Little Miss Marker (1934) User Reviews

Nothing 'Sorrowful" About Shirley

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 6 April 2006]

Despite only two songs, it's another entertaining Shirley Temple film. The story is familiar; it's been done several other times, once under the name "Sorrowful Jones," with Bob Hope. This movie is a bit different from that one, so you could own both and have two different slants on the famous Damon Runyon story.

This version has a lot more comedy from the supporting players, since Temple is cute but she' isn't going to be the main source of humor as Hope was in his films. In here, all the bookies and gangsters provide the humor. The leading male, played by Adolph Menjou, is a sourpuss but still likable. The leading adult female, Dorothy Dell, was a bit tough-looking, I thought, for this role.

Temple doesn't play as sweet a role as she did in most of her films, but she still has her tender moments. Nobody can produce a sentimental scene as quickly as Shirley could. In all, a nice film and enjoyable from start to finish.

Note: This was the best colorized version I have seen of Temple's films. Perhaps that was because MGM did this, not Fox, which did the others. It advertises "stereo" but I didn't hear any.

Pure entertainment from it's humble beginnings

[abcj-2 · 8/10 · 13 April 2011]

LITTLE MISS MARKER (1934) is one of the absolute dearest movies I've ever seen. I watched it last month on TCM. When it replayed tonight, I was back again. It is a Damon Runyon tale. His stories include men on the wrong side of the law. In this case they are gamblers, bookies, horse race fixers, and the like. The men use some saucy language created by Runyon that is definitely a sign of the 1930's, but some of the words are still around today, so it's an interesting insight into American slang.

Shirley Temple really shines in her breakout role. From her first line she hooks us with her entire adorable little self. She charms the grouchy Apolphe Menjou and pals. Due to a series of events, Shirley ends up in Menjou's care. Hilarity ensues and his grinch-like heart becomes the perfect size for the happy ending. Most of the supporting cast are players I'm not familiar with as this movie is a bit older than those I usually watch, but these kooky men with soft hearts and pride fall for Markie and their lives are forever changed. A beautiful story that even shows Menjou praying which humanizes him and makes him even more heroic.

This film is old, less then 90 minutes, plays a little bit like a stage production sometimes, has few big name stars, isn't Oscar worthy in the acting category, but it has heart. A big heart! It's pure entertainment like I'm sure depression era patrons needed for a dime or less. The production quality is still good. It's a feel-good comedy drama that is just the perfect film for someone wanting pure entertainment from its humble beginnings. I highly recommend this film:)

What To Call Her, But Little Miss Marker

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 24 November 2011]

One Edward Earle a compulsive gambler can't cover a bet and leaves a marker with bookie Adolphe Menjou. The marker is quite alive, it's forty pounds of little daughter in the person of Shirley Temple. What to call her especially since her name is Martha but Little Miss Marker.

This Damon Runyon story filmed four times already and is about due for another retelling, is the story of how Shirley Temple managed to melt the hearts of all those Broadway sharpies that populate Runyon stories, people like Charles Bickford, Warren Hymer, Lynne Overman and Bickford's girl Dorothy Dell. In fact Temple causes a split between Bickford and Dell and plays a little girl cupid for Menjou and Dell.

The young lady is full of illusions, her mother used to read tales of King Arthur, but these guys who are in the business of odds making and occasional odds fixing when it comes to the kind that race on the track make pretty poor substitutes for Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere. Still in their own Broadway style they try to live up to little Shirley's image of them.

After Darryl Zanuck became head of the new 20th Century Fox studios his greatest asset in the form of America's favorite moppet would never be lent out like she was here to Paramount. Little Miss Marker represents a milestone in the career of Shirley Temple and the three remakes don't reach this standard. But Damon Runyon is timeless and I'll bet someone out there in Hollywood might be thinking of a fifth version.

