In this second volume of the early years of Shirley Temple’s career, the standard is still high. As in volume one, we continue to watch the child actress and legend and how she illuminated the screen with her charisma and big-eyed innocence. She still has the great singing voice and breaks out into dancing every so often as well.

Incorporated into this second volume are episodes with titles like Merrily Yours, Our Girl Shirley, and a brief bit about her premiere film, Wee Willie Winkie. Shirley plays the younger sister of a teen boy named Sonny in a few episodes, and she helps him celebrate his birthday and in another episode she goes “prospecting” with her brother and soon the laughs begin. She reminds him that the first thing they will need is a donkey. Shirley comes up with some great lines. When it’s raining, she is getting the most of it and is told she’ll get “soaked. “Just my clothes,” she replies. It is this type of innocent humor that is featured in the episodes.

Although film has come along way in this digital age, the close-ups, long shots, and camera work still do the job these years later, keeping the viewer’s attention to see exactly what Shirley will do or say during the next moment in the film.

The episodes, as in volume one, have been colorized and young Shirley has never looked better than in these rare color gems. Shirley celebrates her birthday in the documentary and is cute as ever when seen driving a little mini car around the studio set. The episodes show people and events that are still relevant today, such as guys playing practical jokes, and a cute dog making a meal out of a school boy’s sweater.

The Dove Take:

These wholesome and magical episodes are a delight and although it is from a bygone era, we see that people never really change. We award this second volume the Dove-approved for All Ages seal.