My wife and son both looked at me as if I were a bit off when I rented Now and Forever. They wanted to know what I saw in a Shirley Temple movie. Other than The Bachelor and the Bobbie Soxer, I have honestly never even seen a Shirley Temple movie, and was not actually interested in seeing one. However, Now and Forever stars two of my favorite old time actors, Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard. I always like finding great pairings of famous stars.

Cooper and Lombard play married couple Jerry and Toni Day. They travel the world having the time of their lives. They are not rich, they simply swindle money out of people and leave hotels without paying their bills. One day Jerry gets a note from his brother in-law, who has been taking care of Jerry's baby girl, Penelope, ever since his first wife died. Jerry decides to blackmail his brother in-law into paying him all kinds of money in exchange for giving him full custody of Penelope.

Toni suddenly gets a conscious and goes her own way. Jerry makes the trip and seals the deal, until he happens to run into his daughter. They spend the afternoon playing pirates, and Jerry falls under her charm. He forgoes the money and takes Penny with him.

Jerry is still without employment and is soon back to his old ways. He sells a phony goldmine to some sucker, Felix, and then hops a ship with Penny to Europe. The only problem is that Felix is likewise aboard.

Once in France, they run back into Toni. She still loves Jerry but is tired of his ways, and thinks he is unfit to raise a child. "You wouldn't know a responsibility if you fell over one in the street." She tells him shortly after discovering his goldmine scheme has gone awry.

To prove Toni wrong Jerry gets a job, while Penny makes friends with a rich old woman, Mrs Crane. Felix then shows his true colors. He is a con-artist as well and tries to blackmail Jerry into stealing Mrs Cranes necklace. Meanwhile, Mrs Crane sees right through Jerry. "You don't make much money and you spend a lot. That sounds like adventure to me, and if that's the case, Penny will get in your way someday." She offers to take Penny and raise her.

Will Jerry steal the necklace? If not, will Felix turn him in? Will Toni stick by Jerry's side? Will Jerry give Penny to Mrs Crane, to live a nice life? Or maybe, just maybe, Jerry will now and forever do the right thing?

I rented this film because of Cooper and Lombard, but it is not either of theirs best work. Cooper comes across more as a lunk head than a party boy. Clark Gable, and his shit eating grin, could have added some spark to this role. Lombard has very little to do and is fairly forgettable.

Shirley Temple does, in fact, steal the entire movie. Granted, this is not a great film, so take that as it may. She has the brightest smile and happiest presence. No wonder she was so popular during the depression. Here was a happy child oblivious to any real problems. She sings one song, but I just liked watching her act. In some scenes she has several lines of dialogue spoken all in one take. I had a hard time getting my 10 year old to remember to wipe his butt, how did this 6 year old remember her lines. Supposedly Temple memorized the entire scripts of her films. In one scene, that she does with Guy Standing, you can see her mouthing his lines as he says them to her. I honestly rented this DVD for Cooper and Lombard, but the only thing I enjoyed of it was Temple.

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