The Little Colonel is a 1935 movie. It was directed by David Butler. The screenplay by William M. Conselman was adapted from a book of the same name by Annie Fellows Johnston. The movie features the famous staircase dance by Temple and Robinson.
Main cast
Shirley Temple as Lloyd Sherman
Lionel Barrymore as Colonel Lloyd, father to Elizabeth and grandfather to Lloyd Sherman John Lodge as Jack Sherman, Elizabeth’s husband and little Lloyd’s father Ellen Venable as Elizabeth Lloyd Sherman, Lloyd Sherman's mother and Colonel Lloyd's daughter Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson as Walker, Colonel Lloyd’s butler Hattie McDaniel as Mom Beck, Elizabeth's housekeeper
Response
Andre Sennwald in his New York Times review of March 22, 1935 wrote, "[a]ll adrip with magnolia whimsy and vast, unashamed portions of synthetic Dixie atmosphere". He further wrote that the movie was "so ruthless in its exploitation of Miss Temple's great talent for infant charm that it seldom succeeds in being properly lively and gay". He finished his review noting the audience applauded for a full eleven seconds after the final fade-out, and that the movie "ought to bring out the best in every one who sees it."
References
Other websites
Annie Fellows Johnston and the Little Colonel
Kate Matthews Collection (includes illustrations for The Little Colonel books by Johnston's friend and neighbor, photographer Kate Matthews)