Captain January
Tags: romantic, melodrama

Plot synopsis:
Captain January (Baby Peggy) is a young girl who lives in a lighthouse in Maine with her guardian, Jeremiah "Daddy" Judkins (Hobart Bosworth). Judkins, who is the lighthouse keeper, rescued January from a shipwreck when she was an infant. The only clue to the baby's identity was a locket with a photograph of a woman around her neck, so Judkins adopted her as his own daughter.
January helps Judkins with his tasks around the lighthouse. As Judkins' heart begins to fail and his health worsens, these tasks become increasingly more complicated and important. In one instance, January must ascend to the top of the lighthouse by herself to light the lamps. The local townsfolk become skeptical of Judkins' ability to care for the girl, and try to have her taken away.
January is saved from the orphanage by a chance meeting with Isabelle Morton (Irene Rich), an affluent young woman who comes to visit the lighthouse. She believes that January looks familiar; when she sees the photograph in the locket, she identifies January as her late sister's child.
Isabelle wishes to adopt January and reunite her with her blood relatives. Faced with his poor health and the scrutiny of the townspeople, Judkins agrees. However, the girl is miserable in her new surroundings, runs away, and finds her way back to the lighthouse. Judkins and the Morton family finally devise a means to make everyone happy: January returns to the Mortons, and Judkins is employed on the family's yacht, ensuring that he will always be able to visit his former daughter.

Review: Typical Temple Movie - Which Means Feel-Good Fun. Here's another "cute" Shirley Temple movie with interesting characters and a decent share of good song-and-dance numbers.
The story is similar to a few other Temple films in which a nasty person takes Shirley away from the good people but the good guys prevail in the end.
It was a tried-and-true formula in the Temple movies.Here, the "villain" is truant officer (Sara Haden) who wants to take Shirley away from good guy "Captain January" (Guy Kibbe).
Haden is effective in her role because you just want to slap that woman!Shirley and Buddy Ebsen team up for a very entertaining song-and-dance routine to "The Codfish Ball," the best song in the movie.The film gets a bit uncomfortable when Shirley gets taken away but ends in the normal tearfully-happy Shirley, as always, back with her loved ones and the people who really care about her.
Those include the "widow" played by Jane Darwell and the school teacher, acted by June Lang.All in all, it's the normal Temple movie that provides good feelings, something we viewers always need..
I love this film -- one of the sweetest Shirley Temple's movies(all right, I'm always saying that).
Shirley plays Star, an orphan found by Captain January(played by Guy Kibbee), who is the guardian of a Light House.
Shirley is sweet as always, singing and dancing, especially in "At the Codfish ball" and "The Right Somebody to love".
Anyway, a very enjoyable movie with the great child-star Shirley Temple, with a great cast of co-stars and a great humor!It's very fun to watch!Lovely!.
Another Shirley Temple Family Film Classic.
A vindictive truant officer attempts to wrest little Star from CAPTAIN JANUARY, the old lighthouse keeper who saved her from a watery grave.Shirley Temple captivates her audience once again in this, one of her most popular films.
Singing & dancing, laughing or crying, she once again exhibits all the talents which for years made her top of the Hollywood box office heap.It's difficult to imagine anyone other than cuddly Guy Kibbee in the title role.
Pretty June Lang plays the sweet village schoolteacher.Amiable hoofer Buddy Ebsen joins Shirley in a wonderful song & dance number, The Cod Fish Ball.' Tall & pliable, with plenty of goofy facial expressions, Buddy's performance gives a little idea as to how much he might have contributed to THE WIZARD OF OZ three years later over at Metro, had not health reasons forced him to withdrawal.Shirley also sings Early Bird' and, in a delightful nursery fantasy, The Right Somebody To Love.'.
The Captain's Kid. CAPTAIN January (Fox, 1936), directed by David Butler, is prime Shirley Temple in a formula story about an orphan named Star who is being raised by Captain January (Guy Kibbee), a crusty old lighthouse keeper of Cape Tempest, Maine, after being rescued from a shipwreck that has drowned both her parents four years ago.
All goes well until Agatha Morgan (Sara Haden), a new tyrant officer from Salem, who feels that the child isn't being reared properly, makes arrangements to take the child away from him and have her placed in an institution.Based on the story by Laura E.
