Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12658 in VHS
• Released on: 1996-09-17
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 81 minutes

Amazon.com
Shirley Temple's superstardom in the 1930s was associated with Twentieth Century Fox, but before Fox locked her down she made two films for Paramount. It was 1934, her breakthrough year, and these pictures are not quite yet the showcase vehicles Fox would assemble for their pint-sized meal ticket. Henry Hathaway's Now and Forever casts Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard as world-traveling con artists, suddenly forced to grow up when Coop decides to take charge of his daughter. The lure of diamonds and the easy life is never far away, but rely on Shirley to keep her Daddy on his toes. The dimpled Ms. Temple plays a distinctly supporting role in this one, and her singing and dancing is limited compared to the vehicles she would command within the year. Cooper is all charm, although Lombard is stuck in something of a nag role. Still, a solid enough studio picture of the era, and a logical launching pad for the greatest child star in film history. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

One of little Shirley's best roles
Now and Forever is a perfect showcase for the acting ability that Shirley Temple had as a young child. Less contrived than some of her later pictures, the script gives her the chance to really play a three-dimensional character. Her range of emotion is simply stunning, considering she was only six years old at the time. Although there is little of the singing and dancing Shirley was known for, this is nonetheless a great movie.

TEMPLE, COOPER & LOMBARD SHINE.
With a knock-out cast like this movie has, it will almost certainly please lovers of vintage movies. Jerry Day and Toni Carstairs (Cooper & Lombard) are a pair of vagabond thieves in love. On a boat from Shanghai, Jerry receives word from Connecticut that the parents of his dead wife want to take possession of his little daughter, Penelope. Jerry is willing to sell the tyke to his brother-in-law for $75,OOO - but Toni has different ideas....Although this "Temple film" isn't exactly ideal for the kids (its theme is really too mature) it will please those who will appreciate the clever antics which ensue. The talented, chubby Alice Faye-like Dorothy Dell was originally supposed to play Lombard's role but she was killed in an auto accident. Dell played the female lead in LITTLE MISS MARKER. If vintage moviegoers saw her sing WITH MY EYES WIDE OPEN I'M DREAMING - in SHOOT THE WORKS - you haven't forgotten her. The original title of the source material for this film was entitled HONOR BRIGHT by Jack Kirland and Melville Baker.

Now and Forever Shirley Lives
Well for a while in this movie (the beginning) Shirley hasn'came on the screen yet and you wonder,is this the right movie ? But it later is ,as she is cute little Penny Day. I think in this movie she really is adorable,although she always is in this movie she is even more precious. I think the most touching thing in the movie is when she finds out her daddy stole the necklace,when she finds it on her bear. She breaks into a crying scene which I think is so sad. " Oh Daddy,and you said Honor Bright" says young Penny. The movie isn't the most interesting movie but I wouldn't miss it just because of that.Some scenes in the movie look very fake like the rollercoaster,but then remember this is the 30's ,you're lucky they made movies! I would also say if your looking for one which Shirley Temple totally stars in this isn't exactly the one.Although she's in it,it's not exactly her movie.The movie follows Gary Cooper mainly but she's in it alot though. I wouldn't recomend this movie as great but I wouldn't recomend it as horrible. But I do recomend it for you to see.I hope you find this helpful.