War Babies

War Babies from 1932 is a fascinating piece of experimental cinema, demonstrating the unique and enduring talent of the one and only Shirley Temple. One can trace her phenomenal career timeline back to this distinct film, where a young Shirley, not yet five, portrays a capricious singer-dancer, Charmaine, in a child-sized version of a Parisian café setting.

Her co-stars include Georgie Billings, also a child actor, and Eugene Butler, another notable name in the realm of youth entertainment during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Each of them contributed greatly towards the humourous and hearty tone of this film, bringing a whimsical, endearing allure to the otherwise grim atmosphere of their mature surroundings. These war babies strive to emulate the realities of adult interaction within the microcosm of their childlike world.

The plot, one could say, is a clean satire on war and its consequential societal impact, all portrayed in a jovial and light-hearted vein, very much a testament to director Charles Lamont's flair for saturating heavy themes with humour. The narrative transpires in Buttermilk Pete's café, a child-populated universe where they engage in parodies of the activities carried out by adults and soldiers at war. Baby Burlesks, a series of eight American short subject films, organized this mise-en-scene, which produced one-reelers featuring pre-schoolers clad in adult costumes mimicking the adult world's melodrama.

Shirley Temple, in her second screen appearance, is the singing and dancing waitress of the busy café. Her character, Charmaine, receives much attention from the cookie-dough soldiers who frequent the café. Charmaine, with her oozing charm and undeniable talent, becomes a source of inspiration, fascination, and entertainment for the child soldiers as they take a break from their faux war games. Although she is the main charmer for every soldier in the café, her heart wavers towards Billings' character, who plays her recurring customer.

Georgie Billings, an essential figure in building the narrative's relationship dynamics, portrays a young soldier brief on lollipop change but full of love for Temple's Charmaine. He earnestly attempts to win her affections even though he cannot always pay for his milkshake bills. Billings brings a touching innocence to his character, adding an additional level of depth to the narrative

Eugene Butler fits comfortably into the supporting role spectrum, contributing to the setting's lively ambiance and effectively participating in the café and playground's day-to-day drama. For this story told from a child's perspective, every character is essential in maintaining the narrative’s expressiveness, with Butler playing his part commendably.

The film is a testament to the creative spirit of early Hollywood, and while disconcerting to some due to the surprisingly accurate portrayal of adult themes by children, it remains a noteworthy project. It cleverly employs comedy to satirize the complexities of war and its social implications, featuring pint-sized soldiers and a charming hostess who navigates her way through love and duty.

At the end of the day, War Babies is a significant entry in early 20th-century cinema history, not only for Shirley Temple's first few screen appearances but for its multi-faceted narrative that speaks of war, camaraderie, budding romance, childhood innocence, and societal roles in a way that can only be appreciated by embracing the duality of its interpretation. A viewing of this film will leave you pondering over its undertones, quirks, and the incredible ability of these child actors who made it an entertainment piece worth remembering.