Rating: 
Summary: The best Shirley Temple film of them all
Review: "The Little Princess" has always been my favorite Shirley Temple film and to tell you the truth none of the rest of them come close to how good she is in this 1933 film directed by Walter Lang. Frances Hodgson Burnett's riches to rags story remains relatively intact, although some song and dance routines were added especially for Shirley, including the wonderful "dream" sequence where Miss Minchin gets all bent out of shape over a stolen kiss and Shirley gets to do some ballet. The supporting cast is truly excellent, with Arthur Treacher as "Bertie" Minchin, Cesar Romero as Ram Dass, Sybil Jason as Becky especially good and Beryl Mercer unforgettable as Queen Victoria. The ending of this film is one of the great tear jerkers of all time, starting from when little Sarah Crewes turns to the Queen of England and asks "What is your name?" until the incredible scene where Sarah finally finds her father. Katharine Hepburn always said acting was not that hard, pointing out how marvelous Shirley Temple was as an actress and that scene proves that claim better than anything else she ever did in the movies. If you can listen to her plead with her father to remember her and not have tears running down your cheeks, then you need to ask the Wizard to give you a heart. For all of the visual splendor of the 1995 version, it simply does not have the emotional resonance of this timeless classic.
Rating:
Summary: The best Shirley Temple film of them all
Review: "The Little Princess" has always been my favorite Shirley Temple film and to tell you the truth none of the rest of them come close to how good she is in this 1933 film directed by Walter Lang. Frances Hodgson Burnett's riches to rags story remains relatively intact, although some song and dance routines were added especially for Shirley, including the wonderful "dream" sequence where Miss Minchin gets all bent out of shape over a stolen kiss and Shirley gets to do some ballet. The supporting cast is truly excellent, with Arthur Treacher as "Bertie" Minchin, Cesar Romero as Ram Dass, Sybil Jason as Becky especially good and Beryl Mercer unforgettable as Queen Victoria. The ending of this film is one of the great tear jerkers of all time, starting from when little Sarah Crewes turns to the Queen of England and asks "What is your name?" until the incredible scene where Sarah finally finds her father. Katharine Hepburn always said acting was not that hard, pointing out how marvelous Shirley Temple was as an actress and that scene proves that claim better than anything else she ever did in the movies. If you can listen to her plead with her father to remember her and not have tears running down your cheeks, then you need to ask the Wizard to give you a heart. For all of the visual splendor of the 1995 version, it simply does not have the emotional resonance of this timeless classic.
Rating: 
Summary: pleasant-enough Temple vehicle
Review: After MGM'S successful Technicolor fantasy THE WIZARD OF OZ set the box office on fire, Fox decided to give Shirley Temple a big Techicolor vehicle as well. Turning, as they had done with 1937's HEIDI, to classic literature for a new story idea, they chose the classic novel "A Little Princess" by Frances Burnett.THE LITTLE PRINCESS gave Temple her first real dramatic role, as well as showing off her astute singing and dancing skills in a lavish dream sequence. Sharing the screen with Temple is a wonderful and capable supporting cast including Arthur Treacher (MARY POPPINS), Mary Nash (who also co-starred with Temple in HEIDI), Marcia Mae Jones (also from HEIDI), Anita Louise, Arthur Malet, Caesar Romero and Sybil Jason (who would go on to co-star with Temple again the following year in THE BLUE BIRD). The film is a lovingly-crafted tale of young Sara Crewe, who is sent to Miss Minchin's school for girls during the Boer War when her father is called into service. When her father is listed as missing in action, the girl is forced into labor at the school in order to repay the debt she owns to Miss Minchin. Stunning color photography, a good three years before the system was fully-developed, and an equally-colorful script engage the viewer from beginning to end. Utterly delightful, and still regarded as one of Temple's best films.
Rating:
Summary: Lost Memories
Review: As a child, i was so envious of the cute little girl with the dimples and curls. As was my sister and many of our friends. My grandmother, Giggy, was the encourager of our watching these tapes. The Little Princess, as well as Temples other movies are a great way to take a trip down memory lane. You can't go wrong with this DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Daddy's Little Girl
Review: Based on the famous novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Shirley Temple plays the pampered daughter (Sara Crewe)of a British officer named Captain Crewe. The movie starts with scenes from 1899 and the entire movie revolves around the war going on in South Africa as seen from a British perspective. The cinematography is superb and this is Shirley's first picture in Technicolor. There are a few song and dance routines. When Sara and her father arrive in London, England, Captain Crewe is again called away to serve his country. Since they just arrived from India, Sara must find a school quickly so her father can leave for military duty. "Why are they sending so many soldiers daddy, if it is only going to be a little war?" --Sara Crewe In Sara's mind, her father is invincible. She never imagines that he might not make it through the war. Since she has never been away from her father for any extended time, the separation is more difficult for her. After a tearful goodbye, the brave little Sara must face the unkind Miss Minchin who runs the Seminary for Young Ladies. Here, reputation is of the utmost concern and due to her wealthy status, she is treated well (at first). During her time at the school, she learns to ride the pony her father purchased for her. Goeffrey Hamilton is her riding instructor who falls in love with her school teacher Rose. Miss Minchin will have none of that and tries to break up the relationship. Sara has other ideas and is quite the little matchmaker as always. This is a completely delightful movie which also includes a wonderful ballet scene which is quite funny and you will laugh at many jokes throughout the movie. The little maid Becky is very cute and seems to be Sara's only true friend. When something happens to Sara's father we think she will never stop looking for him. The beauty of the Shirley Temple films is their ability to teach children something great about life. Sara's hope, optimism and polite spirit helps her to fulfill her social obligations. When someone shows her a kindness, she is quick to show them one in return. I related well to this movie as my own father had gone to India when I was very young and then took me to South Africa. All I can say is I am happy he took me to South Africa and didn't leave me in England! He did take me to England later when I was a teenager. You will see what I mean after you see this movie. While some of the scenes are sad, you will laugh more than feel sad.
