SHOWS FOR YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS TOO : Don’t like football? How about a trying Shirley Temple marathon?
Singing, dancing, crying, pouting and matchmaking. The moppet of all moppets did ‘em all. And you can catch a good bit of it on a Family Channel Shirley Temple movie marathon as an alternative to Super Bowl Sunday football.
First up is the 1936 drama Captain January (noon-1:30 p.m. Family Channel), in which Shirley plays an orphan being raised by a kind lighthouse keeper (Guy Kibbee). A young Buddy Ebsen also stars. A highlight is Shirley and Ebsen dancing to the delightful “The Codfish Ball.”
Shirley introduces the classic ditty “Animal Crackers in My Soup” in the 1935 musical Curly Top (1:30-3 p.m.). She plays--what else?--an adorable orphan who becomes a matchmaker for her older sister (Rochelle Hudson). John Boles also stars.
And, she plays another parentless-tyke involved in a child-custody battle in one of her most popular movies, Bright Eyes (3-5 p.m.). Temple introduced the tune “On the Good Ship Lollipop” in the 1934 tear-jerker, which also stars James Dunn and Jane Withers.
John Ford directed her rousing 1937 vehicle Wee Willie Winkie (5-7 p.m.). Inspired by a Rudyard Kipling story, the action-adventure finds Shirley and her widowed mother coming to live at a British army outpost in India. Victor McLaglen and Cesar Romero also star.
The marathon concludes with Shirley in the lead role of the classic kid’s story, Heidi (7-9 p.m.). The 1937 film, which also stars Arthur Treacher and Jean Hersholt, is one of at least six versions made about the Swiss orphan.
“The Shirley Temple Marathon” begins at noon and runs through 9 p.m. Sunday on The Family Channel. For ages 2 and up.
More Family Shows
Danny Kaye stars as the vagabond Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen (Sunday 10 a.m.-noon) in this 1952 musical biography, which also stars Farley Granger and ballet dancer Jeanmaire. The Frank Loesser score includes the classics “Inchworm,” “Ugly Duckling” and “Thumbelina.” For ages 4 and up.
Film versions of three Shakespearean tragedies airing this week offer quite an introduction to the Bard. Laurence Olivier (who also directs) stars as the moody Prince of Denmark in the 1948 Hamlet (Sunday 1-3:30 p.m. KCET), which won an Academy Award for best picture. Jean Simmons and Peter Cushing co-star. Following “Hamlet” is Richard III (3:30-6 p.m. KCET), also directed by and starring Olivier. The 1955 film, featuring one of the greatest villains of all time, also stars Claire Bloom, Cedric Harwicke and John Gielgud. Following in Olivier’s footsteps is English actor Kenneth Branagh, who directed and stars in 1989’s Henry V (Saturday 9-11:20 p.m. Disney). Branagh, who plays the ambitious 28-year-old English king who challenged the might of France at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, was nominated for Oscars in directing and acting. Mrs. Branagh, aka Emma Thompson, also stars. For ages 11 and up.
Apollo Mission film footage taken by astronauts highlights For All Mankind (Sunday 9-10:20 p.m. Disney), 1989-Oscar winner for best feature documentary. Included are the astronauts’ comments during their mission to the moon. For ages 10 and up.
The Home Matters (Monday 1:30-2 p.m. Discovery) segment “Doctor’s Home Remedies” features Sid Kerchheimer, author of “Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies I and II,” who’ll talk about doctor-tested (and recommended) home remedies for children’s ailments, for everything from diarrhea to hiccups. For parents.
Seven-year-old Nicole (Raven-Symone) is teased by Mark (Mark Curry) and Tyler (Marquise Wilson) that she’ll never get a response to a fan letter she sent her idol. Nicole anxiously awaits an answer. When she doesn’t get a reply, she becomes disappointed until a surprise guest pays a visit. Queen Latifah plays herself on Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper (Friday 9:30-10 p.m. ABC). For ages 7 and up.