This movie wasn't very long, but it told a good story in its short time. The year 1936 was quite a busy one for Shirley Temple, as she made "The Little Colonel", "The Littlest Rebel", and maybe some others besides this one, quite a big feat for such a small girl. But Shirley was no ordinary little girl, and that's quite an understatement!
She's her outstanding self, as she plays an orphan named Star, or at least that's the name Captain January gave her, when he rescued her at sea, from a shipwreck that killed her parents. He unofficially adopts her (after a halfhearted attempt to find relatives), and they live in the lighthouse that he operates. The townspeople adore her, including Captain Nazro (Slim Summerville), a good friend of Capt. January's, sailor Paul Roberts (Buddy Ebsen) and his schoolteacher girlfriend, Mary (June Lang). Shirley and Buddy make quite a duo when they dance and sing "At the Codfish Ball"!
The idyllic picture is marred by the autocratic new truant officer (Sara Haden), determined to get Star into school, skeptical of Capt. January's claims that he's been teaching her himself. She also doesn't believe he's a fit parent (after seeing some of the sailors teaching Star how to spit in the wind) and thinks steps should be taken to get Star away from what she considers a bad environment. (She's in for a surprise when Star takes the test for admittance to the third grade.)
To make matters worse, the lighthouse is being automated, and January's services will no longer be necessary, meaning he'll have no way of supporting Star. Believing it's for the best, Capt. Nazro finds the address for Star's aunt and uncle in Boston (who never answered the one letter Capt. January's sent) and writes to them about Star.
It's a cute story, but also very emotional and I won't give anymore away, except to say that if you like happy endings, you won't be disappointed.
She's her outstanding self, as she plays an orphan named Star, or at least that's the name Captain January gave her, when he rescued her at sea, from a shipwreck that killed her parents. He unofficially adopts her (after a halfhearted attempt to find relatives), and they live in the lighthouse that he operates. The townspeople adore her, including Captain Nazro (Slim Summerville), a good friend of Capt. January's, sailor Paul Roberts (Buddy Ebsen) and his schoolteacher girlfriend, Mary (June Lang). Shirley and Buddy make quite a duo when they dance and sing "At the Codfish Ball"!
The idyllic picture is marred by the autocratic new truant officer (Sara Haden), determined to get Star into school, skeptical of Capt. January's claims that he's been teaching her himself. She also doesn't believe he's a fit parent (after seeing some of the sailors teaching Star how to spit in the wind) and thinks steps should be taken to get Star away from what she considers a bad environment. (She's in for a surprise when Star takes the test for admittance to the third grade.)
To make matters worse, the lighthouse is being automated, and January's services will no longer be necessary, meaning he'll have no way of supporting Star. Believing it's for the best, Capt. Nazro finds the address for Star's aunt and uncle in Boston (who never answered the one letter Capt. January's sent) and writes to them about Star.
It's a cute story, but also very emotional and I won't give anymore away, except to say that if you like happy endings, you won't be disappointed.