Light Comedy for Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple's movie career was past its peak when she appeared in this movie. She was twelve years old and as perky as ever, but her popularity was waning for a variety of reasons.

Shirley plays Wendy Ballantine, an orphan in the care of Joe Ballantine (Jack Oakie, who had more than 100 movie and television appearances) and Kit Ballantine (Charlotte Greenwood, who some may remember in "Oklahoma!"). Joe and Kit raise Wendy as though she was their own daughter. This film uses clips of Shirley from her earlier movies to show her at various ages. The gimmick generally works.

Joe, Kit and Wendy are a popular vaudeville act, but being in show business puts them on the road and in hotels constantly. Kit and Joe decide that it would be better for Wendy to settle down. The trio settles on a farm purchased by Wendy's late father.

Unfortunately, the small town near the farm is full of ultra-conservative people who have a dislike and distrust of anything new. By new, I mean anything that has existed for less than 50 years. Some of the townspeople do everything possible to drive the Ballantines out of town. The last straw seems to be when Wendy organizes her classmates into a rousing vaudeville style show, which somehow upsets the ultra-conservative sensibilities of the townspeople.

After the continuously offensive treatment by the townspeople, the Ballantines decide to leave town and go back to show business. On their way to the train station their car gets stuck in the mud, caused by a powerful storm. The Ballantines head for shelter and encounter a group of children stranded by the storm. The Ballantines shepherd the children to a nearby house, but one of the children is missing!

Will the missing child be found? Will everyone survive the terrible storm? Will the Ballantines miss their train? The answer to these and other questions await the viewer!

This movie misses the magic of Shirley's earlier movies. Shirley does a fine job, as do the other members of the cast, but the script and the plot are less than inspired. I did like the movie even though the ending was highly predictable and I recommend the movie to fans of Shirley and Jack Oakie. If you want to see Shirley at her prime I recommend most of the movies she made from 1934 to 1939 as a better starting point. Watch this movie only after you have seen a number of her other movies.

Good Luck!

A sweet movie, you can watch with your kids
My six year old daughter and I watched this film together and enjoyed it very much. Shirley Temple as always, gave it her best, as well as the other actors. The story is touching and teaches children about the importance of being open to change. It teaches about caring for your fellow man, and being a good citizen. I would recommend this for parents and young children to watch together.

A Poignant Fox Farewell for Shirley Temple
"Young People" was Shirley Temple's final film under contract at Twentieth-Century Fox. Although she would go on to make some excellent movies as a teenager and young adult, "Young People" effectively marked the end of her reign as a child star.

In this picture Temple plays Wendy Ballentine, the adopted daughter of two vaudeville stars (Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood). She literally grows up onstage (just as Temple grew up before film audiences in the 1930s), stealing scenes from her parents and becoming an integral part of the act.

However, the Ballentines yearn for a more stable and "normal" existence, and, thus, retire from show business to take up residence in a hamlet in the countryside. It isn't an easy transition: the townsfolk seem to have a poor opinion of "show people" and shun the Ballentine family. Wendy also has trouble adjusting to life offstage: she reads "Variety" at home, teaches her entire class to do splashy musical theatre numbers and tap dances around her living room.

Of course, all ends well. On their way out of town (returning to the warm world of vaudeville), Wendy and her parents rescue a local child in a storm. The Ballentines save the day, the town is grateful, and the residents finally learn to peacefully coexist with their colorful neighbors.

Temple's Fox swan song was not her strongest picture story-wise, but it did inadvertently give her the chance to say farewell. One of the most touching scenes in the film is the Ballentine's last performance at the theatre, where, after giving a show-stopping tap number, Wendy addresses the audience and thanks them for their support over the years.

Oakie and Greenwood, as the senior Ballentines, gave wonderful performances. They actually were ex-vaudevillians, and were given some great opportunities to show off their numerous talents. Temple, of course, was also top-notch in her dance and acting.

This picture touches the hear of all who see it.
Shirley's ability to cry on quiew always facinated me. I think it's a great picture. Great Dance routine. I now own 27 of her movies & understand she made about 56. I'd like to get them all.