Films › Kid 'in' Africa (1933)
Kid 'in' Africa
The final Baby Burlesks short, released October 6, 1933, with Shirley Temple credited as 'Madame Cradlebait.'
Production Background
Kid 'in' Africa was released October 6, 1933 as the eighth and final film in the Baby Burlesks series. 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, by then five years old, played the character listed on her Wikipedia filmography as 'Madame Cradlebait.' She earned the standard series rate of $10 a day.
Synopsis
A specific plot summary for Kid 'in' Africa is not provided in the Wikipedia sources consulted. The Shirley Temple Wikipedia article cites it among her Baby Burlesks appearances; the Baby Burlesks article identifies it as the closing entry in the series.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Charles Lamont
- Producer: Jack Hays
- Shirley Temple as: Madame Cradlebait
Behind the Scenes
Specific behind-the-scenes anecdotes for Kid 'in' Africa are not documented in the Wikipedia sources consulted. In her later commentary on the Baby Burlesks, Shirley Temple described the series as 'a cynical exploitation of our childish innocence' and stated the shorts 'were sometimes racist or sexist' — a description that the Baby Burlesks Wikipedia article presents in the general series context rather than tied to any one title.
This short was the last entry in the series; Temple soon moved up to the longer-format Frolics of Youth two-reelers at Educational Pictures.
Reception & Legacy
No contemporary critical record is documented in the Wikipedia sources consulted. As of 2009, all eight Baby Burlesks shorts including Kid 'in' Africa were available on videocassette and DVD. The film also circulates freely via the Internet Archive.
Fun Facts
- Released October 6, 1933.
- The eighth and final Baby Burlesks short.
- Shirley Temple was credited as 'Madame Cradlebait.'
- Directed by Charles Lamont, produced by Jack Hays.
- Made for Educational Pictures.
- Runtime is approximately 10–11 minutes.
- After Kid 'in' Africa, Temple graduated to the Frolics of Youth two-reelers.
- All Baby Burlesks were available on videocassette and DVD by 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kid 'in' Africa about?
It is the eighth and final Baby Burlesks short, a 10–11 minute pre-Code parody with preschoolers in adult roles. Wikipedia does not include a full plot summary.
Was Kid 'in' Africa Shirley Temple's first film?
No. It was her eighth and final Baby Burlesks appearance, released October 6, 1933.
How old was Shirley Temple in Kid 'in' Africa?
She was five years old at release (born April 23, 1928; released October 6, 1933).
Is Kid 'in' Africa 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 Kid 'in' Africa for free?
The Internet Archive hosts the short; shirleytemplefilms.com embeds the Internet Archive player.