Funny, Sad and loaded with characters

[denscul · 1 September 2000]

This movie is a gem. Shirley Temple dropped into a den of Damon Runyon characters played by terrific actors. Adolphe Menjue's "heart of a bookie" is melted by Shirley. Menjue made over 100 films, and this was one of his best. The rest of the cast is great. You'll enjoy seeing this movie with your mother and your grand kids.

Shirley Temple steals the spotlight and becomes a huge star...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 2 April 2011]

Damon Runyon's story about a girl left as a pawn with a bunch of racetrack characters has a certain flavor about it that many find appealing, but frankly the only reason I showed any particular interest in this film is the remarkable presence of little SHIRLEY TEMPLE in the title role.

With the influence of tough-talking gents and gals around her, she soon adopts street-wise ways and manners of speech, so it's not the usual soft and sweet Shirley that we get here. Nevertheless, she remains adorable throughout, speaking all of her lines with the kind of verve and personality that would soon make her the number one box office attraction during the Depression years.

It's worth noting that ADOLPHE MENJOU (who called her a little Ethel Barrymore) has some of his best scenes opposite Temple. She manages to hold her own against him, but he's well cast as the shady character with the sad eyes and droopy mustache who'd rather be romancing DOROTHY DELL than taking care of a pint-sized doll.

Incidentally, DOROTHY DELL died in an auto accident within days of the film's release. She showed promise of becoming a very good actress in all of her scenes with Shirley and Menjou.

Somewhat bland

[JohnHowardReid · 6/10 · 23 October 2017]

Copyright 31 May 1934 by Paramount Productions, Inc. New York opening at the Paramount, 18 May 1934. Sydney opening at the Prince Edward (on a double bill with the W. C. Fields comedy The Old- Fashioned Way), 13 October 1934 (ran 3 weeks). 9 reels. 80 minutes. U.K. release title: GIRL IN PAWN.

SYNOPSIS: Man leaves his daughter as a deposit with a bookmaker. NOTES: Academy Award to Shirley Temple, best juvenile performer of 1934. Re-made as Sorrowful Jones (1949): 40 Pounds of trouble (1963); and again as Little Miss Marker (1980).

COMMENT: Despite the fact that the title role is enacted by the one and only Shirley Temple, "Little Miss Marker" is actually a Dorothy Dell vehicle. Shirley gets to sing only one song ("Laugh, You Son- of-a-Gun") — and that in tandem with Miss Dell who also has two solos ("Black Sheep Blues" and "Low-Down Lullaby"). The musical program is rounded out by Lynne Overman and chorus rendering "East Side, West Side, Sidewalks of New York" and "The Bowery".

Miss Dell is a very able actress — and a most accomplished singer — but you are excused if you don't recognize her. She had previously starred in "Wharf Angel" and after this film made "Shoot the Works". Before the latter film was released, she was killed in a car accident.

Unfortunately, despite the skill of Miss Dell and the obvious charm of Miss Temple, this first version of "Little Miss Marker" doesn't really stand up to any of its re-makes. The fault can be proportioned equally among the scriptwriters, the director, and the rest of the players. Too much dialogue, too slow a pace, too little dramatic tension (despite a few promises and hints now and then).

As a result, the film lacks punch, sharpness, contrast. The characters are all too wishy-washy. We are never led to believe for one moment that Menjou is as mean as he says he is, or that Bickford (for all his customary blustering) as tough.

In fact, most of the players seem miscast as Runyonesque types. Warren Hymer and John Kelly overact atrociously.

However, the movie is reasonably attractive to look at, even if its lighting, costuming and staging are somewhat bland.

A wonderful Film

[Oskado · 10/10 · 16 January 2003]

I encountered this on TV recently when I had no intent whatsoever of watching any film, but found myself glued to the edge of my seat till the very end. I'm now stumped to think I once saw it as a child and as a child's film. The levels of sensitivity and depth of feeling, the Tempest-like voices from the Brave New World of old New York, are so wonderful, I see it now overwhelmingly as an adult's film. I'll say no more, other than to point to this as another example of the failure of our rating system. Oh, Menjou and Dell... To think that this masterpiece is only rated six and a half by its fifty-five voters at this point, while lowest common denominator junk too often rates substantially higher...

