When hearing the name Shirley Temple,the first thing that always comes to mind is the countless cartoon spoofs of Temple on the Good Ship Lollypop. Taking a look at BBC iPlayer listings,I was intrigued to find a "grown up" Temple title in the listings that has not reached DVD in the UK,which led to me travelling to Baltimore.
The plot-
Baltimore 1905:
Expelled from Art School,Dinah Sheldon is sent back to Baltimore to be looked after by her mum and Episcopalian pastor dad. Taking an interest in the suffragette movement,Dinah begins wanting to continue her art,which will lead to Dinah painting a work that catches the old-fashion city by surprise,and starts Dinah off on an adventure in Baltimore.
View on the film:
Although her "grown up" credits do get looked down on,Shirley Temple actually gives a very good performance as Dinah Sheldon,thanks to Temple using her "innocent" image to give Dinah a thoughtful feisty side that breaks down barriers the town/audience try to put on Temple/Dinah. Trying to make sense of Dinah's "changes", Robert Young gives a charming performance as Dinah's dad that rings with care.
Stepping on all of the heels of the town folk,the screenplay by Lionel Houser/ Lesser Samuels & Christopher Isherwood paints them as (largely) well-meaning people who hold their "traditions" a bit too close,which leads to great battle cry scenes of the suffragettes shaking the foundations of the city. Although the film sadly made a loss of $875,000,director Richard Wallace & cinematographer Robert De Grasse sweep up the dusty roads with an elegant floral appearance,which gives a fitting lady-like backdrop to Dinah backdrop-breaking adventure in Baltimore.
The plot-
Baltimore 1905:
Expelled from Art School,Dinah Sheldon is sent back to Baltimore to be looked after by her mum and Episcopalian pastor dad. Taking an interest in the suffragette movement,Dinah begins wanting to continue her art,which will lead to Dinah painting a work that catches the old-fashion city by surprise,and starts Dinah off on an adventure in Baltimore.
View on the film:
Although her "grown up" credits do get looked down on,Shirley Temple actually gives a very good performance as Dinah Sheldon,thanks to Temple using her "innocent" image to give Dinah a thoughtful feisty side that breaks down barriers the town/audience try to put on Temple/Dinah. Trying to make sense of Dinah's "changes", Robert Young gives a charming performance as Dinah's dad that rings with care.
Stepping on all of the heels of the town folk,the screenplay by Lionel Houser/ Lesser Samuels & Christopher Isherwood paints them as (largely) well-meaning people who hold their "traditions" a bit too close,which leads to great battle cry scenes of the suffragettes shaking the foundations of the city. Although the film sadly made a loss of $875,000,director Richard Wallace & cinematographer Robert De Grasse sweep up the dusty roads with an elegant floral appearance,which gives a fitting lady-like backdrop to Dinah backdrop-breaking adventure in Baltimore.