Jeunesse

This is Shirley Temple's last film under her very successful Twentieth Century-Fox contract. And, sadly, it's NOT among her better films. Part of it is that Shirley now was 12--and no longer the adorable 7 year-old. Most of it, however, was the script--which was rather weak.

The film begins with two show people (Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood) being given a baby. It seems their friend has died and he wanted them to raise the kid. Years pass and the child grows into an adorable show-stopping kid herself (Shirley Temple). During this montage sequence, you see several cute clips of a younger Shirley in previous films. After years of working hard on the road, the family has decided to call it quits and settle down on a farm left to Shirley by her biological parents. However, Oakie and Greenwood REALLY come on very, very strong in this VERY conservative neighborhood. Now these townsfolk are obnoxious old drips---but I also thought that if this family came storming into town like this family did, I might hate them, too. This is a seriously weak part of the film as you were supposed to love Shirley's family and dislike the townsfolk--but I really didn't like any of them. Eventually, however, the family is able to convince everyone how wonderful they are and the film ends--a contrived and weak ending if I've ever seen one. Overall, this film is a time-passer at best. It's not bad but neither is it very good.

It looks as if Fox wasn't prepared to spend anything but a B-picture budget on Shirley's last film for the studio. Even the colorized version that popped up several years ago fails to give the picture an A-picture look that it deserved. All the trappings are on a downscale that makes the film little more than a programmer.

Shirley herself is still a talented girl--still the cheerful disposition, dimples and dancing feet--but while her talent is obviously a modest one, it's Charlotte Greenwood and Jack Oakie that are the real pros. Occasionally Shirley meets their standards and this gives the film the lift it needs. But all too often, it's apparent that the charm she had as a tot isn't enough to maintain her pre-teen appeal.

The story is a simple one about a vaudeville couple who adopt a baby girl and then want to retire to the country so she can have a normal life when she's growing up. The conflict comes when the townspeople refuse to accept the showbiz family in their community. Finally, with the help of George Montgomery and Arleen Whelan, the family overcomes all obstacles. A fierce storm sequence toward the end is extremely well done but fails to save the picture from being anything more than an ordinary yarn.

Clever use of Shirley's earlier film footage as a tot is inserted for the "babe on the road" inserts. It's a pleasant enough show but more funding by Fox would have elevated it to A-status.

This movie has touched me with it's warmth and charm from the time I saw it as a teenager. I feel in love with Charlotte Greenwood and have been a fan of hers ever since. Her delivery was only matched by Eve Arden and what a pity we never had the two of them together. What a delight to see elegant Miss Greenwood cut loose and let her dancing legs fly. There has been none like her. For fans of Shirley Temple this was an opportunity to see her as she was about to enter the teen years. Too bad her last film at Fox was not a big success. "Young People" had some great old clips of Shirley in her earlier film roles and made for a proper tribute to her talent and poise as a young lady. Miss Greenwood and Jack Oakie play off of Shirley with perfection and make for the perfect vaudeville family trying to find a new life and real home.

I like this movie "Young People" but I haven't been able to find it. I pretty much have all Shirley Temple's movies but I can't find this in Video Stores. Will they be getting in more stock on this movie? Every time I go to a video store they say its not on stock or they never heard of it. Can it only be ordered on line or will I be able to get it at a video store? I told my grandchildren about this movie and how they helped people even if they were made fun of. Its a very entertaining movie. I know I can get my grandchildren to sit down and watch this movie. I also enjoy watching Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood. These are good family movies that I've enjoyed and would like my grandchildren to see. Please let me know how I can get this movie. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks, Veronica

Shirley Temple's last film on her 20th Century Fox contract was a good one. Young People is the story of Shirley and her adoptive parents Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood, a pair of vaudevillians who have decided to settle down on a Vermont farm that Shirley's real father left her to give her a home and some stability. They figure she ought to have some at the ripe old age of twelve after a life of born in a trunk.

Oakie and Greenwood are the Ballantines and they have some nice chemistry between them. They should have been teamed more often.

Sad to say what they get is a bunch of hidebound New Englanders who don't take lightly to strangers telling them what's wrong with their way of living. Especially from a brash show business type and they don't come more brash than Jack Oakie. But in her usual fashion Shirley brings them together. As the Good Book says, 'and a little child will lead them'. Even though the little child is starting to show signs of puberty. No doubt why Darryl Zanuck did not renew her contract.

Shirley Temple left 20th Century Fox on a good note.