SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

disinterested_spectator Priscilla arrives with her mother at a British post in India where her grandfather is the commanding officer. On the same day, the Khoda Khan, the leader of the Muslims with whom the British are at war, is captured. A spy in the compound facilitates his escape. Later, the spy brings Priscilla to the hideout, which is impregnable against the British army owing to the narrow pass that must be crossed to reach it. The Khoda Khan is ecstatic. He realizes that the colonel will bring the entire regiment to try to rescue his granddaughter, and the British soldiers will be slaughtered to a man. It is the chance he has been waiting for.So he has two of his men throw the spy over a cliff.I guess the idea is that they did not need him anymore, and besides, his personality was a little irritating. This begs the question as to why anyone would be loyal to such a leader (it would certainly occur to me that one day I might get old and not be of much use anymore, and then the Khoda Khan would have me thrown over a cliff). Of course, the real point is to show that these people are cruel and ruthless, and therefore deserve to be ruled by the British, which in the end they are.

Amy Adler Priscilla Williams (Shirley Temple) and her mother go to British-controlled India to reside with Colonel Williams, Priscilla's grandfather. Mother has been left a widow upon the death of her husband and this is the only option. Mrs. Williams doesn't really like the change, but wee Priscilla is enchanted by her new environment. This, in spite of the fact that the Colonel has no idea how to deal with little girls and comes off quite gruff. As can be predicted, she soon melts his heart. In addition, since the grandpapa only knows military life, Priscilla aspires to be a "little soldier". Thus, a tiny replica of the army's uniform is made for her, with the helmet-hat that everyone wears to prevent sun stroke. She is coached in military ways by Sergeant MacDuff (Victor MacLachlan) who also adores the tiny gal. It is he who gives her the name Wee Willie Winkie, since soldiers are rarely called Priscilla. One day, at the market, she sees that a religious token has been dropped outside a window and, picking it up, she gives it back to the owner through iron bars. Yes, he, Kodha Khan (Cesar Romero) is a prisoner. He is so grateful to her and strikes up a friendship. But, alas, he also has plans for a prison break out. A friend uses Winkie to deliver a letter that will "bring peace" to the Khan's heart. If you guessed it writes of "spring me plans", you are correct. Tensions, you see, are high between these Muslim Indians and the British. The breakout takes place. Meanwhile, something happens to MacDuff that changes everything. Soon, Winkie is on her way to make peace with Khan and save the regiment from disaster. Can a small child diffuse a dangerous situation? You bet, when its our Shirley! I count myself, easily, as a gigantic Shirley fan from childhood on and this one was, and remains, a favorite. The story, based on a Kipling work, is unique and beautiful, promoting peace at every turn. Also, the India setting has great charms for those who will never visit the country while the cast is terrific. MacLachlan's performance is so touching, tears will fall from everyone at a critical moment while Romero does nice work, too. The supporting cast is fine as well but, as always, Temple puts on a show well beyond her tender years. Are you just discovering the movies of one of America's treasured child stars? Don't miss this one!

