The opening scene of "The Little Colonel" is set somewhere in the Deep South in the 1870s. The Civil War had been over for years, but plantation owner, Colonel Lloyd, still carried a hatred for the Yankees. When his daughter, Elizabeth, plans to marry a man from the North, Jack Sherman, Lloyd disowns her. Segue to six years later, at an Army cavalry post somewhere in the Northwest, and a special formation has been called by Colonel Gray for the commissioning of a new officer. Six-year-old Lloyd Sherman is commissioned a colonel in the U. S. Army. She is the daughter of Jack and Elizabeth Sherman, and has endeared herself to the whole post.
So sets the stage for this movie that stars six-year-old Shirley Temple as Lloyd Sherman - that is, Colonel Lloyd Sherman. Lionel Barrymore plays her grandfather, Col. Lloyd, Evelyn Venable plays Elizabeth and John Lodge plays Jack Sherman. But the best of the supporting cast in this film - after Barrymore, are the black servants who have stayed on the Lloyd's plantation after the Civil War abolished slavery. Bill Robinson plays the colonel's butler, Walker, and Hattie McDaniel plays the cook, Mom Beck. They share of the singing and dancing with young Shirley that add the musical aspects to the comedy drama and family film.
Robinson's staircase dance routine is memorable, and one has to note that he was "no spring chicken" when this movie was made. Robinson was the same age as Barrymore, 57, with both actors having been borne in 1878. Barrymore had to don the white hair and beard to look older, and Robinson may have had some sprinkling of powder for the light touch of white in his hair. Robinson went by the nickname, Bojangles, and was one of the best tap dancers in the world. He started young and performed in vaudeville, on stage and in the movies. And, Hattie McDaniel would become the first African-American to win an Academy Award, in 1940. She won the best supporting actress for her role as Mammy, in the great 1939 production of "Gone With the Wind."
The plot for this film is a good story in which the young Colonel Lloyd Sherman resolves all the problems and disagreements and it ends happily for everyone - well, except for a couple of bad guys who, we assume get what's coming to 'em.
I enjoyed watching this film again - these many, many years after seeing it on late night TV in the 1950s-60s. And, this time in color. Here are a couple of favorite lines from the film.
Dr. Scott, "Marriage is a wonderful institution." Colonel Lloyd, "Yes, us, no family should be without it."
May Lily, "You can't be no colonel." Lloyd Sherman, "Why not?" May Lily, "Because you ain't got no whiskers." Lloyd Sherman, "I don't need to have whiskers. I've got a temper. That's all you need to be a colonel."
