Wee Willie Winkie 1937

Wee Willie Winkie


(aka "Rudyard Kipling's Wee Willie Winkie")

20th Century-Fox, 1937, B/W, 100 minutes, ***

Released July, 1937



Shirley Temple becomes a little soldier serving the Queen in this blend of comedy and wartime drama based on a story by Rudyard Kipling and directed by John Ford. Born in America, Priscilla Williams (Shirley) arrives in India to live with her grandfather, a crusty old colonel she's never met. Life on an army post isn't easy and the colonel isn't used to having a little girl around, but Priscilla quickly earns the affection of everyone she meets, including the local rebel leader, Khoda Khan (Cesar Romero), and tough Sgt. MacDuff (Victor McLaglen). To win her grandfather's approval, she tries to become a soldier, donning a uniform and drilling with the troops. When all out war threatens, Shirley proves just how good a soldier she is, by showing the adults that avoiding senseless bloodshed isn't nearly as hard as they think. Through it all, Shirley is front and center - and a utter delight - as Private Wee Willie Winkie.

In Charge of Production: Darryl F. Zanuck

Associate Producer: Gene Markey

Directed by: John Ford

Screen Play by: Ernest Pascal and Julien Josephson

Based upon the story by Rudyard Kipling

Music Score by: Alfred Newman

Art Direction: William Darling, David Hall

Set Decorations by: Thomas Little

Costumes: Gwen Wakeling

Sound: Eugene Grossman, Roger Heman

Photography: Arthur Miller

Film Editor: Walter Thompson



Awards: Academy Award nomination for Best Interior Decoration (William S. Darling and David Hall)



Cast: Shirley Temple [Priscilla Williams], Victor McLaglen [Sergeant MacDuff], C. Aubrey Smith [Colonel Williams], June Lang [Joyce Williams], Michael Whalen [Coppy (Lieut. Brandes)], Cesar Romero [Khoda Khan], Constance Collier [Mrs. Allardyce], Douglas Scott [Mott], Gavin Muir [Captain Bibberbeigh], Willie Fung [Mohammet Dihn], Brandon Hurst [Bagby], Lionel Pape [Major Allardyce], Clyde Cook [Pipe Major Sneath], Lauri Beatty [Elsie Allardyce], Lionel Braham [Major-General Hammond], Mary Forbes [Mrs. MacMonachie], Cyril McLaglen [Corporal Tummel], Pat Somerset [Officer], Hector Sarno [Driver], Additional Cast: Jack Pennick [Soldier Guard], George Hassell [MacMonachie], Noble Johnson [Sikh Policeman], Scotty Mattraw [Merchant], Louis Vincenot [African Chieftain]



Musical Program: [0:55] several unidentified instrumentals played in background at dance, including Auld Lang Syne (waltz arrangement played by band at dance, danced by Joyce Williams and Michael Whalen and other couples); [1:17] Auld Lang Syne (sung by Shirley Temple at Victor McLaglen's deathbed); [1:19] funeral dirge played on bagpipes; [1:39] Auld Lang Syne (instrumental arrangement played by Orchestra behind end credits); There is a lot of bagpipe music played by the British troops -- the military equivalent of bugle calls, I assume.