Richards, CAPTAIN January is an updated reworking to an earlier 1924 Principal Pictures 1924 silent version starring Baby Peggy, Hobart Bosworth and Irene Rich.
As much as this new adaptation has the makings of a straight drama, due to Temple's musical talents, and the support of a young hoofer named Buddy Ebsen (on loan from MGM), song numbers were inserted to give it some added sparkle.
With the score by Lew Pollack, Sidney Mitchell and Jack Yellen, songs include: "Early Bird" (sung by Shirley Temple); "The Codfish Bowl" (sung and danced by Temple with Buddy Ebsen); a portion from "Lucia di Lammermoor" (an opera by Gaetana Donizetti, performed by Temple, Guy Kibbee and Slim Summerville) "The Right Somebody to Love" (sung by Temple/ and unseen chorus during dream sequence); "The Right Somebody to Love" (reprise by Temple) and "The Codfish Bowl" (sung by Temple, Kibbee and Summerville).
With the exception of a dream sequence, where singing is possible, all the other song numbers are inserted the story, with the music played by an off-screen orchestra right on cue.
Temple awakens, stretches her arms into the air and looking straight into the camera starts singing the opening lyrics of "Good Morning" which begins her opening number of "Early Bird." She dances her way to the bathroom where she changes into her sailor clothes, and occasionally continues to look her way towards the camera as she brushes her teeth.
A little fake, but not as imaginative as her next number, "The Codfish Bowl," displaying the dancing talents of both Temple and Buddy Ebsen.
Slocum(; and James Farley(The Deputy Sheriff).While 20th Century-Fox might have used some of its own resident lovable old coots as Claude Gillingwater Sr., playing Captain January, for example, the studio used Guy Kibbee from Warner Brothers, who, in the final product, proved to be the logical choice.
Kibbee also makes a memorable over-sized baby with a bib sitting in the high chair in an amusing dream sequence with Temple acting as his nursemaid.Aside from some melodramatic scenes, including Temple crying for "Cap" as she is being being taken away by the officers after losing his position as lighthouse keeper, CAPTAIN January is equipped with amusements, the best being the exchanges between Guy Kibbee and the underrated Slim Summerville as Captain Nazro, January's best friend, along with the middle-aged Eliza Croft (Jane Darwell), a rich widow woman after the affections of January.
Buddy Ebsen, years before immortalized on television as Jed Clampett in THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (1962-1971), supports as the loafer with a talent for dancing who finds companionship with the local school teacher named Mary (June Lang).
Temple, who rarely gets a chance to share screen time with another child actor of equal age status, does so this time with Cyril Morgan (Jerry Tucker), a precocious but obnoxious little boy with whom she finds she has to compete in an entrance exam to enter the third grade.
As much as the boy keeps telling Star that she knows nothing, this equally precocious little girl eventually displays how much she does know and more.CAPTAIN January, at 76 minutes, was one of the handful of feature films displayed in 1989 on Playhouse Video, a division of CBS/Fox Video, as part of the Shirley Temple collection.
When the Disney Cable Channel presented Shirley Temple movies in the early 1990s, all of which were colorized, the closing cast credits were included while prints for American Movie Classics (1996-2001) and later, the Fox Movie Channel, in the original black and white format, eliminated the closing credits with an insertion of a THE END title card taken from another movie.
While the Shirley Temple collection from Playhouse Video has been out of print, CAPTAIN January can also found colorized in both the VHS and DVD format.Regardless of format CAPTAIN January, is recommended viewing for adults and youngsters alike, especially those who endure themselves with old-fashioned screen entertainment equipped with comedy, songs and a touch sentiment combined.
This is the kind of film to make anyone a SHIRLEY TEMPLE fan.
Here the little miss is once again an orphan but this time a kind-hearted lighthouse keeper (Guy Kibbe) is raising her as his own.
Troubles come when the local schoolmarm decides Shirley needs a better education and upbringing.Shirley not only sings a couple of bright tunes, but has a big dance scene on the wharf with Buddy Ebsen--complete with intricate taps and all kinds of whirls as they dance to "At the Codfish Ball".
This and her opening number "Early Bird" are among the film's most charming routines.Shirley gets emotional during the final tug of war where she is being torn away from the Cap, a crying scene that reveals just how deeply felt some of her performances were.Highly recommended..
I had an unusual opportunity to see both the original 1924 version of "Captain January" (Starring Baby Peggy) and the 1936 version (Starring Shirley Temple).
