The Poor Little Rich Girl

&nbsp The Poor Little Rich Girl is a 1936 American musical film directed by Irving Cummings. The screenplay by Sam Hellman, Gladys Lehman, and Harry Tugend was based on stories by Eleanor Gates and Ralph Spence, and on the 1917 Mary Pickford vehicle of the same name. The film focuses on a child (Temple) neglected by her rich and busy father who meets two vaudeville performers and becomes a radio singing star. The film received a lukewarm critical reception from The New York Times, and, in 2009, was available on videocassette.

Plot:
Barbara Barry is the young daughter of wealthy Richard Barry, a recently widowed soap manufacturer. An accident separates Barbara from her father and the girl masquerades as an orphan. She attracts the notice of two vaudeville performers, Jimmy Dolan and his wife Jerry, who put her in their radio act, posing as their daughter. With the help of advertising executive Margaret Allen, the trio become an overnight success. Barry hears his daughter on the radio and the two are reunited. Subplots involve a romance between Barry and Allen, and a crook trying to kidnap Barbara.

Production:
The film’s tacked-on musical number, “Military Man”, was a little fast and intricate for Temple. Without telling Mrs. Temple, the studio called back Haley and Faye to repeat the number with Temple‘s taps dubbed in. At the preview, Mrs. Temple boasted of her daughter’s clear taps, and scorned those who said the girl couldn’t do it (Windeler 171).

While Mrs. Temple was being interviewed on the set, Shirley strolled over and asked the reporter, "Why don't you talk to me? I'm the star." (Edwards 95).

Cast:

Shirley Temple

Jack Haley

Alice Faye

Michael Whalen

Claude Gillingwater

Gloria Stuart

Jane Darwell

Sara Haden

Length: 72 minutes

Director: Irving Cummings

Producer: Darryl F. Zanuck

Writer: Sam Hellman and Harry Tugend

Editor: Jack Murray

Cinematographer: John F. Seitz

Music: Harry Revel and Mack Gordon

Release Date: July 24, 1936

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Country: United States