The Holy Terror (1937)

Fans of Jane Withers and Naval Aviation fans will like The Holy Terror, but this is one sadly dated film about a young girl who needs either to be on some meds or a good spanking who accidentally uncovers a nest of spies. Where else, but at the local hash house where the sailors go on a pass.

Young Jane rather than liking dolls or even boys at her age loves model airplanes which she flies at the most inopportune moments, causing a great deal of embarrassment for her father John Eldredge. Other than that she sings and dances as the sailors try to put on a show in the manner of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. But it's how she finds the spies who are taking notice of our advances in aviation for some unnamed foreign power.

Seeing those ancient biplanes taking off from a carrier deck even though this film was studio bound was interesting to say the least. Harry Akst and Sidney Clare wrote a score of unmemorable songs for this film. Tony Martin, Leah Ray, El Brendel, Joan Davis, and Joe E. Lewis all contribute their talents and Davis comes off the best.

Nothing to run home to watch TCM if The Holy Terror is broadcast.