Watch The Hollywood Collection: Shirley Temple - America's Little Darling

The Hollywood Collection: Shirley Temple - America's Little Darling is a documentary film from 1993 which takes a look at the life and career of one of the biggest child stars in cinema history, Shirley Temple. Directed by Gene Feldman, the film features interviews with Shirley herself, as well as a number of her friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry.

The film tells the story of Shirley's rise to fame, starting with her beginnings as a child performer on the vaudeville circuit in the early 1930s. From there, we see how she caught the attention of Hollywood executives and landed her first film role at the age of just three in the 1932 film, "War Babies". The film then goes on to explore her various other film roles throughout the 1930s, including classics like "Bright Eyes", "The Little Colonel", and "Heidi".

Throughout the film, we get a sense of just how enormously popular Shirley was in her heyday. By the mid-1930s, she was one of the biggest box office draws in the world, and her likable personality and adorable charm had made her a household name. The film includes clips from a number of her films, as well as some of her famous dance sequences, which helped to cement her reputation as one of the most talented child performers in Hollywood history.

In addition to focusing on Shirley's film career, the documentary also spends some time exploring her personal life. This includes her marriage to actor John Agar, which ended in divorce in 1949, as well as her later marriage to businessman Charles Black, whom she remained married to until his death in 2005. We also see how she navigated the tricky transition from child star to adult actress, before eventually retiring from the entertainment industry altogether in the late 1950s.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is how it contextualizes Shirley's career within the wider cultural landscape of the 1930s. For example, we learn about how her films were often used as a form of escapism for audiences during the difficult years of the Great Depression, and how her bright and cheerful on-screen persona helped to lift people's spirits. We also see how her films often had a distinctly patriotic overtone, reflecting the patriotic fervor of the pre-war years.

Overall, The Hollywood Collection: Shirley Temple - America's Little Darling is a fascinating look at one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood history. Through insightful interviews and plenty of classic clips, the film provides a comprehensive view of Shirley's remarkable career and enduring legacy. Whether you're a longtime fan of the actress or simply curious about the world of classic Hollywood cinema, this documentary is sure to be an engaging and informative watch.

The Hollywood Collection: Shirley Temple - America's Little Darling is a 1993 documentary with a runtime of 48 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.