1938's "Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm" is our next film. It features Shirley Temple as the title character as she sings and dances her way into the hearts of the nation as Little Miss America.
The film's cast includes Shirley Temple, Randolph Scott, Jack Haley, Gloria Stuart, Phyllis Brooks, Helen Westley, Slim Summerville, Bill Robinson, William Demarest, Paul Harvey, Franklin Pangborn, and J. Edward Blomberg.
Rebecca Winstead is raised by her stepfather, "Uncle Harry". With no way to earn money, Harry turns to Rebecca to bring home the bacon. He signs her up for a radio program that might make her "Little Miss America". He tells her that this is what they've got to do, because they're landlady locked them out. "Uncle Harry, why are landladies always doing that to us?" asks Rebecca.
She does sensational when she sings on the radio. The radio executives want her, but through a mishap, Rebecca gets away without signing any contract.
Not wanting to be burdened by her anymore, Harry takes Rebecca to her mother's family, where she is taken in by her aunt Miranda.
Also living with Miranda is Rebecca's pretty cousin, Gwen. The two become fast friends.
Miranda vows to give Rebecca a wholesome country atmosphere and family life. Rebecca is thrilled. When Miranda tells her to run along and see what she can learn about farming, Rebecca says she's going to go and introduce herself to the chickens.
As she explores the farm, Rebecca comes upon a little piglet stuck in a gate. She helps him out and tries to send him back to his mother for breakfast. But he makes a break for it and runs onto the neighbor's property.
Little does she know that the neighbor is none other than Anthony Kent, the radio executive who has been looking for her since she disappeared from the radio studio. He's also very happy to meet Rebecca's cousin, Gwen.
Rebecca shows off her singing and dancing skills right away. She dances with Kent's hired man, Aloysius. The two of them dance and sing to the song "An Old Straw Hat".
When he tries to get Miranda's permission for Rebecca to be "Little Miss America" and appear on the radio, Miranda refuses, saying she doesn't want Rebecca to have anything to do with show people. Naturally, they are extremely disappointed.
So, the only thing to do is let Rebecca go on the radio behind Miranda's back. She sneaks out of the house and runs next door to do the show. The country begins to fall in love with the little girl who sings "Come And Get Your Happiness".
To finish the show, Rebecca sits at the piano and proceeds to sing a medley of "greatest hits", which include "On The Good Ship Lollipop", "Animal Crackers In My Soup", "When I'm With You", "Oh, My Goodness", and "Goodnight My Love".
After the show, Miranda barges in and announces that she's been listening and knows what they're all up to. But they are all pleasantly surprised when Miranda says how much she enjoyed the program and is willing to let Rebecca continue.
During the course of the evening, Anthony lets Gwen know how much he likes her.
It turns out that Miranda wasn't the only one who heard Rebecca. "Uncle Harry" heard her as well, and he wants custody. He shows up with his new wife and a lawyer and demands Rebecca be returned to him. He realizes what a star and money maker she could be. Sadly, Rebecca has no choice but to go with him.
Gwen runs next door and asks Anthony for his help. He's on his way into town anyway, and he's only too glad to do what he can.
Harry has Rebecca all signed up for a rival radio program, "Little Miss Universe". When it's her turn to go on, she gets a case of laryngitis and can't sing. (We later learn that this was deliberate.)
Anthony turns up and talks with Harry. He tells him he will give him $5,000 if he will turn over guardianship of Rebecca to Miranda so she can be with the people who love her most. Harry is only too glad to get his hands on that much cash.
And Rebecca is very glad to be back with the people she's come to know and love more than anything.
The bonus is that she still gets to perform as "Little Miss America". She sings and dances to "The Toy Trumpet" with Aloysius as her delighted family watches.
Bill Robinson....................................Aloysius
William Demarest.............................Harry Kipper
Paul Harvey.....................................Cyrus Bartlett
Franklin Pangborn.............................Hamilton Montmarcy
J. Edward Bromberg..........................Dr. Hill
And that's it for Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm. The title of the film was taken from a book with the same name. Aside from a girl named Rebecca coming to live with her Aunt Miranda, there are no similarities with the storyline. Shirley Temple's pig-tailed hairdo which she sports after she moves to the farm made headline news at the time the film was released.
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