The result was the blue bird, adapted from the allegorical stage play by maurice maeterlinck previously filmed by director maurice tourneur in 1918. Apr 15, 2014 oz was a hit, but the blue bird was the first shirley temple picture to lose money. The public could not accept shirley playing a brat, and the lack of exciting musical numbers did not help either. Actress shirley temple a list of 36 titles created 09 may 2017 anthology.
May 21, 2008 shirley temple writes in her autobio about a little girl three or four years old who plays an unborn child in this movie. Feb, 2014 it was a movie that was considered both a critical and financial disappointment, 1940s the blue bird. In accordance with the directives of government and health authorities, we have temporarily suspended operations. Zanucks arrangement to loan shirley temple to mgm as star of the wizard of oz fell through, zanuck hastily assembled a lavish technicolor vehicle for his diminutive star which, he hoped, would match wizard in popularity and appeal. The blue bird 1940 adventure, comedy, family, fantasy. This blue diamond weighed exactly 9,54 carats and had tiny inclusions vvs, when in december 1940, george temple offered it to his daughter, set in an art deco ring, to celebrate the premiere of the movie blue bird.
In order to teach them to behave the fairy sends them on a mission to find the blue bird of happiness. To paraphrase william holden in sunset boulevard, i last watched the blue bird more than twelve thousand midnights ago. The blue bird shirley temple movie film shirley temple movies shirley temple s movies may have been produced in the 1930s, but many have proven to be timeless, appealing to kids of all ages even today. Shirley temple black april 23, 1928 february 10, 2014 was an american actress, singer, dancer, businesswoman, and diplomat who was hollywoods number one boxoffice draw as a child actress from 1935 to 1938. Nearly everything that ive read about the blue bird blames part of the lack of success of this movie on audiences not wanting to see temple play a naughtybad child. Released 1940, the blue bird stars shirley temple, spring byington, nigel bruce, gale sondergaard the g movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 28. As it was originally planned, the bark could have flown in the wrong direction and injured temple. Released 1940, the blue bird stars shirley temple, spring byington, nigel bruce, gale sondergaard the g movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 28 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. Shirley temple the blue bird this is my favourite part of the film, i always cry when the young lovers are parted and the mothers sing out to the children waiting to be born. Shirley temple was originally mentioned for the role of dorothy in oz, though fox was leary about releasing her from her contract. Shirley temple director walter lang camera crew 1939 candid the blue.
Throughout the journey, mytyls bratty attitude starts to change. Shirley temple s tutor, francis klamt, fought with the producers over a scene in which lightning strikes a tree and a piece of bark comes off. Walter bullock, maurice maeterlinck, ernest pascal stars. The star of sothebys magnificent jewels sale on 19 april in new york is a stunning 9. Oz was a hit, but the blue bird was the first shirley temple picture to lose money. The 1918 silent version was alright, but this one suffers from copying oz. All of shirley temples full movies list challenges. For a lighthearted fantasy, this is awfully depressing, full of moaning and weeping, especially in a hellish future purgatory where halfnaked preadolescent spirits fret and moan over when they. This shirley temple photo might contain swallow, wren, and jenny wren. Shirley temple and little bro johnny russell are woodcutters kids seeking a precious bird, sybil jason their bothersome friend, in 20th centuryfox s the blue bird, 1940. Distraught when their father goes off to war, moppets mytyl shirley temple and tyltyl johnny russell set out to find the bluebird of happiness in this lavish fantasy. A poignant story of a selfish young german girls search for happiness, blue bird is a classic shirley temple film with a storybook hansel and gretel feel. This version of the blue bird pretty much marked the beginning of the end of shirley temples career as americas favorite tyke.
The blue bird was a bigbudget fantasy movie considered to be 20th century foxs answer to the mgm smash hit the wizard of oz, for which temple herself was briefly considered for the starring role. Shirley temple lost the part in the wizard of oz to judy garland. Set in mideurope sometime in the late 18th century where mytyl shirley temple, the bratty daughter of a woodcutter russell hicks, finds a unique bird in th. Shirley temple black is widely regarded as an american heroine who devoted her career first to films and then to public service. Shirley temple was able to win the hearts of a nation when many had lost hope of the future. The 20th century fox answer to the wizard of oz, which was released the year after that film, is an odd little shirley temple vehicle. I also grew up watching shirley temple on saturdays on kplr my mom was a huge shirley temple fan. Now after seeing it again for the first time since approximately 1977, i can honestly say its pretty dreadful. The blue bird 1940 stream and watch online moviefone. Rather heavy going for its intended family audience, the blue bird proved to be shirley temples biggest flop, and a subsequent 1976 ussoviet version starring elizabeth taylor fared no better at.
This child actress is listed in the full credits for the blue bird as little girl from the heavenunborn children scene. The fanciful tale of a selfish, ungrateful girl named mytyl shirley temple who complains about being poor when in fact that she has her health, a home, food and a loving family, is sent on a quest with her little brother. Shirley temple the blue bird 1940 vhs 20th century family feature 1995. Thats just what it did with critics and moviegoers. Our kids just love shirley temple movies, so we recently got the blue bird for them. Mytyl and her brother tyltyl, a woodchoppers children, are led by the fairy berylune on a magical trip through the past, present, and future to locate the blue bird of happiness. The blue bird 1940 based on maurice maeterlincks play of the same name, this absorbing film earned academy award nominations in 1940 for best cinematography and best special effects. Actoragecheck is a free service that allows you to quickly view the age of an actoractress along with their age in a specific movie its important to note that the age of a person in a particular movie is based on the movies release date, and may not represent the actual filming date.
