''Captain January'' is a 1936 American

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

comedy-drama film Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, illness, betrayal, grief, etc. ...

directed by David Butler. The screenplay by Sam Hellman,

Gladys Lehman Gladys Lehman (née Collins; 1892–1993) was a prolific American screenwriter who had a long career in Hollywood. Biography Lehman was born in Gates, Oregon, in 1892 to James Collins and Lois Gates. She was the eldest of the couple's four c ...

, and Harry Tugend is based on the 1890 children's book of the same name by Laura E. Richards. The film stars

Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black (born Shirley Jane Temple; April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and diplomat, who was Hollywood's number-one box-office draw as a child actress from 1934 to 1938. Later, she was na ...

Guy Kibbee Guy Bridges Kibbee (March 6, 1882 – May 24, 1956) was an American stage and film actor. Early years Kibbee was born in El Paso, Texas. His father was editor of the ''El Paso Herald-Post'' newspaper, and Kibbee learned how to set type at age ...

, and

Sara Haden Sara Haden (born Catherine Haden, November 17, 1898 – September 15, 1981) was an American actress of the 1930s through the 1950s and in television into the mid-1960s. She may be best remembered for appearing as Aunt Milly Forrest in 14 of the ...

. There was a tentative attempt at a copyright renewal, but now the film is in the public domain due to "a legal loophole".

Plot

Kindly

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

keeper, Captain January, has been raising and educating Star, a sweet, eight-year-old girl he rescued after her parents drowned at sea when she was a baby. He is helped by his two friends, Captain Nazro and Paul Roberts, a mariner. Truant officer Agatha Morgan determines that Star's home schooling is inadequate. Star is then tested and admitted to the third grade. Meanwhile, Mrs. Croft, a friendly widow, has been attempting to woo Captain January. Nazro receives a notice that all lighthouses are being fully automated by the end of the month, displacing lighthouse keepers. Knowing that January will be unable to support Star, Nazro writes to George Mason, who he believes may be Star's uncle. January is devastated over losing his job, while Nazro grows concerned that his letter to Mr. Mason goes unanswered, knowing Morgan will place Star in an orphanage. January is furious to learn Nazro has contacted Mr. Mason and vows never to give up Star. Soon after, Nazro arrives and warns January that Morgan is coming to take Star. January and Star hide out on Nazro's boat, but the authorities soon find them and Star is taken. A court hearing is scheduled, but Star's aunt and uncle, who have been out of the country for several years, arrive and assume custody of their niece. The wealthy Masons provide Star a happy and privileged life, but she deeply misses January. Mr. and Mrs. Mason take Star to see their new yacht. Star is ecstatic to discover that January is the captain, Nazro the first mate, and Paul the deckhand. To January's surprise, Mrs. Croft is the cook.

Cast

as Helen 'Star' Mason, an 8-year-old girl who is a foundling rescued from the sea by Capt. January *

as Captain January, the lighthouse keeper at Cape Tempest, Maine * Slim Summerville as Captain Nazro, January's friend *

Buddy Ebsen Buddy Ebsen (born Christian Ludolf Ebsen Jr.; April 2, 1908 – July 6, 2003), also known as Frank "Buddy" Ebsen, was an American actor and dancer. One of his most famous roles was as Jed Clampett in the CBS television sitcom ''The Beverly Hillb ...

as Paul Roberts, January's friend *

as Agatha Morgan, a stern truant officer * June Lang as Mary, a young, kindhearted schoolteacher *

Jane Darwell Jane Darwell (born Patti Woodard; October 15, 1879 – August 13, 1967) was an American actress of stage, film, and television. With appearances in more than 100 major movies spanning half a century, Darwell is perhaps best remembered for her p ...

as Mrs. Eliza Croft, a widow smitten with Capt. January * Jerry Tucker as Cyril Morgan a 10-year-old boy * George Irving as John Mason, Star's uncle *

Nella Walker Nella Walker (March 6, 1886 – March 22, 1971) was an American actress and vaudeville performer of the 1920s through the 1950s. Biography The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker, she was born and raised in Chicago. In 1910, she marrie ...

as Mrs. Mason, Star's aunt * Si Jenks as Old Sailor

Production

The movie was the first to use the new sound stage 20th Century Fox dedicated to Will Rogers in 1935. Temple learned her multiplication tables while doing the tap dance sequence down the spiral staircase. There were two notable animal rights abuses on the set during the making of this movie. In the famous Codfish Ball sequence, real lobsters were used on the set as a prop but were deemed potentially hazardous and were cooked and repainted their natural red color. In another scene, a live crane was brought in. The bird kept pecking at Temple's eyes, however and as a way of solving this problem, nails were driven through the webbing of the crane's feet, anchoring it to the ground. The bird was brought from Florida by a bird fancier and stood tall, with grey colored plumage desirable for filming. The bird mimicked movements from its trainer to achieve the dancing effect and was rewarded with fish when the movements were followed correctly. Temple performed unintentional

ad-lib In music and other performing arts, the phrase (; or 'as you desire'), often shortened to "ad lib" (as an adjective or adverb) or "ad-lib" (as a verb or noun), refers to various forms of improvisation. The roughly synonymous phrase ('in acc ...

during a scene with co-stars Kibbee and Summerville as they burlesqued the sextette from Lucia. Temple struggled to hit the high notes needed during the musical number and shooting was about to be halted when Temple found a note she was unable to reach. She conveyed frustration and proclaimed "it's too high, too high" in timing with the music, before continuing once the notes dropped back to a range she could handle. Director David Butler liked the naturalness of the scene and felt this was more preferable than a perfect rendition and accepted the take without any changes. In a scene with Buddy Ebsen near the water, Shirley was originally bare-chested. However, complaints from a woman's organization led to the scene being remade with Shirley wearing a top.

References

;Footnotes ;Works cited * *

External links

* * *
''Captain January''
color
''Captain January''
black & white * {{David Butler 1936 films American black-and-white films Films directed by David Butler 20th Century Fox films American musical comedy-drama films 1930s musical comedy-drama films Films based on children's books Films set in Maine Films about orphans Articles containing video clips Films set in lighthouses 1936 comedy films 1936 drama films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language musical comedy-drama films

Plot

Cast

Production

See also

References

External links