By Ian Kane
NR | 1h 33m | Drama, Family, Musical | 1939
By 1939, Shirley Temple was practically Hollywood’s mascot; the one 9-year-old who could outshine entire studio backlots. “The Little Princess” arrived right as her fame was beginning to cool, but if Technicolor was the studio’s way of adding sparkle, it worked.
Seeing those famous curls bounce in full color was an event in itself; her presence made audiences lean forward in their seats as though movies had just been invented.
Loosely drawn from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1905 novel “A Little Princess,” the story sets Temple against the backdrop of the Boer War, though don’t expect much commentary on empire or conflict. This is escapism polished to a shine.
The film presents the kind of fairy-tale England where a child’s pluck seems more pressing than battle lines. The war murmurs faintly in the distance, but Temple’s radiant grin provides the real rhythm. This is fitting, given that audiences of the Great Depression and on the cusp of World War II sought more comfort than commentary.
Sara (Shirley Temple) and her father, Captain Reginald Crewe (Ian Hunter), in “The Little Princess.” GJW+
For fans, this is Temple at her most quintessential. She speaks precocious lines delivered like commandments, sings songs slipped in as if life naturally works that way, and has adventures that somehow teeter on danger without ever tipping into it.
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For skeptics, yes, her mannerisms can grate, but for anyone else, the charm here is undeniable. It’s sugar-coated, certainly, but that’s the whole point. This is a Technicolor confection served to audiences who wanted reassurance more than realism.
Boarding School Blues
Temple slips into the role of Sara Crewe, a little girl who treats the world as her kingdom and her father, Capt. Reginald Crewe (Ian Hunter), as her loyal knight. Unfortunately, his duty calls him off to the Second Boer War, leaving Sara parked at Miss Minchin’s School for Girls, a prim and proper finishing school with about as much warmth as a London fog.
Miss Minchin (Mary Nash) greets father and daughter with a stiff smile, the kind usually reserved for debt collectors, until she realizes just how deep the captain’s pockets go. Suddenly, Sara transforms from nuisance to prized pupil.
Sara Crewe (Shirley Temple) and friend Becky (Sybil Jason), in “The Little Princess.” GJW+
Sara, of course, wastes no time in becoming the schoolyard monarch. The other girls crown her “princess” before she’s even unpacked, not because she’s kind or wise, but because she radiates that golden glow of privilege. The film doesn’t overdo class politics, but there are glimpses of it in the way children fawn over her expensive frocks and fancy toys. For audiences worn thin by the Depression, it was pure fantasy; who wouldn’t want to live like a princess, even for 90 minutes?
Yet Temple’s Sara isn’t just silk ribbons and sugar. She’s sharp-tongued, stubborn, and oddly fearless for a child who looks like she stepped straight out of a dollhouse. When threatened, she stares down authority like she’s got a secret army waiting outside. These flashes of pluck give the film its best moments. It’s not the sweetness, but the spark of a girl who refuses to bow even when the world (or a headmistress) tries to knock her down.
Sara Crewe (Shirley Temple) and Rose (Anita Louise), in “The Little Princess.” GJW+
Sweet but Sticky
Watching “The Little Princess” today feels less like uncovering a lost cinema treasure and more like dusting off a favorite old keepsake. It’s charming, but not exactly essential. The Technicolor sheen is fun, although Temple’s black-and-white outings are warmer and more in step with her brand of fairy-tale escapism.
There’s undeniable charm here: Cesar Romero brings surprising heart as Sara’s neighborly guardian angel Ram Dass, and Mary Nash leans into her role as the icy headmistress with relish, making her a villain you can’t help but enjoy disliking.
Of course, Temple herself is the glue, if only she could tone down the over-enunciated sweetness. She still knows how to steal a scene, whether she’s defying a tyrant, twirling in an elaborate gown, or belting out a too-brief tune. The musical numbers may be fleeting, the story predictable, and the “princess” metaphor about as subtle as a tiara, but the film moves along briskly enough to keep viewers entertained.
“The Little Princess” isn’t her best, but it earns its place in the Shirley Temple canon. It’s a sugary, slightly wobbly Technicolor confection that delivers exactly what fans of the star came to see. Think of it like a brightly iced cake: not the most refined, but sweet enough to finish with a smile.
“The Little Princess” is available on GJW+
‘The Little Princess’ Directors: Walter Lang, William A. Seiter Starring: Shirley Temple, Richard Greene, Anita Louise Not Rated Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes Release Date: March 17, 1939 Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
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