Former child star Jackie Cooper headlines this sentimental behind-the-scenes comedy drama. He plays an ex-child star who now jerks sodas for a living in Hollywood. He gets back into the movie business when he overhears a conversation between producers discussing their newest prodigy. Cooper butts in and suggests the producers remake Skippy (a real-life 1931 film that made young Cooper a star). The bigwigs like the idea and then hire Cooper to become the boy's acting coach. Once back on the backlot, Cooper finds both trouble and romance while helping the young boy adjust to life as a movie star.
Acting
Cooper's self-aware performance winking at his own faded stardom.
Writing
Meta premise: remaking a film that made the lead actor famous.
Director
Ted Tetzlaff
Jackie Cooper
Tiny Barlow
Susanna Foster
Joan Winslow
Walter Abel
Anthony J. Colder
Darryl Hickman
Billy Doran
Ann Gillis
Brenda Lee
William Demarest
Papa Doran
Jackie Searl
Georgie Clemons
John Gallaudet
Mickey Fadden
William Wright
Hank Landon
Charles D. Brown
Martin Carmichael
Norma Varden
Mrs. Lee
Kay Linaker
Mrs. Emily Colder
Maude Eburne
Borax Betty
Josephine Whittell
Helga Harris
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Cooper really was a massive child star from Skippy (1931), and this was Paramount's attempt to revive his fading career by leaning into his own mythology.
Released right as Shirley Temple's stardom was peaking, this quietly critiques the very child-star machine Temple embodied. Awkward timing or intentional?
US