Rating: 
Summary: Glazed over ending ruins the story
Review: Don't get me wrong, I adore Shirley Temple, and have since I was a little girl. This is one of the movies I will refuse to watch though. The magic of the original story of The Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is desimated with this Disney-ized version. The original story has Sara Crew's father die in war, which entirely turns around the little girl's fortune. But this film gives it a happily ever after Disney ending in which the father ends up not being dead at all. It ruins the plot entirely, and is a disgrace to the original. If you want a movie that lives up to everything the book was and more, check out the 1995 version "A Little Princess"; beautifully done. If you want a good Shirley Temple Movie, check out Heidi, or Bright Eyes, or Poor Little Rich Girl instead.
Rating:
Summary: i love her work
Review: every one of her movies are great you can not go wrong with any of the
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: I don't regret buying this DVD one bit. This movie is very entertaining. I wish very much that they could have utilized Shirley Temple and Geoffrey Hamilton's musical and dance talents better. The short little dance number they do is so vibrant and uplifting. The movie pulls at your heart constantly from the high's (Sara Crewe's lavish Birthday Party) to the lows of sleeping in the attic to her frantic search to find her lost father.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Feelings About This Movie
Review: I grew up reading the book The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and didn't watch this movie until after I had read and re-read the book. Having loved the book so intensely, this movie was a great disappointment. However, I do love Shirley Temple movies, and I think that if I had not loved the book as I did my feelings about this movie would be different. It is a cute movie, somewhat typical (lots of singing and dancing, very pretty young woman and handsome young man have a romance in which Shirley helps considerably) but there are also quite a few elements in the plot that make this movie different. If you haven't read the book, or you have but not much, then this movie will probably be an enjoyable one. If you loved the book as I did, then watch this film not as an adaptation of the wonderful book, but as another cute Shirley Temple movie, you might do okay. On a side note, I watched a perfectly stunning adaptation of The Little Princess years ago on our local PBS. I think it was produced by the BBC. That one was very, very good, it was really close to the book and the actors were superb. *sigh* I wish I could find a copy for sale.
Rating:
Summary: NOT SHIRLEY'S BEST BY A LONG SHOT
Review: I have not read the book by F.H. Burnett, on which the film was based, or seen the 1995 remake, but I agree with the majority of reviewers who feel that Shirley Temple did not give one of her best performances in THE LITTLE PRINCESS. This film suffers from an excess of overacting, not only from Shirley but also from her supporting cast. As Sara Crewe, the poor little rich girl who goes from "riches to rags", Shirley is unconvincing in all her attempts to display emotion, whether she is grieving over the disappearance of her father or expressing joy when finally re-united with him at the end of the film. Not helping her in any way are the British actors and actresses who fill the supporting roles. They overplay their "Englishness" to the point of irritation (especially Arthur Treacher), which seriously detracts from the enjoyment of the film. Shirley, too, overplays the English bit in her song-and-dance routines with Treacher, where she has as much trouble with a Cockney accent as the poor American actress who was stuck playing the part of the Cockney servant girl who befriends Shirley at school. In THE LITTLE PRINCESS Shirley's talent for dance never has the opportunity to shine, as it did in previous films. It is obvious in the ballet sequence that she didn't have the strength in her feet to dance in pointe shoes, and her duets with Treacher are clearly no match for those memorable scenes when she dances with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson in THE LITTLE COLONEL, or with Buddy "Jed Clampett" Ebsen in CAPTAIN JANUARY. For children and adults who want to see examples of her dancing prowess, these two films are highly recommended. And to see her performing with that irresistible charm which made her the public's little darling of the 1930s, take a look at WEE WILLIE WINKIE or POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL. (A note to fans of Marcia Mae Jones: My favorite scene in THE LITTLE PRINCESS, and possibly the highlight of the film, occurs near the end when Marcia, playing the haughty schoolgirl Lavinia, gets a pail of ashes dumped on her head. Touche', Shirley.)
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