Shirley Temple presents a stage play on Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s story about a dragon that is lazy, doesn’t like to fight, and writes poetry and songs. The villagers blame all of their problems on the dragon, even though most of them have never even seen him. Jeremy and his sister Gillian have seen the dragon, though, and they have become friends with him. So, when St. George the knight is called to fight the “terrible beast,” they have to find a way to prove that the dragon is kind.

The Shirley Temple Story Hour was on television from 1959 to 1961 and presented classic stories in stage play form. “The Reluctant Dragon” is just one of many classics Shirley Temple and her friends presented during that time. We award this episode with the Dove Family Approved Seal for all ages.