When you think of classic child movie stars, the first names that probably come to mind are Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, and Natalie Wood. While they were charming, memorable, and deservedly iconic in their own right, I can't help but feel sad that others are constantly overlooked in favor of them. Jane Withers is a perfect example of the underrated classic child actor. She was adorable, endearing, and as sassy as they come. Even though little Jane wasn't as well-known as some of her peers, we are extremely lucky we get the chance to appreciate her now through all of her films that have been released to the public, like Little Miss Nobody.

Little Miss Nobody centers around a young, mischievous, and sassy orphan named Judy Devlin (Withers). Known for being the troublemaker at her orphanage, she mostly acts out when someone has done her or her friends wrong; whether it's making sure the fellow orphans have food for Thanksgiving or seeking revenge on behalf of a little dog, Judy always starts trouble accidentally and with the purest intentions, even if it doesn't always come across that way to the adults. When her equally adorable but more innocent best friend Mary Dorsey (Betty Jean Hainey) is set to be adopted by an insufferable family, you just know Judy will think of something to save her pal. As luck would have it, district attorney Gerald Dexter (Ralph Morgan) waltzes into the Sunshine Home on the same day Mary is to be adopted and taken away.

It turns out Gerald is looking for a baby, his baby, that was brought to the orphanage years ago. The only thing he knows about the baby is that a unique crest might have been embroidered on its clothes. From having seen her baby records and clothes in a box some time ago, Judy knows the crest belongs to her. Instead of saying the truth while she has the chance, she switches her and Mary's records, to make it seem like Gerald's long-lost baby is Mary. It's an incredibly selfless thing to do, and a good deed Judy keeps to herself. Mary goes with her 'father' and lives a life of luxury. Judy gets sent off to reform school for all of the trouble she has caused over the years. Escaping before she even arrives at the school, a kind-hearted man named John Russell (Harry Carey) takes her in and they live happily for a while, until his criminal past starts to catch up with him. The main thing running through your mind is if Mr. Dexter will ever know the truth about Judy.

I can't tell you how much you are going to love Jane Withers in this film. I was prepared to see a Shirley Temple wannabe and instead I got a completely original child actor. This particular role required both heart and sass, and Jane certainly delivers on both accounts. You never feel like she isn't having a good time, and her enthusiasm and pure joy is infectious.


Besides Little Miss Nobody, other films featuring Jane worth checking out are Paddy O'Day, High School, and Bright Eyes (where she appears opposite Shirley Temple). The role of Gerald Dexter was an unusual one for Ralph Morgan who was mostly known for playing villains throughout his lengthy career. Harry Carey (Mr. Russell) was a popular character actor during his day who co-starred in Westerns such as Angel and the Badman and Ghost Town. He was also nominated for a Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, where he acted opposite Jean Arthur and James Stewart.

Little Miss Nobody is great escapism and I'm not talking 'action, car, end of the world bombing' type of escapism. I mean the type of escapism where you can turn off your cell phone and immerse yourself in the best cotton candy-ness treat imaginable for a little over an hour. I showed the movie to a friend of mine a while ago. She, like most teenagers, finds most black-and-white films a bore and normally can't sit through them. However, she was fully engaged with this one and fell in love with Judy Devlin immediately, and you will too!

Valerie Frederick, a typical young woman who just happens to be in love with classic films and French fries, writes about the golden age of cinema from a teen's perspective.