Shirley's Star Maker

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 26 January 2003]

A tiny child, left as an IOU at a race track by her insolvent father, charms her way into the hearts of a group of hard-boiled gamblers.

Shirley Temple - not quite six years old - became a full-fledged movie star with LITTLE MISS MARKER. Loaned out to Paramount for the one picture, she emerged as a top of the bill powerhouse prepared to return to Fox Studios and become the most popular performer in Hollywood for the next five years. With genuine talent & an infectious sparkle, she would carve out her unassailable niche in film history.

To its credit, the fast moving script allows her to be a little less than saintly, with a normal dose of cranks & crotchets. Even so, her costars, as well as the audience, become her willing slaves in short order. Adolphe Menjou, as the cynical gambler who takes her in, and Charles Bickford as his tough boss, find themselves completely overwhelmed by the mighty moppet. Both of these gentlemen were abundantly experienced actors, used to controlling viewers' attentions in their screen scenes; it must have been somewhat odd for them to be reduced to so much stage dressing - but Shirley's ascendant flood swamped all other boats.

The Damon Runyon story is well served by the rest of the colorful cast, but it is easy to regret every minute the Small One does not appear on screen. Shirley became quite close to pretty Dorothy Dell, playing a nightclub chanteuse involved with both Bickford & Menjou. The news of Miss Dell's tragic death in a car wreck soon after filming completed was kept from Shirley for some time.

Movie mavens will recognize Willie Best as a friendly janitor & Tammany Young as a bettor, both uncredited.

Little Misfire

[kenjha · 2/10 · 2 August 2009]

Shirley's dad doesn't have the money to bet on a horse race so he puts up his daughter as collateral! Furthermore, nobody finds this particularly alarming. Shirley takes being abandoned by her father and living with seedy strangers pretty casually. It's supposed to be a charming comedy based on a Damon Runyan story, but the plot is not only boring but rather disturbing, and it's hardly worth a chuckle. Fortunately for both Menjou and Bickford, they would survive this and go on to make some fine films. Sadly, Dell, who plays the love interest of both Menjou and Bickford, died in an auto accident only a week after the film was released at age 19.

40 Pounds of Trouble

[lugonian · 9/10 · 15 September 2008]

LITTLE MISS MARKER (Paramount, 1934), directed by Alexander Hall, from the story by Damon Runyon, became the studio's answer to Columbia's successful Runyon tale, LADY FOR A DAY (1933). In true Runyon tradition, it consists of many character types with odd-ball names, including wrestlers Sore Toe (Warren Hymer) and Canvas Back (John Kelly); dishonest Bennie the Gouge (Sam Hardy), drunken Regret (Lynne Overman), good-natured Doc Chesley (Frank McGlynn Sr.), and the title character of "Little Miss Marker" going to 6-year-old Shirley Temple, on a loan-out assignment from Fox Studios, ranking one of the finer films she made during her busiest year (1934)in the movies.

Plot summary: Big Steve Halloway (Charles Bickford), gambler, gang leader and proprietor of New York's Horseshoe Cabaret, where his girl, Bangles Carson (Dorothy Dell) sings, is in desperate need of money. He arranges for his fellow bookies, especially Sorrowful Jones (Adolphe Menjou), to each pay him $1,000 each for his racehorse, Dream Prince, to lose. With all bets being placed at the window, Sorrowful encounters a gambler (Edward Earle), having lost $500, wanting to place his bet but is unable to come up with $20. Instead, he places his daughter, Marthy Jane (Shirley Temple), as security, or in bookie's terms, a "marker." While Sorrowful refuses to accept 'markers," he does so with this one, having the child to wait outside his office until Daddy returns. Having lost his bet, he commits suicide, leaving "little Miss Marker" under the care of Sorrowful Jones. As Steve hides out in Chicago to avoid investigation for his crooked bets, he entrusts Sorrowful to watch over Bangles during his absence, at which time the "gold digger" helps "tight-wod" with his "40 pounds of trouble." When Big Steve learns Bangles is involved with Sorrowful, he takes his "rod," returns to New York to do something about it.

