Films › The Pie-Covered Wagon (1932)
The Pie-Covered Wagon
The third Baby Burlesks short, released October 30, 1932, with three-year-old Shirley Temple among the toddler cast.
Production Background
The Pie-Covered Wagon was the third entry in the Baby Burlesks series, produced by Jack Hays for Educational Pictures and directed by Charles Lamont. The 10- to 11-minute one-reeler was released October 30, 1932 and was distributed through Educational Film Exchanges, Universal Pictures and Fox Film.
Three-year-old Shirley Temple appeared in the cast at the standard Baby Burlesks rate of $10 a day. The Wikipedia filmography lists her on-screen credit simply as 'Shirley.'
Synopsis
The Wikipedia article for this short does not provide a plot summary. Per the series formula established in War Babies and continued throughout the run, Baby Burlesks parodied recent feature films using preschool children in adult costumes; the title evokes the 1923 Western The Covered Wagon.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Charles Lamont
- Producer: Jack Hays
- Shirley Temple as: Shirley
Behind the Scenes
Behind-the-scenes details specific to The Pie-Covered Wagon are not documented in the Wikipedia sources consulted. General Baby Burlesks production facts apply: Shirley Temple was three during the shoot, the running time was 10–11 minutes, and Charles Lamont directed seven of the eight series entries.
Temple later characterized the Baby Burlesks as 'a cynical exploitation of our childish innocence' and observed that the shorts 'were sometimes racist or sexist.'
Reception & Legacy
Wikipedia provides no contemporary critical record for this specific short. As of 2009, all eight Baby Burlesks films, including The Pie-Covered Wagon, were available on videocassette and DVD, and the short can now be viewed on the Internet Archive.
Fun Facts
- Released October 30, 1932.
- The third Baby Burlesks short.
- Runtime is approximately 10–11 minutes.
- Shirley Temple was three years old.
- Produced by Jack Hays, directed by Charles Lamont.
- Distributed through Educational Film Exchanges, Universal, and Fox Film.
- Title parodies the 1923 Paramount Western The Covered Wagon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Pie-Covered Wagon about?
It is the third Baby Burlesks short, a 10–11 minute pre-Code parody using preschool children in adult roles. Wikipedia does not include a specific plot summary.
Was The Pie-Covered Wagon Shirley Temple's first film?
No. It was her third Baby Burlesks appearance, after Runt Page (January 1932) and War Babies (September 1932).
How old was Shirley Temple in The Pie-Covered Wagon?
She was four years old at release (the film came out October 30, 1932; she was born April 23, 1928).
Is The Pie-Covered Wagon 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 The Pie-Covered Wagon for free?
The Internet Archive hosts the short; shirleytemplefilms.com embeds the Internet Archive player.