Films › Pardon My Pups (1934)
Pardon My Pups
A Frolics-of-Youth-style Educational short with Shirley Temple as Mary Lou Rogers and Frank Coghlan Jr. as Sonny — a boy, his birthday, and a stray dog.
Production Background
Pardon My Pups is a 1934 Shirley Temple short directed by Charles Lamont and made by Educational Pictures. The Wikipedia article notes the entry needs additional citations for verification and does not list a release date or producer beyond the studio name.
It continues the Frolics-of-Youth-style family-comedy setup: Frank Coghlan Jr. plays Sonny Rogers, with Temple as his sister Mary Lou Rogers — the same character name she carried in Merrily Yours per the Shirley Temple Wikipedia article.
Synopsis
Young Sonny Rogers wants a motorcycle for his birthday, but his father insists on buying an expensive hunting dog instead. Sonny resists — he dislikes dogs and suspects his father wants the animal for himself. After running away, Sonny finds a pregnant stray dog and hides her rather than allow his father to send her to be euthanized. The father eventually discovers the dog is Queeny, the mother of the puppy he had planned to purchase. When Queeny's owner tries to beat her, Sonny intervenes, fights him, and wins permission to keep the dog.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Charles Lamont
- Studio: Educational Pictures
- Sonny Rogers: Frank Coghlan Jr.
- Shirley Temple as: Mary Lou Rogers
- Harry Vanderpool: Kenneth Howell
- Phyllis: Dorothy Ward
- Mr. Rogers: Harry Myers
- Mrs. Rogers: Virginia True Boardman
Behind the Scenes
The Wikipedia article on Pardon My Pups is brief and carries a maintenance notice that the article needs additional citations for verification. Specific behind-the-scenes anecdotes are not documented in the Wikipedia sources consulted.
What the available sources do establish: by 1934 Temple was still under Educational's Frolics of Youth banner (per the Educational Pictures article, which dates the Frolics of Youth shorts 1932–1934 with Frank Coghlan Jr.), still using the 'Mary Lou Rogers' character (per the main Shirley Temple article describing her Frolics of Youth role), and still working under Charles Lamont's direction.
Reception & Legacy
No contemporary critical record for Pardon My Pups is documented in the Wikipedia sources consulted. The short circulates freely on the Internet Archive today.
Fun Facts
- Released 1934 by Educational Pictures.
- Directed by Charles Lamont.
- Shirley Temple plays Mary Lou Rogers; Frank Coghlan Jr. plays her brother Sonny.
- Plot revolves around a stolen birthday, a stray dog, and an unwanted hunting hound.
- Sonny hides a pregnant stray named Queeny from euthanasia.
- Harry Myers plays the father and Virginia True Boardman the mother.
- Wikipedia flags the article as needing additional citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pardon My Pups about?
Sonny Rogers wants a motorcycle for his birthday but is given a hunting dog instead. He hides a pregnant stray, fights her abusive owner, and finally wins permission to keep her.
Was Pardon My Pups Shirley Temple's first film?
No. It was a 1934 short, made after her Baby Burlesks and Merrily Yours / Frolics of Youth work.
How old was Shirley Temple in Pardon My Pups?
She turned six on April 23, 1934; Wikipedia does not list a specific release date within the year.
Is Pardon My Pups in the public domain?
Wikipedia does not formally state its copyright status, but the short circulates freely on the Internet Archive.
Where can I watch Pardon My Pups for free?
The Internet Archive hosts the short; shirleytemplefilms.com embeds the Internet Archive player.