There's a moment where “Col. Williams,” played by C. Aubrey Smith, voices his wish that his daughter-in-law "Joyce" (June Lang) and granddaughter "Priscilla" (Shirley Temple) will adjust to life within the British Army. It doesn’t take long before it becomes clear that the army itself will be doing the adapting, charmed by this young girl who easily makes friends with even the most grumpy soldiers, including their enemy “Khoda Khan” (Cesar Romero). She quickly finds a protector in the regimental sergeant major "MacDuff" (Victor McLaglen), who even gets her a uniform so she can feel like she’s contributing to the fort's daily operations. Meanwhile, her mother seems drawn to "Lt. Brandes" (Michael Whalen). After the rebels succeed in freeing their leader, “Priscilla”—now called "Pte. Winkie"—tries to see if she can bring the opposing sides together. It seemed unlikely, but I did find myself enjoying this film quite a bit. Similar to his work with Freddie Bartholomew in last year's “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” Smith demonstrates skill in establishing a connection with a delightful young performer; she also manages to win over Romero as this gentle story of the Raj develops. Temple is perfectly suited for the role, radiating a playful charm throughout this adventure film that’s often humorous and occasionally melancholy—typically due to McLaglen's decision to portray a Scottish character instead of his usual Irish persona. The focus on the Scottish elements within this Kipling narrative also lessens some of the colonial arrogance frequently present in these types of stories, and it provides an opportunity to showcase some talented actors who appeared to be having a good time creating their Californian version of India.

Source on TMDB