The supporting players: Adolphe Menjou is perfectly cast as Sorrowful Jones, resembling that of a cartoon character down to his sad-eyed face and droopy mustache. He and Temple work remarkably well together, sharing great scenes, especially the highlight where Sorrowful teaches "Markey" how to pray. It is Menjou, not Temple, who closes this with a comedy line. Unlike her future film assignments, LITTLE MISS MARKER offers Temple a rare opportunity to play a fresh kid later on in the story, thanks to the bad influence of Sorrowful's friends. Dorothy Dell's Bangles is the one who makes every effort to restore Markey's child-like innocence by having the gang gather together in Steve's night club to re-enact her favorite bedtime story of "King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table" with Sorrowful playing Sir Galahad, and Bangles as Lady Guinevere, along with the opportunity to ride her horse known as "The Charger." Charles Bickford, a fine actor with a rough exterior, plays a tough mug whose very presence and gruff sounding voice causes the Charger to jump about in fear, an idea duplicated in the Marx Brothers comedy, A DAY AT THE RACES (MGM, 1937), with Douglass Dumbrille as the villain whose harsh voice causes the star racehorse to run amok.

While many will comment on Shirley Temple's performance, one cannot help but notice the unfamiliar name of Dorothy Dell in the cast. Who is Dorothy Dell? It's surprising to learn that during the making of LITTLE MISS MARKER, she was a 19-year-old newcomer (who looked older than 25) with only two other 1934 releases to her credit: THE WHARF ANGEL and SHOOT THE WORKS. By the time LITTLE MISS MARKER was released, Dorothy Dell was dead, a victim of an serious automobile crash. Looking over her style, she had the mannerisms of a young 20th-Fox's own Alice Faye, blonde, deep-throat singer, tough exterior but soft in heart. Due to the availability of LITTLE MISS MARKER will Dorothy Dell's name be virtually a curiosity today. Dell takes part in much of the song numbers composed by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin including: "I'm a Black Sheep Who is Blue" where she vocalizes in the night club, and "Low-Down Lullaby" singing Markie to sleep. She and Temple team up with on the piano with "Laugh, You Son-of-a-Gun," the latter obviously a hit tune since it's instrumentally used for opening or closing to other Paramount films, namely Temple's upcoming Paramount project NOW AND FOREVER.

Aside from frequent commercial television revivals prior to 1989, LITTLE MISS MARKER surfaced on numerous cable stations in later years, including the Disney Channel (1990s); American Movie Classics (1991-92) and Turner Classic Movies (2003-04). Unlike its presentations on either AMC and TCM, LITTLE MISS MARKER's availability on both VHS (1996) and DVD formats are colorized. LITTLE MISS MARKER consists of such notable remakes as SORROWFUL JONES (Paramount, 1949) with Bob Hope, Lucille Ball and Mary Jane Saunders; FORTY POUNDS OF TROUBLE (Universal, 1963) with Tony Curtis; and 1980 under the original title starring Walter Matthau and Julie Andrews, but very few child actresses could compare to the likes of the original Little Miss Marker herself. (****)

40 1/2 lbs. of trouble and delight

[weezeralfalfa · 5/10 · 16 February 2017]

My least favorite S.T. film so far, being centered around illegal activities relating to horse racing and the story that a 6 year old girl is illegally put up for collateral for a $20. bet on a horse. Furthermore, her father committed suicide when he lost the bet. Had this film been made the following year, I doubt the Hays Commission would have passed this scenario. Doesn't sound like a story made for kids of Shirley's age to enjoy! Indications are that Shirley's father probably was about destitute and, since Shirley's mother had died, perhaps he didn't have anyone to help care for her. It does seem strange that Shirley doesn't seem bothered by having been dumped on strangers. Perhaps she was used to other people taking care of her while her father worked or looked for work, etc.. Menjou and Dorothy Dell several times have heated arguments, mostly over Shirley. I'm not sure they will make a good home for Shirley. Dorothy Dell is most positively impressed with Menjou when he prays for Shirley's recovery from a horse fall, and when he dumps a solution of "dope" he was supposed to inject into a horse to hopefully make it win the race, but then likely die after the race.

