Little Miss Marker

Plot synopsis:
The film tells the story of "Marky" (Shirley Temple), whose father gives her to a gangster-run gambling operation as a "marker" (collateral) for a bet. When he loses his bet and commits suicide, the gangsters are left with her on their hands. They decide to keep her temporarily and use her to help pull off one of their fixed races, naming her the owner of the horse to be used in the race.
Marky is sent to live with bookie Sorrowful Jones (Adolphe Menjou). Initially upset about being forced to look after her, he eventually begins to develop a father-daughter relationship with her. His fellow gangsters become fond of her and begin to fill the roles of her extended family. Bangles (Dorothy Dell) - girlfriend of gang kingpin Big Steve (Charles Bickford), who has gone to Chicago to place bets on the horse - also begins to care for Marky, and to fall in love with Sorrowful, whose own concern for Marky shows he has a warm heart beneath his hard-man persona. Sorrowful, encouraged by Bangles and Marky, gets a bigger apartment, buys Marky new clothes and himself a better cut of suit, reads her bedtime stories, and shows her how to pray.
However, being around the gang has a somewhat bad influence on Marky, and she begins to develop a cynical nature and a wide vocabulary of gambling terminology and slang. Bangles and Sorrowful, worried that her acquired bad-girl attitude means she won't get adopted by a "good family," put on a party with gangsters dressed up as knights-of-the-round-table, to rekindle her former sweetness. She is unimpressed until they bring in the horse and parade her around on its back. Big Steve, returning to New York, frightens the horse, which throws her, and she is taken to the hospital. Big Steve goes there to pay back Sorrowful for trying to steal Bangles but is roped into giving Marky the direct blood transfusion she needs for her life-saving operation. Sorrowful, praying for her survival, destroys the drug which, administered to the horse, would have helped it win the race but killed it soon after. Big Steve, told he has "good blood" and pleased to have given life for a change, forgives Bangles and Sorrowful. They plan to marry and adopt Marky.

