Amazon.com: Shirley Temple's superstardom in the 1930s was associated with Twentieth Century Fox, but before Fox locked her down she made two films for Paramount. It was 1934, her breakthrough year, and these pictures are not quite yet the showcase vehicles Fox would assemble for their pint-sized meal ticket. Henry Hathaway's Now and Forever casts Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard as world-traveling con artists, suddenly forced to grow up when Coop decides to take charge of his daughter. The lure of diamonds and the easy life is never far away, but rely on Shirley to keep her Daddy on his toes. The dimpled Ms. Temple plays a distinctly supporting role in this one, and her singing and dancing is limited compared to the vehicles she would command within the year. Cooper is all charm, although Lombard is stuck in something of a nag role. Still, a solid enough studio picture of the era, and a logical launching pad for the greatest child star in film history. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Three Great Stars Early in Their Careers
NOW AND FOREVER is an excellent film that I think most people will enjoy. Gary Cooper was already a superstar when this movie was released in 1934 but Carole Lombard was rapidly rising and would be a major star by the end of the year as would the amazing six-year-old Shirley Temple. Some Temple fans may be disappointed that she is not the whole show as normal for Temple vehicles, one person gives the movie a bad review in part because she does not sing but keep in mind Shirley had not yet reached full stardom and wasn't yet established as singing in her films. It's not a children's film (although ... Read More
Rating: - Poor Shirley
Shirley does a wonderful job in this film although there aren't really any flashy song and dance numbers-- you can see her acting talent shine through as she cries after discovering the jewels in her little teddy bear. One of Shirley's earlier films it is one of her better ones.
But, sadly it was ruined by the horrible acting done by the melodramatic acting of her father and her mother in this movie. I felt rather sad for little Shirley for I felt like I was watching child abuse in every scene Shirley was with her father. Not only is her father a liar and a jewel thief but, he seems to have ... Read More
Rating: - TEMPLE, COOPER & LOMBARD SHINE.
With a knock-out cast like this movie has, it will almost certainly please lovers of vintage movies. Jerry Day and Toni Carstairs (Cooper & Lombard) are a pair of vagabond thieves in love. On a boat from Shanghai, Jerry receives word from Connecticut that the parents of his dead wife want to take possession of his little daughter, Penelope. Jerry is willing to sell the tyke to his brother-in-law for $75,OOO - but Toni has different ideas....Although this "Temple film" isn't exactly ideal for the kids (its theme is really too mature) it will please those who will appreciate the clever antics which ensue. ... Read More
Rating: - Deeper than it first appears,
... I hasten to say that Now and Forever is a worthwhile film. Shirley Temple gives a great performance with memorable scenes and lines, as in "Oh, Daddy, you said Honor Bright," when Cooper, as her father, breaks a promise.
Gary Cooper is trying hard not to be completely villanous,and he has his daughter's best interests at heart. My favorite thing about the movie is the way it shows life as being more complicated than just right vs. wrong. That a child is affected by grownup vices seems realistic to me.
Rating: - Not a movie for young children
My entire family disliked this movie and found it inappropriate for children. First of all, Gary Cooper is featured much more than Shirley Temple, and Shirley seems tired throughout most of movie, especially during her dull, listless song and dance routine. Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard were not able to rise above their unrealistic, jaded dialogue, which failed to make them sympathetic characters nor explain why they'd chosen a life of swindling and double-dealing.
I think several events in this movie would be disturbing to children: Gary Cooper's attempt to sell his daughter for a large sum ... Read More
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