She was raised by a nice old lighthouse keeper (Guy Kibbee) and years later, a nasty old biddy wants to take the child away and put it in an orphanage because she feels the man is a bad influence on the kid.
Either way, it all ends well--and everyone, naturally, is very happy.This is a good family film....but not a great one.
A Pretty Decent One. Actually, Captain January is one of my favorite Temple flix because of the music.
Guest star Buddy Ebsen puts on an entertaining show in the beginning of the movie with little Shirley Temple.
After more than 30 years, I once again enjoyed Shirley Temple's Captain January.
This was the first Shirley Temple movie I remember watching as a kid during the early '80s when I-along with my siblings and parents-visited some family friends in Gulfport, Mississippi.
That title character was warmly played by Guy Kibbee and most of the best scenes are between him and Ms. Temple.
Also loved Buddy Ebsen-especially when he's dancing with Shirley-and Slim Summerville.
There were also plenty of laughs like the scenes of Shirley and Jerry Tucker-who had quite a year in 1936 as he was not only a member of Our Gang performing with the likes of Spanky, Alfalfa, and Darla, but also appearing with Bing Crosby in Anything Goes and Clark Gable in San Francisco-who plays an arrogant nephew of the truant officer who's not very nice to Captain January.
It is a good story and quite typical of the Shirley Temple movies of the time, but what stands out to me is the songs and innocence of the period..
Captain January is Shirley Temple at her best.
I can't imagine that it is any better than this one.The title role is played by Guy Kibbee who is a lighthouse keeper on the New England coast.
The only disturbance to Kibbee's tranquility is the marriage minded Jane Darwell.That all ends when a new truant officer comes to town played by Sara Haden best known for being the maiden aunt who lived with the Hardy family.
Of course it all works out in the end for our little moppet and for her guardian Captain January.Highlight of the film is Shirley dancing with Buddy Ebsen in the Codfish Ball number.
Slim Summerville has an important role her also as Kibbee's best friend and occasional voice of reality.Captain January holds up well today for the kid in all of us..
Captain January (1936)*** (out of 4) Remake of the 1924 film has Shirley Temple taking over the role originally played by Baby Peggy.
In the film she plays the feisty six-year-old Star who has been raised by Captain January (Guy Kibbee) ever since he found her after a shipwreck killed her parents.
CAPTAIN January is a step up from the original silent version thanks in large part to the terrific cast.
The performances are really what makes this one worth watching with Temple and Kibbee doing a wonderful job together.
Slim Summerville adds terrific support as the best friend and we get a young Buddy Ebsen in a small role and Jane Darwell is also great in her part.
CAPTAIN January, as I said, isn't original and it contains no big twists but it's sweet enough and features such a cast that it's pretty much irresistible..
I'm generally not big on Shirley Temple kid films, although she is a great performer.
This is one of her best films as a child.She is an orphan (isn't she always?) found at sea by an old lighthouse keeper.
Among the lighthouse keeper's buddies are film legends Slim Summerville (sole survivor of "All Quiet on the Western Front") and Buddy Ebsen (surely everyone knows the original Tin Man and Jed Clampett).The film is probably best classified as comedy/drama/music.
Seen these many years later, Temple's vehicles barely get by on story (aided always by musical sequences to bolster the content), and her timing (always too-perfect) and exaggerated reactions might leave most modern viewers rolling their eyes.
Seems Shirl was pulled from a shipwreck by a government-appointed lighthouse keeper, but when a truant officer from the State Board finds out the tyke isn't in school, she threatens to take the kid away.
It doesn't really matter if the prune-faced officer has a point that Temple isn't being raised properly (the woman is turned into the proverbial villainess almost immediately); one can see right away that Temple can hold her own, taking care of herself and her elderly guardian in the bargain (as well as the local widow who has her hooks in for the Captain).
Temple isn't the only one overly-rehearsed; Guy Kibbee's January is cued for wide-eyed reactions so often you wonder if maybe if he didn't film them all in one day.
Little Star (Shirley Temple) lives in a lighthouse with the keeper, Captain January (Guy Kibbee).
Also on hand to help are Cap's argumentative friend, Nazro (Slim Summerville) and sailor Paul (Budde Ebsen).
Cap borrows money from a friend to buy Star a lovely dress and the little girl does so well on the entrance exam, she is put in first grade immediately!