Tags: romantic

Review:
A Tremendously Overlooked Diamond of a Film!.
Though there may be a tendency to compare the 1980 version of "Little Miss Marker" to the 1934 version (with Shirley Temple as The Kid), writer/director Walter Bernstein captures the very essence of the 1930's with his screenplay and direction, respectively.
One of the reasons I loved the 1980 version is the set designs and the vivid colors of the film.
But even more importantly, I loved Walter Matthau's performance as Sorrowful Jones.
He has great one-liners that only add to this gem of a film.
Of course, nobody plays a sidekick better than Bob Newhart, who plays Regret.
Newhart and Matthau made a great team in this movie, and I wish they had worked on more films together.
I love The Kid (played by one-time film actress Sara Stimson), for she adds a cuteness to her character that is similar to Shirley Temple's "Kid", but yet is different in that her character displays quite a bit more innocence.
Julie Andrews is more than believable as Amanda Worthington, as she tries to soften the two men in her life.
And one should not forget Tony Curtis, who is perfect Blackie.I regret that this movie didn't make more money at the box office, because it did capture the lives of the poor majority and privileged minority during the Depression very well.
And it is funny and just a fun movie to watch.
Little Miss Marker is one of my favorite films (added to the already long list) because it looks great cinemagraphic-wise, the script is well done, and the performances are very, very good.
I find it interesting that this version of the famous Damon Runyon story is the first to be released on DVD (2004).
Don't miss this chance to buy it and own it.
You won't be sorry..
Cute But No Cigar.
This was a nice 1970's movie even though it was made in 1980.
The little girl who played The Kid,(Viola Kates Stimpson) appeared to be a seasoned actress even though this was her first and last movie role.
Too bad, because she showed a great presence on the large screen.
Walter Matthau playing the cantankerous unhappy bookie who falls for The Kid was believable and quite touching.Supporting characters Tony Curtis as the mobster killer with his muscle Brian Dennehy , as well as Bob Newhart playing Walter Matthau's right hand man, and rounding up the stellar cast, Julie Andrews, whose horse farm was slowly being taken over by the mobster Tony Curtis, were all great supporting actors.This is very light movie fare, and you won't need any facial tissues for any sad tug at your heart string scenes, but what you will get is a 70's style THE STING type movie that is enjoyable for the whole family..
No Shirley.
Little Miss Marker got its fourth and final film version with Walter Matthau as the screen's biggest grump since Ned Sparks perfectly cast as Sorrowful Jones.
Curiously enough the third remake entitled 40 Pounds Of Trouble had Tony Curtis as the hero.
Here he's the villain.And even more curious Matthau and Curtis had worked together previously in Goodbye Charlie where Tony Curtis was top billed.
Just the fickle fortune of the movie game.The story is set back in the Depression Era and Andrew Rubin leaves his daughter Sara Stimson in lieu as a marker with bookie Matthau.
Later on he drowns himself in the river and Matthau is stuck with her.
But she proves invaluable to winning rich widow Julie Andrews.
And she softens the heart of the old sourpuss as we've seen in many a film.As for Curtis he's got a couple of deals with Matthau reluctantly going along.
And when they go south Matthau has some decisions to make.Matthau does well indeed stepping in the shoes of a role played by Adolphe Menjou, Bob Hope, and Tony Curtis.
One would not think of Julie Andrews and Walter Matthau as a screen time, but as it turns out she compliments him beautifully.
Curtis was now making the transition from leading man to character actor and he's very good.Note also Brian Dennehy and Bob Newhart as aides to Curtis and Matthau.
They act as seconds in a very silly duel on one of the New York piers.
And Lee Grant is nicely cast as a judge in Family Court of the Depression at the end of the film.Sara Stimson of course is no Shirley Temple, but none of the other little girls who succeeded her from the first version are either.
It's the main weakness of this and the other two succeeding films.
Still this one is worth a look..
Horse Memories.
I was actually present at CalExpo (home of the California State Fair) in the late summer of 1979 during the shooting of "Little Miss Marker".
The horse racing scenes and much of the "ranch" scenes were filmed there at the time of a significant equestrian show, and my dad appears as an extra in at least one scene.I first saw the movie in early 2007, so it brought back many memories--"Smokey and the Bandit" was in general release at the time, Julie Andrews appeared in Blake Edwards' "10" the year before "Little Miss Marker", and in "S.O.B." the year after (wherein she briefly bares her breasts for the audience in a fit of exasperation) so LMM represents a clear break between the 70s and 80s for ME.
The word "DIVORCE" comes to mind.Ironically, LMM is itself a VERY ENJOYABLE film.
Just be aware that there are some underlying emotional themes that may unpredictably affect folks in their late 30s and early 40s..
That lovable old grouch proves he does have heart..
A great period atmosphere filled with excellent physical details and a bouncy musical score that screams the 1930's makes up for the flaws of this family film that seemed rather dated in the turbulent early 1980's.
it was a return to family films for Julie Andrews for the first time since "The Sound of Music", and interestingly enough, she takes a secondary part.
Who better in 1980 to play the role of the cynical Sorrowful Jones than the rubber faced Walter Matthau who had been playing grumpy old men since he was a grumpy young man?
This fourth version of the Damon Runyon story is sweet and enjoyable, but once the first fraction of family sought, it quickly disappeared.In her only film appearance, Sarah Simpson is an instant scene stealer as the young tot who is left by her gambling father as a marker so he can go out and collect money that he owes Matthau.
of course, daddy never makes it back, leaving the girl for math how to raise, and what day help of pretty horse owner Andrews, he begins to learn that underneath his W.C. Fields child-hating facade is a sweet sentimental man easily taken in by her charm, and equally enamored of the lovely Julie.Demoted down to the role of the mobster, Tony Curtis (previously Sorrowful in 1962's "40 Pounds of Trouble") still shows his sparkle, commanding every moment he is on screen.
Bob Newhart, Brian Dennehy, Lee Grant and Kenneth McMillan play smaller roles, but pretty much melt into the background anytime math out, Andrews and Simpson are on screen.
It is a pleasant diversion but really nothing exciting, which explains why this has become a rather obscure footnote indeed careers of its stars.
The abundance of films at the time with nostalgic themes also worked against its favor.
It is still a pleasure to see you again after all these years, having gone to see it in its brief release that unfortunately word-of-mouth couldn't help.
Today, fans of Matthau and Andrews have either forgotten about it or didn't even know of its existence.
For them, then, it is a real treat..
fun little race track caper.
The recurring theme music is almost "What a Day for a Daydream", with a jazzy twist.
Walter Matthau is "Jones", the grouchy old bookie, and when someone owes him money, they leave their daughter as collateral.
Supporting roles by Julie Andrews, Tony Curtis, Bob Newhart, Brian Dennehy.
Its a fun, cozy little film, but sadly no big magic.
The best things about this film are the premise...
someone's little daughter as an I.O.U., and the nicknames of the various cast members.
Newhart is "Regret", Matthau is "Sorrowful Jones", Lee Grant is "the Judge", and Sara Stimson is "the Kid".
Don't forget Randy Hermann as "Fleabag Hotel Clerk".
Based on a story by Damon Runyon, which has been remade several times.
Jones and Amanda race a horse, and might fall in love in the process.
The poor little girl is always asking when her dad is coming back, and Jones never knows what to say...
so of course, "the Kid" goes looking for dad on her own.
Jones finally has to tell her the truth, and that ain't easy.
It's a fun, low-key caper.
"Hopscotch" was the OTHER film Matthau made that year, and it's SO much better.
Some fun names in Little Miss Marker.
Needs to move a little faster, or something.
Both Andrews and Matthau had won Oscars for earlier roles.
This one isn't bad...
just not great.