Films › Glad Rags to Riches (1933)
Glad Rags to Riches
The fourth Baby Burlesks short, with Shirley Temple as 'La Belle Diaperina' in a saloon parody released February 5, 1933.
Production Background
Glad Rags to Riches was released February 5, 1933 as the fourth Baby Burlesks short. It was directed by Charles Lamont and produced by Jack Hays for Educational Pictures, with distribution through Educational Film Exchanges, Universal Pictures and Fox Film. The runtime is approximately 10–11 minutes.
Shirley Temple, then three years old, played the character listed in the Shirley Temple filmography as 'Nell / La Belle Diaperina.' The Shirley Temple Wikipedia article describes her in this short as a saloon singer.
Synopsis
Per the Shirley Temple Wikipedia article, Temple appears in Glad Rags to Riches as a saloon singer. A detailed plot summary is not provided in the Wikipedia sources consulted.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Charles Lamont
- Producer: Jack Hays
- Shirley Temple as: Nell / La Belle Diaperina
Behind the Scenes
Behind-the-scenes detail specific to this short is sparse in the Wikipedia sources consulted. The Baby Burlesks paid Temple $10 a day. She was three years old at the time of production.
Temple later described the series as 'a cynical exploitation of our childish innocence,' noting that the shorts 'were sometimes racist or sexist.' A still from Glad Rags to Riches appears in the Baby Burlesks Wikipedia article.
Reception & Legacy
Contemporary critical record is not documented in the Wikipedia sources consulted. As of 2009, the Baby Burlesks shorts including Glad Rags to Riches were available on videocassette and DVD, and the film can now be viewed on the Internet Archive.
Fun Facts
- Released February 5, 1933.
- The fourth Baby Burlesks short.
- Shirley Temple played a saloon singer billed as 'La Belle Diaperina.'
- Directed by Charles Lamont, produced by Jack Hays.
- Made for Educational Pictures.
- Runtime is approximately 10–11 minutes.
- A still from this short illustrates the Baby Burlesks Wikipedia article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Glad Rags to Riches about?
It's a 10–11 minute pre-Code Baby Burlesks parody in which Shirley Temple plays a saloon singer called La Belle Diaperina. Wikipedia does not include a full plot summary.
Was Glad Rags to Riches Shirley Temple's first film?
No. It was her fourth Baby Burlesks appearance, released February 5, 1933.
How old was Shirley Temple in Glad Rags to Riches?
She was four years old at release (the film came out February 5, 1933; she was born April 23, 1928).
Is Glad Rags to Riches in the public domain?
Wikipedia does not formally state its copyright status, but the short circulates freely and is hosted on the Internet Archive.
Where can I watch Glad Rags to Riches for free?
The Internet Archive hosts the short; shirleytemplefilms.com embeds the Internet Archive player.