Why do we know Shirley weighed 40 1/2 lbs.? Because the gangsters bet on her weight and had an appropriate scale available.

Dorothy did most of the singing of several new songs composed by the team of Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin. Shirley apparently was too young to be trusted with the major singing and dancing assignments. The rather catchy theme song: "Laugh You Son of a Gun" was played during the opening and closing credits. It's also sung by Dorothy, followed by Shirley. Dorothy sings "Low Down Lullaby" when trying to put Shirley to sleep(Dorothy also falls asleep). She also sings "I'm a Black Sheep Who is Blue" formally at the cabaret where she worked. "The Sidewalks of New York" and "The Bowery" were sung by a group of gangsters dressed up like the Knights of the Round Table, with which Shirley was infatuated.

Shirley Temple meets Damon Runyon

[the_old_roman · 10/10 · 27 August 2001]

Both win. Of course, having Adolph Menjou on hand doesn't hurt. Temple is ideally cast as waif left as market for gambling debt. Menjou is classic as bookie who doesn't know what to do with his collateral. It is a fast moving romp, with a great and unforgettable supporting cast.

Damon Runyan Pre-Code Magic

[jayraskin · 10/10 · 11 June 2011]

This is a precode film, so the bad guys don't have to be punished for their crimes, and its a good thing because most of the lovable characters would have ended up with long jail sentences if the film had been made a year or two later.

This movie may be disappointing for Shirley Temple fans as she does relative little. Most of the movie concerns the rough gangsters whose life is disrupted by her. They are wonderful characters, while Temple does little more than act like "the doll" that the characters often call her.

Adolph Menjou and Dorothy Dell really carries the movie. Menjou gives an hilariously understated performance as cheap gambler "Sorrowful Jones" Menjou was a fashionable dresser, so it is particularly funny to see him unkempt in wrinkled clothes for most of the movie. Whereas Walter Matthau played the role with a wink, Menjou plays it quite straight. Sorrowful Jones is a sorrowful human being in this movie. Dorothy Dell gives a terrific Mae West style performance as gangster moll/nightclub singer Bangles Carson. It is assured and polished, and it is impossible to believe that she was only 19 when she did it.

Incidentally Dorothy Dell and Dorothy Lamour were best friends as teenagers. When she won the Miss USA beauty pageant, Dorothy Dell invited Dorothy Lamour to come with her to Hollywood. In her autobiography, "My Side of the Road," Lamour notes that they went to the premiere of the Marx's Brother's "Animal Crackers" together in 1930. Dell helped and influenced Lamour to start her career.

Also watch some of the great comic actors in small parts here. Lynn Overman as Regret and Warren Hymer as Sore Toe are flawless.

This film is more than an excellent Shirley Temple star vehicle, it a comic masterpiece with Shirley Temple as the icing on the cake.

Schmaltzy but highly entertaining

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 1 February 2013]

"Little Miss Marker" has been remade many times. Now, after seeing some of these films it's nice to finally see the original. The story is based on a Damon Runyan story and was one of Shirley Temple's earliest full-length roles.

The film stars Adolph Menjou as Sorrowful Jones--a hard-hearted bookie whose all-consuming love of money and gambling is soon to be challenged by a cute kid. That's because a sap leaves her (Shirley Temple) at the gambling establishment--with the intention on coming back for her. But, when he loses, he kills himself--leaving little 'Marky' an orphan. Now you'd think that Jones would take the child to the police. However, he comes up with a scheme with an even harder-hearted guy, Big Steve (Charles Bickford)--they'll register a horse in the child's name and then take the kid to the cops AFTER the big race! There is a problem with the plan, however--they don't realize how absolutely marvelous the child is and how she'll melt their stony hearts. There's much more to the film than this--see it and have a nice time doing so. The film gets very high marks for entertainment value, and Temple IS about the cutest thing you've ever seen! The film isn't perfect and makes little sense, but if you can just sit back and enjoy the film for what it is, then you will no doubt be happy you did. A swell film.

