Little Miss Broadway is a 1938 American musical drama film directed by Irving Cummings. The screenplay was written by Harry Tugend and Jack Yellen. The film starsShirley Temple in a story about a theatrical boarding house and its occupants, and was originally titled Little Lady of Broadway. In 2009, the film was available on DVD and videocassette.
Plot[]
Betsy Brown is released from an orphanage into the care of Pop Shea, her parents' friend who runs a boarding house for theatrical performers. Sarah Wendling, the curmudgeon owner and next-door neighbor of the building, detests "show people" and their noise, and demands Pop pay the $2,500 back rent he owes or move out immediately. Her nephew Roger is in love with Pop's daughter Barbara and files suit against Sarah in order to gain control of the building and his inheritance, with which he plans to stage a show starring the hotel residents. Sarah questions the soundness of Roger's investment in the show, and Betsy convinces the judge to see the production before he decides the case. With the assistance of her friends, the little girl presents a lavish musical revue in the courtroom that so impresses one of the observers he offers the troupe $2,500 a week to star in his International Follies. Having had a change of heart, Sarah insists the show is worth $5,000 and convinces the impresario to double his offer. Roger and Barbara then announce their intent to wed and adopt Betsy.
Cast[]
- Shirley Temple as Betsy Brown, an orphan
- Edward Ellis as Pop Shea, Betsy's parents' friend
- Edna May Oliver as Sarah Wendling
- Donald Meek as Willoughby Wendling, her brother
- George Murphy as Roger, Sarah's nephew, Betsy's adoptive father
- Phyllis Brooks as Barbara, Pop's daughter, Betsy's adoptive mother
- Jimmy Durante as Jimmy Clayton, a bandleader
- Jane Darwell as Miss Hutchins
- Patricia Wilder as Flossie
- George Barbier as Fiske
- Barbra Bell Cross as Carol, an orphan
- El Brendel as Ole, an animal trainer
- George Brasno as George
- Olive Brasno as Olive