JUST AROUND THE CORNER

US, 1938, 70 minutes, Black and white.
Shirley Temple, Charles Farrell, Bert Lahr, Joan Davis, Bill Robinson, Franklin Pangborn.
Directed by Irving Cummings.

Just Around the Corner is a pleasant, minor Shirley Temple vehicle. It is enjoyable with the added presence of Joan Davis and Bert Lahr. Claude Gillingwater Snr, who appeared as the judge in Little Miss Broadway, gives an entertaining performance as Uncle Sam.

Once again Shirley Temple is in a boarding school, experiences poverty, makes do with a smile and a shining face, cheers up everyone, does her bit for Uncle Sam - and wins everybody over. Typical themes of the '30s.

1. The impact of Shirley Temple as a popular star in the '30s? The cute little girl? Her hope and optimism? Innocence and knowledge? The Depression themes of poverty, hard times, cheerful overcoming of problems?

2. 20th. Century Fox production values, black and white photography, hotel settings, the musical numbers?

3. Shirley Temple and the character she portrayed - the poor little rich girl, the boarding school, the disappointment of hard times, making do, her come-uppance of stuffy people? The genial winning through at the end? American patriotism?

4. Penny at school, going home, the mistake about the penthouse, Mr, Waters and his fussiness, her going down into the basement, her love for her father and accepting his difficulties? Encounters with Milton - the clash, the friendship, cutting his curls, old clothes? Friendship? With the people in the hotel and Mr. Waters fussing over her;' With Gus and with the maid? Song and dance routines? The encounter with Uncle Sam, listening to her father's talk about America and mistaking Uncle Sam? Clashes, being called to order? The newspapers, the benefit, raising money? The finale and the happy solution?

5. Uncle Sam and his wealth, sternness, with his family, with Penny, with her father and his project, with his niece, arranging that Lane be sent to Borneo? Upset about the benefit? The resolution and the happy ending?

6. Lane and his love for his daughter, hard times, in love with Lola? Explaining things to Penny? Marriage, defying the family? The job in Borneo? Explaining everything about Uncle Sam? Lola as the attractive heroine, her family, in love with Lane, prepared to go to Borneo with h-;in?

7. The people downstairs - Gus and his genial touch, song and dance routines? The maid and her comic style? Bill Robinson and his dancing skills -downstairs and in the benefit?

8. Franklin Pangborn as usual as the stuffy and fussy manager? His comeuppance - on the wrong side, falling into the pool etc.?

9. Milton and his arrogance, the French lesson, the curls, becoming a normal little boy with Penny?

10. Themes of rich and poor, enterprise and vision, Depression suffering and hopes? A film of the '30s?