From slob to star – Glad Rags to Riches (1932)

Directed by: Charles Lamont | 10 minutes | comedy, short film, romance, music | Actors: Shirley Temple, Eugene Butler, Lawrence Harris, Georgie Smith

Believe it or not, ‘Van slob tot star’ (‘Glad Rags to Riches’) is only Shirley Temple’s second film. She’s been here for three, almost four years, but you can already tell she’s going to go far. Here she plays La Belle Diaperina, the star of the nightclub Lullaby Lobster Palace. In Baby Burlesk movies like this one, the characters often have funny names and the actors walk around in adult costumes, but with diapers.

La Belle Diaperina (real name Nell) is held captive by the evil nightclub owner (Eugene Butler) who wants to marry her. Fortunately, her country sweetheart Elmer (Georgie Smith) and the police come to her rescue. Shirley is a cute doll here, she’s making her singing debut here with the song ‘She’s Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage’ and she’s tap dancing to it. This doll also acts with conviction. Amazing how such a little one can play a captive artist. The boys are also doing well. At one point, Georgie Smith says, “That I must meet you in this pool of injustice.” That’s also the joke of the Baby Burlesks series, little kids with grown-up dialogues. Shirley, by the way, has a grown-up face when she calls out the nightclub owner for “diapered viper.”

The chambermaid of La Belle Diaperina is again cute here, she is also in the film ‘Polly Tix in Washington’ (1933). The dog from ‘De Huifkar vol Taart’ (Pie Covered Wagon) (1932) and ‘Shirley in the Ring’ (Kid’s Last Fight) (1932) is also in it for a while. There are no adults, only children from three to five years old. They have fun with lobsters, ice creams, police officers, waiters and dress up tricks. A comedic mini-film that shows the talent of a very young Shirley.