Wee Willie Winkie

Ford must've been out of his comfort zone directing Temple as a child, but he makes up for how goddamn dopey her plot is with uncommonly gorgeous - even by his high standards - camerawork, featuring the old silent film technique of tinting nighttime scenes. There's a calm professionalism to the whole thing, a nice pacing that smacks of his later cavalry series, and some wonderful little character moments, like the teary-eyed boxing lesson and the AWOL dance ("No. You idiot.")

The "Auld Lang Syne" scene is terrific. Some of the most effective sentimentality in Ford's career.

Definitely one of the best Shirley Temple films I've seen. Cesar Romero & Victor McLaglen are both great and steal every scene.

Ford and Temple. It's easy to see why she was a big star in her time: she is cute as a button and has a friendly, easy going manner and charm that is hard to resist. She also has real chemistry with McLaglen. As for Ford's work, he was the consummate professional, regardless of stars or the scale of production. It's typically well shot and made and far less tedious overall than this viewer expected, but it is a mild curiosity at best in his oeuvre.

68.000

Nicely done John Ford film, for several reasons: the documentary-like shots of the Indian people in the streets and at the train station, the obvious fascination he has with military life, dwelling on drills and wake-up calls, and using a child as his typical hero--loner, sees beyond the more temporal concerns of others, and brings people together. Not as well done as some of his later work, but an interesting intro to some of his themes.

John Ford does Shirley Temple! The macho director makes a kids movie. Well, it's got all the cuteness only little Shirley can bring, but it's given a touch of adultness with the conflicts of war. The one Temple plays off the most is big Victor McLaglen. Their bonding is of the sweet kind and from there grows the emotions in this comedy/drama. It's a Shirley picture and it's a Ford picture, and it works for both. It's simply a entertaining family movie with something for everybody.