If you have never read or even know the original story of " Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm" then you will enjoy this movie if however you read the book, you might want to avoid this movie if you are expecting a faithful adaptation this is not it .While I don't particularly hate this particular Shirley Temple movie based on a classic children's book I would only recommend it to die hard Shirley fans . I would not recommend it to anyone who wants to see a faithful adaptation of a wonderful book I would recommend the Mary Pickford version first and I also just found out they made a 1932 version except I don't know if it's even available on DVD or VHS

Although the film has absolutely nothing to do with the plot of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm as written, the film is a really enjoyable one with the self reliant Shirley at her best.She has to be because Darryl Zanuck really went out of his way to give her a bunch of scene stealing character players as support for his golden little moppet. Jack Haley, Helen Westley, William Demarest, Slim Summerville all have their moments. Even Franklin Pangborn has a brief scene with Temple as a flustered organ player who is hired by a radio station to provide substitute music in case a live performer can't go on. He muffs his big chance in a hilarious scene.Randolph Scott is a frustrated radio programmer who's looking for a child radio star to be Little Miss America. He hears all kinds of Shirley Temple wannabes and then hears the genuine article. But his dumb cluck of an assistant, Jack Haley, forgets to keep her in the studio.Frustrated Scott goes back to his farm which just happens to be next to where Temple's deadbeat stepdad parks the prodigy. Shirley is now with her Aunt Helen Westley and another cousin Gloria Stuart. When Randy discovers her, his problems seem over.Of course when the deadbeat stepdad William Demarest discovers Shirley is a budding radio star he schemes to get custody of her. But our little heroine being very self reliant is up to the challenge as she is in every one of her films.I'm not writing any give aways but this is a Shirley Temple movie and there's only one way they turn out.

I thought this was a dandy picture until little Shirley nearly ruined that fine Swedish Landrace piglet by picking him up and darn near rubbing the hide off him. Don't those Hollywood people know anything? You rub up on a baby Landrace too long and you spoil him for his mama, and everyone knows a spoiled pig ain't no good to nobody, especially a Swedish Landrace. After a Chester White their the most delicate hogs there is! Now, you take one of your hardier breeds, like a Berkshire or a Saddleback, you can pick them up all you want. It won't hurt them at all; matter of fact, they like it. But you handle your Landraces too much when their young and you'll never get them back on their mama's teat. They are fussy ones, those Landraces.Otherwise, a dandy picture.

Shirley temple at her peak as a girl singer who is sought by two rival cereal companies to promote their radio commercials.Randolph Scott and Gloria Stuart provide the romance. Helen Westley, Slim Summerville and William Demarest head the supporting cast but it is 9 year old Shirley's movie from first to last, full of charm and innocence and loosely adapted from the childrens classic by Kate Douglas Wiggan. Shirley's numbers include "Come and get your happiness" and she also sings a medley of hits from her previous movies (among them On the good ship lollipop, When Im with you, Animal crackers in my soup and more)and dances with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. running time 71 mins b&w