Movie Reviews: “The Oklahoma Kid,” “The Little Princess (3/11/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 3/11/39 | Frank S. Nugent, B.R.C.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

If you would like to be added to or deleted from the Real Time +/- 70 Years ping list, send me a freepmail. You can also search for these articles by the keyword realtime, going back to the first one on January 27, 2008. These articles are posted on the 70th anniversary of their original publication date.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

This is the first I heard about a Cagney-Bogart western.

Shirley Temple was ten years old when The Little Princess was filmed. Sort of mid-career for her. Technicolor must have been catching on in '39. Now I know there were at least three movies in color - this one, Wizard of Oz, and GWTW.

[massgopguy]

“My Sarah wouldn’t cry. She’s a good soldier”.

[dfwgator]

I thought this was the "Oklahoma Kid."

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Wow, Frank Nugent really pans the Princess. I think it an adorable film with Shirley really talented.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Wow, Frank Nugent really pans the Princess.

I don't know about that. I would call it a qualified panning at worst.

With any other child on earth, it is amazing to reflect, "The Little Princess" would stand out as one of the most glaring exhibits of pure hokum in screen history; with Mistress Temple, it may very well be, as Mr. Zanuck unflinchingly proclaims, the greatest picture with which Mr. Zanuck has ever been associated. And that would be greatness indeed.

[Ciexyz]

"The Little Princess" was one of my favorite films when I was a kid. They showed it on TV all the time. Richard Greene was my hero. Cesar Romero, who plays Ram Das the child's Indian mentor, popped up in a first season episode of "Alias Smith and Jones" (1971) which I just saw on my DVD.

[PAR35]

Technicolor must have been catching on in '39. Now I know there were at least three movies in color - this one, Wizard of Oz, and GWTW.

Didn't Technicolor start in 1939? In any event, add The Mikado to the list, and put an asterisk by Wizard of Oz - as I recall, only a small part was in color, the bulk in b&w.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

put an asterisk by Wizard of Oz - as I recall, only a small part was in color, the bulk in b&w.

I remember it being the other way around - Kansas is B&W, Oz is colorful.

[PAR35]

Yes. Now that I think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever forced myself to ever sit through the whole thing. So perhaps it’s only that the majority of what I’ve seen was B&W.