The cast is terrific, with Kibbee, Summerville, Ebsen and the rest supporting the most darling child star ever.
Just watch Temple and the young Ebsen dance to the wonderful At the Codfish Ball.
Be it January, February, March or any other month, get Captain January and know you will be watching one of Shirley's best films ever..
Crusty lighthouse keeper Guy Kibbee (as Captain January) gently rouses a sleeping Shirley Temple (as Star) from her slumber.
Little Miss Temple is estimated to be old enough for the third grade, but since she washed up from the Maine coast, Mr. Kibbee can't be sure of the girl's exact age.
Temple enjoys song and dance time with rubbery-legged fisherman Buddy Ebsen (as Paul Roberts).
He would like to marry schoolteacher June Lang (as Mary Marshall), but the halibut aren't swimming...The fact that Temple lives with Kibbee and doesn't attend school irks newly appointed "truant officer" Sara Haden (as Agatha Morgan).
A "hula dance" by Temple was cut from the film, lest the star appear sexually suggestive; considering Temple is briefly seen donning her "grass skirt" while talking to Mr. Ebsen, excising the number can be understood.
With a fine soundtrack highlighted by "The Right Somebody to Love" (covered by The Mamas & The Papas as the lead song for their 1968 album) and "At the Codfish Ball", plus a perfect co-starring characterization by Kibbee, "Captain January" is quintessential Temple.
She made better movies, but became a more calculating performer...This film is would serve as an excellent first (and possibly last) look at Shirley Temple, especially for young children.********* Captain January (4/17/36) David Butler ~ Shirley Temple, Guy Kibbee, Slim Summerville, Buddy Ebsen.
With the way that mean Truant officer wants to take little Shirley away from the people she has loved and known all her life it starts to look sad for her.
Then when one of the men finds out she has an Aunt and Uncle still alive and they come and claim her before that mean truant officer can take her away things start looking good.
When her Aunt and Uncle call out for the Captain of the boat right there is her old friend Captain January and she is so happy to see him again.
Right there is one of the only movies that the ending is so happy that every time I see it or think about it my eyes bust into tears of joy for that little girl..
Captain January(Guy Kibbee) has been living at his Cape Tempest, Maine,lighthouse with Shirley for 4 years, since her parents died in a boat accident nearby.
Jane played a subsidiary role in 5 of Shirley's films..
Guy Kibbee(January) was borrowed from Warner, while Buddy Ebsen was borrowed from MGM.The central problem of a prospective jobless and Shirleyless January appears to have a solution in the end.
Then, Shirley starts off with "The Codfish Bowl", with Ebsen later joining in, dancing around the wharf area with Shirley.
Then, after Shirley dawns a fancy dress, she and Captains January and Nazro informally sing an opera from "Lucia di Lammermore".
Great Temple film with a wonderful cast.
Let's see...Shirley Temple's best film?
In fact, whenever I see Guy Kibbee in an old movie, I think also of this film.
And, this is the only film I think of when Buddy Ebsen comes to mind.
And then there's that spritely tune "At The Codfish Ball", and the memorable dancing with Ebsen.Temple really was quite remarkable for her age, and while it is easy to criticize the sentimentality of the 1930s, why not just sit back and enjoy the flick.
Guy Kibbee is delightfully gruff as Captain January, the lighthouse keeper who adopted Starr (Temple).
Slim Summerville is just right as the slightly goofy but lovable Captain Nazro, January's friend (and their mock arguments are a hoot).
And the wonderful Jane Darwell is on hand as a widow smitten with Captain January.It's been about 50 years since I saw this flick, and I still remembered the ending.
Hence three brief reviews: (1) Captain January offers a slight story, expertly fashioned and tailored as a vehicle for Shirley Temple, who will most certainly delight her many fans.
A solid support cast includes Slim Summerville, June Lang, Sara Haden and a more subdued than usual Buddy Ebsen.
(2) Better than I remembered – for the first quarter hour anyway, with Shirley singing and dancing and Buddy Ebsen putting over the lively "At the Codfish Ball".
(3) You might be able to stomach Shirley Temple getting all her sums right and even knowing the year that Columbus discovered America, but when it comes to a super helping of flat-footed fogies like Guy Kibbee and Slim Summerville who are determined to paint portraits of quaint rustic simplicity and simple virtue, I pause.