WITH SHIRLEY TEMPLE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22592, 23 December 1938, Page 5

WITH SHIRLEY TEMPLE

Music and Laughter in “Little Miss Broadway”

Shirley Temple always turns in a fine performance—as millions of film enthusiasts will attest—but in “Little Miss Broadway,” which begins to-day at Mayfair, she is at her best.

Supporting her are the brilliant dancer, George Murphy; the irrepressible Jimmy Durante; Phyllis Brooks and Edna Mae Oliver, the popular, prim, and prudish grande dame of the films. To make this the happiest musical hit of the year, six new Bullock and Spina melodies form part of the romance, and the hit selectors can choose from “Be Optimistic,” “We Should Be Together,” “If All the World Were Paper,” "Swing Me An Old-Fashioned Song,” “How Can I Thank You,” and “Little Miss Broadway,” the title song. The story is about a little miss who lives in a vaudeville hotel with her foster family, Edward Ellis and Phyllis Brooks. When Jimmy Durante’s jazz band gets too loud in its rehearsals, the’ wealthy neighbour, Edna Mae Oliver, complains, • and threatens to close the hotel. George Murphy, her nephew, intercedes —and while he wins nothing but enmity from his prim aunt, at least he wins the favour cf fair Phyllis. Led by the astonishing, amazing, End brilliant Shirley, everything ends as it should—especially after • Shirley convinces■ an austere judge that' he should permit the actors to stage their show in the court room. George Barbier, Edward Ellis, Jane Darwell, El Brendel, Donald Meek, Patricia (Honey Chile) Wilder, and Claude Gillingway, sen., have an active part. “Little Miss Broadway,” under the personal supervision of Darryl F. Zanuck, was directed by Irving Cummings with David Hempstead as associate producer. Shirley Temple is nowadays one of Hollywood’s leading style-setters. Her new vacation wardrobe indicates what the smart young miss will wear this season. When Shirley completed "Little Miss Broadway,” she and her

mother shopped for the promised holiday. Their purchases included: a hand-embroidered bolero dress in white and navy; a dark green pleatedskirt dress with bright coloured smocking on the bodice; several noncrushable shantung linen dresses; and little calots, hats which Shirley galls “beanies,” and which she wears far back on her head.

“Flip-Flap” is the name Shirley has given her favourite dress, which is made of navy and white striped silk with each contrasting stripe printed in rows of tiny multicoloured flowers. The skirt is knife-pleated all the way round, which gives it plenty of swing, and there is a dainty guimpe of white organdie trimmed with real lace.

Franchot Tone, who has announced that he intends to leave fllms for good, will appear with Sylvia Sydney in the Group’s presentation of “Gentle People.” Luther Adler, who had the title role in Clifford Odet’s play, “Golden Boy,” will be in the cast. * * *

“These modern cowboys are no men,” said Tob Mix, “they’re mannequins.”

More than 2,000,000 dollars has been budgeted for the production of “Stanley and Livingstone,” which is beginning production at Twentieth CenturyFox studios. Tyrone Power and Loretta Young' hav>t been tentatively suggested for the leading roles. Background scenes have already been screened in Africa, when Mrs Martin Johnson assisted Otto Brower.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquired motion pictures rights to the unproduced play, “Four Cents a Word,” by John Cecil Holm, co-aUthor with George Abbott of “Three Men On a Horse.” This is a comedy of the publishing business.

Peter Holden, Radio’s boy actor from Broadway, who started work on "Little Orvie” recently, goes on to “The Great Voter,” with John Barrymore.