Parents need to know that the blue bird is a departure from the typical adorable shirley temple movie, with a few scenes which may frighten younger or more sensitive kids. It was during this radio performance that a crazed woman made an attempt on temple s life. Shirley temple meets her unborn sister in the blue bird. Imdb says this young actress sadly died from burns at the age of 4. The blue bird 1940 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I have written up very brief summaries of each of shirley s movies, if you have a more complete summary, please email me your summary and i will add it to the website. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. The blue bird is a great fantasy movie with shirley temple. Which child is the unfortunate actress caryll ann ekelund. Louis, used to have a shirley temple theater on weekend afternoons. Shirley temple, johnny russell, gale sondergaard, eddie collins directed by. Shirley temple black biography life, childhood, children. In the end, shirley temple black proved to be a gracious and good sport.
Visually beautiful, full of imaginative sets, and splendidly photographed in rich technicolor, this enchanting fantasy was twentieth century foxs answer to the wizard of oz. Maybe its been said so many times that its accepted wisdom, but im just not buying it, at least as an excuse for the movie s failure. The fanciful tale of a selfish, ungrateful girl named mytyl shirley temple who complains about being poor when in fact that she has her health, a home, food and a loving family, is sent on a quest with her little brother tyltyl johnny russell by fairy berylune jessie ralph to find the bluebird of happiness. It was, however, nominated for two academy awards this movie was released in. The blue bird 1940 shirley temple color version dvd.
A naughty little girl shirley temple dreams she and her brother are sent by a fairy to find the bluebird of happiness. Shirley temple in the blue bird a look back at 1940. Based on the play by maurice maeterlinck, the story recounts one sad and angry little girl. If youre a classic film enthusiast, you probably know that mgm sought to borrow 20th century foxs top star, shirley temple, to play dorothy in the wizard of oz. The blue bird was shirley temple s first boxoffice flop in her 6 years as a child star. The story centers around two children and recalls the. This version of the blue bird pretty much marked the beginning of the end of shirley temple s career as americas favorite tyke. The blue bird was twentieth centuryfoxs answer to mgms the wizard of oz. The blue bird movie simple english wikipedia, the free. Audiences disliked the idea of shirley as a nasty character needing to learn a lesson.
While many of temple s films show her character misbehaving in various ways. New sealed the blue bird shirley temple vhs video tape movie. It marked the close of her magnificent career as the worlds premier child actress a distinction that most critics would agree is still upheld today. Shirley temple in the blue bird we are movie geeks. Tv show family sing out christian videos my favorite part blue bird old hollywood movies and tv shows movie tv temple. Lavishly elaborate, but too leaden and allegorical for childre, this 1940 fox fantasy was one of shirley temple s biggest commercial flops. Mytyl and her brother tyltyl are the mean and selfish.
Actor age check how old was james blaine in the blue bird. First of all, shirley is not her normal sweet self, but is playing a spoiled, ungrateful little brat named mytyl. Sep 10, 2014 mytyl and her brother tyltyl, a woodchoppers children, are led by the fairy berylune on a magical trip through the past, present, and future to locate the blue bird of happiness. In a rare departure from her usual bubbly screen persona, shirley temple plays a selfish, spoiled little girl named mytyl, who doesn.
This restored and remastered 1940 film opens with a purposely grainy, black and white world that reinforces mytyls shirley temple illhumored attitude toward life. So then she was offered the role mytyl in this fairy tale movie instead. When i was little i came across the 1940 shirley temple movie the blue bird several times on television. The blue bird 1940 an ungrateful girl and her little brother are transported in their dreams by a fairy to a wonderland, tasked with finding the mythical blue bird of happiness, meeting friends and foes along the. Shirley temple in the blue bird shirley temple photo. The blue bird by walter lang shirley temple, spring. Oh wait, this was a butchered imitation called the blue bird 1940. The united states ambassador to czechoslovakia from 1989 until 1992, she is still remembered by millions of fans for her success as a child movie.
Due to klamts complaint, carpenters built a safety ledge to protect temple from flying props. The blue bird 1940 the success of mgms the wizard of oz caused 20th century fox to put shirley in the blue bird, which turned out to be her very first box office flop. With shirley temple, spring byington, nigel bruce, gale sondergaard. It was during this radio performance that a crazed woman made an attempt on temples life. This is the shirley temple fantasy movie that couldve been called i know why the caged bird flops. She wore it and cherished it until it disappeared, the 10 february 2014. Based on the play by maurice maeterlinck, the story recounts one sad and angry little girl, mytyl shirley temple who journeys with her brother tyltyl johnny russell to find the bluebird of happiness. Shirley temple s movies may have been produced in the 1930s, but many have proven to be timeless, appealing to kids of all ages even today. If shirley had been allowed to play the part, the references would make sense.
I felt compelled to comment because i am watching blue bird right now and was looking up commentary on the picture as allegory when i found me this post and because it is the most memorable st film to me also. Almost a month prior to the films release, the blue bird was dramatized as a halfhour radio play on the december 24, 1939, broadcast of the screen guild theater, starring shirley temple and nelson eddy. Details about shirley temple director walter lang camera crew 1939 candid the blue bird photo. The truth about shirley temples wizard of oz connection. There are some seens that still, by todays standards may be too intense for children fire in the forest, grave yard. It was beautiful to look at in glorious technicolor but was not. Its sort of the poor mans the wizard of oz with shirley playing the part of a girl named mytyl who along with her brother tytyl embarks on a journey through the past and future searching for happiness in the form of the title bird. Shirley temple plays mytyl this movie performed badly at the box office. But, we were absolutely shocked when we tried to watch it with them it was horrible. This is a family movie about a little girl, her brother and their adventures. Download the blue bird 1940 hight quality movie with english language. My sister judy, for some reason, had to watch those shirley temple films. The blue bird was shirley temple s first boxoffice flop in her six years as a child star.
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