Shirley Temple's First Major Role

[springfieldrental · 8/10 · 19 March 2023]

The six-year-old girl on the screen was just the panacea Depression movie audiences needed. Shirley Temple's first major role in a feature film was June 1934's "Little Miss Marker." Her presence on the screen in this groundbreaking movie established the pattern of an innocent young child who finds herself in a bleak situation, but manages to find a way, through luck or ingenuity, to lift herself up and face a happy, idyllic future. Miss Temple's cheerful disposition while undergoing such hardships served as an inspiration to those distressed families churning through the ordeals of the Great Depression.

After her short skit with actor James Dunn singing 'Baby Take a Bow' in April 1934's "Stand Up and Cheer!" Shirley's popularity within Hollywood circles jumped considerably. The film wasn't released, however, until after the young actress auditioned for the role of Marky, the daughter of a gambler who commits suicide after losing a horse race bet. Shirley had auditioned with Paramount, but the casting agent felt she didn't have enough maturity for the role in "Little Miss Marker." Her mother, Gertrude Temple, the guiding 'manager' to Shirley, approached the film's director, Alexander Hall, for another audition. She passed with flying colors. It was ironic that during filming, Temple's adult co-star, Adolphe Menjou, had a tough time saying a line. After repeated takes, Shirley turned to the director and asked, "Is it too late to replace Mr. Menjou on this picture?"

"This movie was a great showcase for Shirley Temple," reflected film reviewer John Sinnott. "She really was adorably cute and you could see how everyone around her would start feeling protective of the little child." One actress who grew terribly fond of her on the set was nineteen-year-old Dorothy Dell. She played the character Bangles Carson, the girlfriend of gang leader, Big Steve (Charles Bickford), who, along with Sorrowful Jones (Menjou), take care of Marky. Temple and Dell developed a close relationship during the production, and were friends after filming wrapped.

A few short months later, Dell was the passenger of a car with driver Dr. Carl Wagner, who was speeding excessively down a California highway when his car veered off the road, hitting several obstacles. Both died in the crash. Manipulative studio executives withheld the news of her friend's death to the young child until Shirley was filming a sequence in her next Paramount film, 1934's "Now and Forever." She was told on the set about Dell's fatal crash just before a scripted tearful scene that shows her being told her father stole some jewelry. Temple is seen crying on her bed, sobbing real tears on hearing about Dell's death.

With the release of "Stand Up and Cheer!" and a month later with "Little Miss Marker," Shirley Temple's life was never the same. She became the most popular childhood actor in Hollywood. And she emerged as a marketing machine, nearly on par as Mickey Mouse. Temple's clothing line and toys made millions. One of the first items she endorsed was the Shirley Temple doll, wearing the polka-dot dress just like the one she wore in "Stand Up and Cheer!" Other studios attempted to duplicate her cuteness and adorability by hiring other actors her same age, but none approached the popularity and mania that surrounded Shirley for nearly a decade. Shirley Temple's outstanding year in 1934 was such a standout the Academy awarded her with a special honorary Oscar. The six-year-older was the first to receive the Academy Juvenile Award, a periodic honor that eventually was bestowed to twelve childhood film performers.

A superb cast helps boost Shirley Temple to stardom with this film

[SimonJack · 8/10 · 30 April 2021]

A few movies have been made based on the Damon Runyan short story of 1932. This was the first and it kept the title. As with most films that have had remakes, none can equal the original. Indeed, when Paramount remade the movie just 15 years after this, it's first film, the studio had the good sense to revise the plot considerably. There wasn't another up and coming girl to play Shirley Temple's part, so the studio changed the focus to be more on the male lead with much more comedy. Bob Hope played the role of "Sorrowful Jones," which was the title Paramount gave its second picture in 1949, with Lucille Ball playing the moll. That made the second film very good in itself. But, the later renditions - with Walter Matthau and Tony Curtis couldn't match either of these first two films. They weren't bad, but each remake seemed to be one notch or star lower than the previous one.