lugonian WEE WILLIE WINKIE (20th Century-Fox, 1937), directed by Academy Award winning John Ford, stars Shirley Temple in possibly her most prestigious film of her career. Capitalizing on the current trend of military themes as THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER (Paramount, 1935), THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (Warners, 1936), and later the most popular, Rudyard Kipling's GUNGA DIN (RKO, 1939), WEE WILLIE WINKIE, also authored by Kipling, fits well into this category. In spite of Temple's presence, high production values, fine support of Academy Award winning actor Victor McLaglen (RKO's THE INFORMER, 1935), and a well-scripted but leisurely-paced screenplay (by Ernest Pascal and Julian Josephson), WEE WILLIE WINKIE comes close to being overlooked item from cinema history.With Temple's previous screen efforts typically casting her as an orphan or child of a widowed parents who occupies screen time solving problems with feel good intervals of song and dance, WEE WILLIE WINKIE is a welcome change of pace. While Temple doesn't have any real musical interludes, she does acquire one heartfelt moment worth mentioning where she sings "Auld Lang Syne" to a dying soldier. Of her two 1937 releases, HEIDI, based on the literary work by Johanna Spyri, appears to be most admired mainly because it gears mostly towards the interest of children while WEE WILLIE WINKIE appears to be more of a story for adults. Being the longest (99 minutes, though road show version was reportedly at 105 minutes) of Temple's feature length films of the 1930s, WEE WILLIE WINKIE contains more ingredients of a John Ford movie than Temple's. Regardless, the chemistry of both blends in nicely into the scenario. Temple would work under Ford again in FORT APACHE (RKO, 1948) with McLaglen in the supporting cast.   Plot summary: The year is 1897. Joyce Williams (June Lang), a young widow unable to support herself and her daughter, Priscilla (Shirley Temple), in America, are sent by her father-in-law, Colonel Williams, to live with him on his British Army Base. Arriving by train to Raj Pore station in Northern India, they are greeted by Sergeant McDuff (Victor McLaglen) to escort them via coach to their destination. Before departure, Priscilla witnesses the arrest of Khonda Khan (Cesar Romero), the rebel leader responsible for the smuggling of guns belonging to her grandfather's regiment. Having dropped his sacred charm, Priscilla runs over return "the necklace" back to him. Khan, dangerous and handcuffed, shows gratitude towards this "strange child" as he is taken away by authorities. During her stay at the post, Priscilla meets Branders (Michael Whalen), a young lieutenant she calls "Coppy" (whose hair, as she described, shines like a copper penny). Feeling her grandfather (C. Aubrey Smith) doesn't like her McDuff, at Coppy's request, shows Priscilla the procedures on becoming a good soldier. Providing her a junior-sized uniform, much to the dismay of drummer boy, Mott (Douglas Scott), McDuff renames his little soldier, "Wee Willie Winkie." With an uprising leading to the prison escape of Khonda Khan and the death of Sergeant McDuff, war is officially declared, causing "Wee Willie Winkie" to try and make peace before any more men are killed.While Temple dealt with grumpy grandfathers before, Lionel Barrymore being her best encounter in THE LITTLE COLONEL (1935), C. Aubrey Smith fits the bill as her military-minded grandfather with little time for his grandchild. Cesar Romero, believable as Konda Khan, gives a remarkable performance. He would assume another recognizable, but less threatening role, opposite Temple once more in THE LITTLE PRINCESS (1939). Military formation and the lives of British soldiers take precedence over the romantic subplot between June Lang and Michael Whalen that has been kept to a minimum. Others in the cast include Constance Collier (Mrs. Allardyce); Lauri Beatty (Elsa Allardyce, her daughter); Willie Fung (Mohammed Dihn); Brandon Hurst (Bagby); Lionel Pape (Major Allardyce); Mary Forbes (Mrs. MacMonachie), and John Ford regular, Jack Pennick, as one of the soldiers.A successful film in its day, WEE WILLIE WINKIE was later reissued at 77 minutes, the print most commonly used on commercial television prior to 1985. It wasn't until around 1987 when WEE WILLIE WINKIE was available close to its theatrical length when distributed on home video. In recent years, the 99 minute version became available on numerous cable stations, including The Disney Channel (colorized, 1990s); American Movie Classics (1996-2000), The Fox Movie Channel and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: July 13, 2015). It's availability on DVD contains the choice of both colorized and black and white formats.While Temple may seem to be an unlikely candidate on a military base in far away India wanting to become a good little soldier, she's certainly one who hasn't lost her appeal in the rank as "Wee Willie Winkie." (***1/2)

ccthemovieman-1 This was okay but Shirley Temple made enough better movies that this wasn't a "keeper"in the end. I still have at least a half dozen of her other films which, I thought, were far more appealing. They were also shorter, too. At 100 minutes, this is too long a movie for the normal Temple fare. It was her longest movie as a child actor. The major fault, which also involves the time, is that is simply wasn't that interesting.It has its cute moments as all Temple films did and the cinematography was good. The fact John Ford directed it may have something to do with the better-than-average photography. I also enjoyed Victor McLaughlen in here. He played the best character.