even longtime shirley fan may be surprise by now and forever . the movie be film with paramount studio not with shirley parent company twentieth century fox in 1934 and before fox producer darryl zanuck have perfect the successful shirley formula ( cute song and cold heart for her to melt and young couple for her to play cupid to and happy ending ) . thus now and forever fall into the category of a shirley vehicle without the standard shirley story . it be an awkward position for any movie and but this impressive and talented cast make it work . gary cooper and carole lombard star a fun loving and irresponsible con artist jerry and toni day . the only thing that this devote yet dysfunctional duo seem to hate more than be together be be apart . when they be suddenly land with custody of jerry young daughter penny ( shirley temple ) and it be toni and not penny and a many believe who persuade jerry to give up his criminal career . but jerry flounder at his desk job and and desperate to prove that he can provide for his new family and he soon return to thieve and dishonesty . in a standard shirley device and penny try to melt the heart of crusty curmudgeon felix evans and the victim of one of jerry con and but her attempt fails and for evans be reveal to be a con artist himself and and he blackmail jerry into help him steal jewel . the drama and gunfight and death and and sorrow that follow all make this film a very unusual one for little miss sunshine . there be no happy end and no dancing and and only one song sequence ( the cute number the world owe me a living ) . but this do not mean that shirley fan should avoid now and forever . rather and it divergence from the usual shirley story make it more interesting and memorable than many of her other film . but beware represent you should avoid colorized version of this film and and see it in black and white if you can . the color be bright and garish and and unrealistic and and in many scene and shirley famous curl be actually red instead of blonde . yikes .