Dad and I!! While watching this movie, the kids get up and start dancing all around. I have to re-wind the dance numbers over and over so they can see them again. In-fact, they have become so interested in dancing that I bought them tap shoes for their birthday! Great entertainment for the whole family!

Excellent!:
Shirley Temple singing Dixie? Worth the price of the video alone!

5 Stars for Shirley Temple!:
She is just cute beyond cute, and the movie works in spite of the historical inaccuracies...such as: less than 15% of Southerners owned slaves, Most did allow the children to hold parties together, with the children working side by side on the farms... slaves running away? most were paid/profit sharing and did not run away because their standard of living was higher than the rural working class white...(two floor houses versus shacks, ect) (some blacks owned black/Indian slaves themselves!) the dance scenes were great..."Bo Jangles" was terrific, and the classic scene where "Virgie" sings Dixie to the Yankee officer is priceless! She had, what the Southerners would call, "plunk"! The greatest inaccuracy of them all? Abraham Lincoln, who ordered his generals to begin total warfare on women and children, portrayed as a friend of blacks and children is about as far from the truth as one can get. Besides these, enjoy little Miss Temple!

"The Littlest Rebel (1935) ... Shirley Temple ... 20th Century Fox (2006)":
20th Century Fox presents "THE LITTLEST REBEL" (released: 22 November 1935) (73mins) (B & W/Color Versions) - Under David Butler (Director), Buddy G. DeSylva (Producer), Edwin H. Burke (Screenwriter), Edward H. Peple (Play Author), Harry Tugend (Screenwriter), John F. Seitz -(Cinematographer), Cyril Mockridge (Musical Direction/Supervision), Irene Morra (Editor), William S. Darling (Art Director), Thomas K. Little (Set Designer), Gwen Wakeling (Costume Designer) - - - - our plot line takes place during the Civil War. Shirley Temple plays Virginia Cary, a young girl who lives in the south with her parents --- Her father is called to the Confederate Army, and tries to sneak back to visit his family --- He's arrested, and a Yankee arranges an escape, but it doesn't work, and they are both arrested and sentenced to death --- But Virginia and Uncle Billy (Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson) a friend of Virginia's, goes to visit President Lincoln and begs him to intervene --- gotta love it when Shirley and Robinson sing "Polly Wolly Doodle" --- take all of in when they do that dance during the scene to make money to see President Lincoln, steps were in sync --- as always another happy ending with Shirley leading the way. the cast includes: Shirley Temple ... Ms. Virginia 'Virgie' Cary John Boles ... Capt. Herbert Cary Jack Holt ... Col. Morrison Karen Morley ... Mrs. Cary Bill Robinson ... Uncle Billy Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams ... Sgt. Dudley Willie Best ... James Henry Frank McGlynn Sr. ... President Abraham Lincoln Bessie Lyle ... Mammy Rosabelle Hannah Washington ... Sally Ann BIOS: 1. Shirley Temple Date of Birth: 23 April 1928 - Santa Monica, California Date of Death: Still Living If you enjoyed this film, check out 20th Century Fox present "The Shirley Temple - America's Sweetheart Collection, Vol. 1" (Heidi/Curly Top/Little Miss Broadway) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- now in COLOR and Glorious Black and White --- In 2004, Shirley Temple teamed with Legend Films to restore, colorize and release her earliest black and white films, as well as episodes of her 1960 television series, The Shirley Temple Storybook Collection --- a patented coloring and remastering process makes her picture perfect charm more vivd than ever --- no one can resist Shirley's charm in all her heart warming films. Hats off and thanks to Barry B. Sandrew Ph.D. (Founder, COO & CTO) and his Legend Films Staff --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '20s, '30s & '40s --- order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Legend Films where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector --- all my heroes have been cowboys! Total Time: 73 mins on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox. ~ (3/21/2006)