Imagine a series of short, satirical films made in the early 30's. The female star, then unknown, as some other entertainers have done, does work that is more adult and risque than what she later becomes known for: exotic dancing (meanwhile a black male actor in her age range dances and grins on a table, strips down to his underwear, and also dances suggestively), sensual kissing (including a famous kiss), aggressive seduction, implied sexual intercourse, infidelity, prostitution. They were shown in mainstream theatres prior to the main feature, and since there was no rating system, anyone could see them. The female star soon became very famous and popular. You might have have heard of her: her name is Shirley, Shirley Temple. All of the actors were preschoolers, and her first prostitute role was performed when she was 3. Looking back on those early roles, she called them "cynical exploitation of our childhood innocence, and they were occasionally racist and sexist. But they were the best things that I ever did." Later she had a DVD made of these and other early roles, restored and colourized, and the product was prominently advertised on the home page of her official website. Her mother called them good and humorous films and was proud that her daughter would have worn a diaper (standard lower body costume that other child actors strenuously objected to wearing), an evening gown, or nothing with equal indifference.
But what about her innocent child roles? When playing orphans, she spent a lot of time with single and widowed middle aged men! Sometimes she became their love interest or a sort of defacto "wife", and some of them adopted her. In one scene, she appears in a hallucination as Cupid, shooting an arrow into the heart of a wealthy single man who had become besotted with her. She is covered from hairline to toes in glittering gold/gilt paint...and that's it. Where. Was. Her. MOTHER!? Mommy was directing her. (The scene may have failed to make the final cut or was later removed, and the footage may no longer exist.) What about characters who had parents? The mother often died before the story ends, so that she and her father could become closer to each other, eg (sung) "I love to hug and kiss you; marry me, and let me be your wife; in every dream I caress you;..." In "Bright Eyes" the little girl hitchhikes alone.
While many of us today might see collectively incest, pedophilia, and child pornography, people then had a different perspective. It was thought that children were sexually pure, innocent, and in a special state of grace. No adult could possibly even want them that way, let alone abuse them like. If they played sensual adults, their supposed innocence and purity would cleanse and neutralize any provocative, damaging influence, and the practice had been around for a hundred years. Nakedness on their part was thought to provide a wholesome moral and possibly spiritual influence: "edenic state" (mankind before the Fall), "daughter of Eve", Eve's original dress". It was further believed that female children could inspire a wholesome, pure affection in men that could in turn convert them to Christ and/or make them better people. Would providing a wholesome, reforming influence explain at least many of her child roles?
But what about her innocent child roles? When playing orphans, she spent a lot of time with single and widowed middle aged men! Sometimes she became their love interest or a sort of defacto "wife", and some of them adopted her. In one scene, she appears in a hallucination as Cupid, shooting an arrow into the heart of a wealthy single man who had become besotted with her. She is covered from hairline to toes in glittering gold/gilt paint...and that's it. Where. Was. Her. MOTHER!? Mommy was directing her. (The scene may have failed to make the final cut or was later removed, and the footage may no longer exist.) What about characters who had parents? The mother often died before the story ends, so that she and her father could become closer to each other, eg (sung) "I love to hug and kiss you; marry me, and let me be your wife; in every dream I caress you;..." In "Bright Eyes" the little girl hitchhikes alone.
While many of us today might see collectively incest, pedophilia, and child pornography, people then had a different perspective. It was thought that children were sexually pure, innocent, and in a special state of grace. No adult could possibly even want them that way, let alone abuse them like. If they played sensual adults, their supposed innocence and purity would cleanse and neutralize any provocative, damaging influence, and the practice had been around for a hundred years. Nakedness on their part was thought to provide a wholesome moral and possibly spiritual influence: "edenic state" (mankind before the Fall), "daughter of Eve", Eve's original dress". It was further believed that female children could inspire a wholesome, pure affection in men that could in turn convert them to Christ and/or make them better people. Would providing a wholesome, reforming influence explain at least many of her child roles?
