murraygewirtz (21 May 2012)

Dimples is a primer on stereotyping of Blacks

Parents should not allow their small children to watch Dimples any morethan they should allow them to watch excessively violent, sexuallyexplicit or profane movies, as they would be exposed to egregiousstereotypes of Black people. The movie should be viewed by students offilm, sociology and American history so they might have a betterunderstanding of the negative, demeaning attitudes toward Blacks soprevalent in the U.S. until relatively recently, traces of which stillexist. The picture has Stepin Fetchit playing a servant to Frank Morganas if he has an IQ of 10. It has a "play-within-a play" performance ofscenes from Uncle Tom's Cabin featuring Whites in ludicrous black-facecomplete with white sugar donut lips. It's ironic that the novel UncleTom's Cabin was intended as an abolitionist work, and indeed did arousesympathy for Blacks, (so much so that President Lincoln called itsauthor, Harriet Beecher Stowe, "The little lady who started the CivilWar") while this movie, in which Uncle Tom's Cabin plays a prominentpart, is, by enlightened standards, crudely racist.If you can overlook the above racism, and I I'd like to know who can,Shirley Temple is adorable as usual, dancing wonderfully, though hersinging voice, albeit cute, leaves something to be desired, as always.Frank Morgan gives an admirable performance as a charming con manthief.But, all in all, Dimples is a children's movie that is no longer, if itever was, suitable for children. If you doubt this, Just picture theObamas screening it for their daughters.

mark.waltz (20 May 2012)

Likable film with some great character performers!

Can you imagine Shirley Temple as one of the Bowery Boys? Well, here in1852, she plays a ragamuffin street entertainer being raised by apickpocket grandfather (lovable Frank Morgan). Dimples gets theattention of an aging society matron (equally lovable Helen Westley)who, for some reason, has a hatred of the theater and everything thatit stands for. Her nephew (Robert Kent) wants to put on a Broadwayproduction of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and use Dimples for the role ofLittle Eva. Desperate for money after being cheated into buying a fakewatch for $800 of the show's money, Morgan agrees to let Westley takeTemple in for $5000.00. Eventually, he sells HER the fake watch for$1000 and stays on with her to be with Shirley. The show goes on butwhen Westley finds out that the watch was fake, she tries to haveMorgan arrested. But then she sees Temple on stage dying as Little Evaand has to face both her hatred towards the theater and her decision toimprison Temple's grandfather.It's a predictable story with a few musical moments, including aminstrel show at the end that might raise a few eyebrows. But that waslife in Hollywood in the 30's, and producers didn't think about whothey might offend then, let alone the future. Add Stepin Fetchit asWestley's servant, and you have double the offense for some audiences.Minus this socially unaware concept fortunately gone (but available tobe seen to show how wrong it was), "Dimples" is a cute little film thatwas made during Temple's heyday as Box Office gold. She's always been alittle too cutesy pie for my tastes, but I can understand how latedepression audiences could take her into their hearts as a sign of hopefor the future. I much prefer the talents of the veterans here, FrankMorgan and Helen Westley, who manage to avoid being backgroundfurniture when sharing scenes with her. They are adorable. Here, theyare the type of grandparents many audiences could relate to or desirefor their own. Morgan, rascally yet undeniably charming, and Westley,somewhat cranky, but oh, that heart of gold, are well paired here. Bothhad very long careers in films, and Westley seems to have beenoverlooked as a major character player. She could play gruff characterslike Parthy in 1936's "Show Boat" or be lovable like the blindgrandmother opposite Temple in "Heidi". Try not to fall in love withher here or in the 1937 Loretta Young screwball comedy "CafeMetropole". She's also wonderful in the 1934 version of "Anne of GreenGables".While not outstanding, "Dimples" is still quite likable in spite of itsshortcomings. Overlook the bad taste of black-face and stereotypes anda cute little film emerges.

(20 May 2012)

interesting racial angles

People are often made uncomfortable by elements that reveal racialattitudesin old movies, but those elements can make the movie fascinating."Dimples",which is set in the 1850s before the Civil War, often makes explicitreferences to slavery and also reveals 1930s stereotypes. (Also, themoviekeeps referring to "the depression," drawing parallels to the '30s.)The opening legend calls attention, with deliberate irony, to the factthatsome young radicals are questioning "that respectable institution ofslavery". Then we see Shirley dancing with black and white streetorphans,implying that they are equal in their economic straits. Stepin Fetchithasan important but unbilled role as Frank Morgan's servant (who isn't aslave,but isn't getting paid either). Black servants are shown everywhere,especially at Mrs. Drew's house.Two plot points are important. The central question is whether Mrs. Drewwill "buy" Shirley for $5000, and the characters go back and forth onthisquestion. On the night of the debut of the "Uncle Tom's Cabin" play, Mrs.Drew arrests Frank Morgan (in disguise as Uncle Tom). Then while watchingShirley's death scene in the play, where she begs for Uncle Tom to befree,Mrs. Drew "frees Uncle Tom" (letting Morgan go). Shirley converts Mrs.Drew's impulse to "enslave" people.We see (with historical accuracy) that the play uses white actors inblackface--but in a curious twist, the play closes with a "newentertainmentfrom the South," a minstrel show with the actual black performers(includingFetchit) pretending to be white actors in blackface. These elements makesome viewers uncomfortable, but if you can watch critically, it revealshowthe movie was attempting at some level to recognize and deal withunpleasantrealities of U.S. history and address freedom, equality, and integrationindisguise as entertainment. The Hall Johnson Choir appear, and Bill"Bojangles" Robinson choreographed the dances.

talking_tree (19 May 2012)

slow, rarely interesting

I usually really like watching the old and charming Shirley Temples. Butthis one, Dimples, just simply isn´t a very good movie. Some fairly goodactors are in it but all together it´s very tiring and unrealistic littlefilm. Shirley´s charisma just doesn´t hit it this time. And when itdoesn´thit, the only thing that shows is her acting which is not anythingspecial.The only quite good thing is the songs and dance rutines but other wise:boring. Also it just shines out how bad possition black actors had inHollywood on the 30s.This is not Shirley´s best, watch Curly top or The Little Princessinstead.

Angie Maniaci (12 May 2012)

What a charming musical!

What a charming musical! Shirley Temple is absolutely adorable. I lovewhen she sings "Get on Board" as Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Her characterisdressed in white. I love plenty of song and dance. It does not make metired at all. What it does, is make me so very happy. The title alone,Dimples, is very charming. Shirley Temple herself as a child has had whatthe title says. That was for quite a long time. I have been very glad ofthat. It is a very old movie, but then again I like old ones. Whateverageyou are, it is a must that you like good movies. This especially holdstruefor most of Temple's films. They are absolutely irresistible. Maybesomeday I'll put on a song-and-dance myself. Who knows? The number "MissDixie-Anna" at the end makes it a great movie. Would I dare to sayanythingelse about the ending? I really don't know for sure. No one wants to knowthat in advance. They want to see for themselves, thank you. Please leteveryone enjoy this really good vehicle of Little Miss Temple.

Dennis Schwartz (11 May 2012)

Shirley wows us with her cuteness.