"Little Miss Marker" of 1934 is notable in two aspects. First, it was the breakout film for Shirley Temple - her 23rd picture since her start in films in 1932. Most of those were shorts and uncredited parts until 1934. Within two months she would have leading roles for more than two dozen films until she reached her teen years. From 1940 to 1944,she made just a couple of films and then reemerged as a teen star and then young woman actress for another dozen movies before she switched to TV. She left show business entirely in 1963 when she was in her early 30s.

The second notable aspect of the film is its close identify with the story, and more real nitty-gritty of its setting. And that shows mostly in the character of Sorrowful Jones as played by Adolphe Menjou. From the time and setting of Runyan's story, one would expect bookies such as Jones to be hard as nails. And Menjou plays the part superbly. He and his crowd are guys who probably had it hard as kids, either with immigrant parents who worked hard to support their families, or perhaps with one or both parents deceased early.

So this story plays out very nicely as little Marthy Jane, the Marker, begins to get to Jones and the others. But, it's gradual, and believable. What comedy there is in this film is of the subdued nature, or natural humor involving the cute little girl and her fantasies. She names Sore Toe, Canvas Back and the others of Sorrowful's crowd after characters from the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

This is an enjoyable film that people of all ages should enjoy for all time Here are some favorite lines.

Canvas Back, "Listen, Sorrowful, I and Sor Toe has an idea." Sorrowful Jones, "I doubt it." Canvas Bac, "N, it's an idea, and t is as follows: we'd like to put the bite on you."

Sorrowful Jones, "Well, that serves me right. Every time I get big-hearted..." Regret, "When was the other time?" Sorrowful, "No wise cracks."

Dizzy Memphis, as Black Knight, "I done thought your pappy came and got you." Marky Jane, "Maybe he forgot me." Dizzy, "Does he go around forgettin' you?" Marky Jane, "He forgot me once at the circus, and they arrested the man that found me."

Bangles Carson, "I sing myself to sleep." Sorrowful Jones, 'Yeah, you singin's like that."

Little Miss Adorable

[view_and_review · 8/10 · 13 April 2024]

Shirley Temple graces the silver screen with her cuteness in "Little Miss Marker." She played Markie Jane and she was used as a "marker" by her dad for gambling purposes. For those of you not familiar with what a "marker" is, it is basically an IOU. Her father wanted to place a bet, but he didn't have any cash. He left Markie as a "marker" while he went to rustle up the $20 he needed.

He left her with a gambler named Sorrowful Jones (Adolphe Menjou). Sorrowful was a surly man who was seemingly untouched by Markie's smile. When Markie's father didn't come back, Sorrowful found that he would have to take care of the adorable little five-year-old.

Even though "Little Miss Marker" wasn't as good as "Bright Eyes," it's hard not to like Shirley Temple regardless of the movie.

"Little Miss Marker" had a solid cast that featured Charles Bickford, Warren Hymer, and a new face to me in Dorothy Dell as Bangles Carson. As pretty and talented as she was, I wondered why I never saw her before. Per IMDb, this was only her third project and she died the very same year (1934) in a car accident. Sadly, she was only nineteen. I'm sure we would've seen her featured in many more films had her life not been taken.

As for her role in "Little Miss Marker," she played Big Steve's girl. Though she had an affinity for jewelry, she also had a heart and she was the moral compass in this film. Shirley Temple was around a seedier element in "Little Miss Marker." Sorrowful (Menjou) and his associates were all connected to gambling one way or another. In some ways the movie was a bit too adult, especially compared to the lighter, more kid-friendly nature of the movie "Bright Eyes." Still I liked it. I didn't think I would by the way it began, but "Little Miss Marker" found it's bearings and stayed upright.

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