Dimples (1936)

Dimples
Directed by William A. Seiter
Written by Arthur Sheekman and Ned Perrin from an idea by Nunnally Johnson
1936/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
First viewing

[box] Prof. Eustace Appleby: I was quite a matinee idol in those days, you know. I still get letters from ladies in the towns where I played.

Dimples: Yes, landladies.[/box]

“Dimples” (Shirley Temple) is an urchin dancing on the streets of 1850 New York for pennies under the tutelage of her loveable con-artist/thief grandfather (Frank Morgan).  When she dances for a society party, the hostess Mrs. Drew (Helen Westley) falls in love with her and wants to adopt her.  But Dimples doesn’t really want to leave her grandfather. There is a subplot that involves Mrs. Drew’s nephew who wants to put on a production of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”.  Dimples ends up playing Little Eva in that, among a cast of black-faced actors.  The whole thing ends in a minstrel show number.  With Stepin Fetchit as grandfather’s servant.

This is mediocre when it isn’t offensive.  Shirley has lost a lot of her uncalculated charm and the songs aren’t memorable.

Trailer