BRIGHT EYES
US, 1934, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Shirley Temple, James Dunn, Lois Wilson, Jane Withers, Judith Allen.
Directed by David Butler.
Bright Eyes is one of Shirley Temple's earliest full star vehicles. It came at the end of 1934, the year that established her as a star. She was to be very popular for the next five years.
The film was co-written and directed by David Butler, director of a number of her vehicles. She co-stars with James Dunn, with whom she appeared several times. The supporting cast is of Fox regulars led by Jane Darwell.
The film has Shirley as an orphan - having lost her father and losing her mother on Christmas Day. There is a great deal of sentiment - with Shirley as attractive, cute. However, there is some social satire and toughness with a snobbish family and their horrid brat daughter played excellently by Jane Withers. The film really comes alive when she puts on her tantrums. The film also has an interest in aviation - even to the extent of Dunn and Shirley having to bail out of a stricken plane during a storm. Shirley, on landing: 'That was fun, could we do it again?'
The film capitalises on her cheery personality, on her potential for cheering up 30s audiences - and her song is 'On the Good Ship Lollypop'.
1. An entertaining and sentimental drama of the Depression?
2. Shirley Temple as a cinema personality - the little girl in the Depression, forward, cute, self-assured? Orphan? Loved by adults? Talented, songs and dances? Audiences able to identify with her?
3. Production values for this Shirley Temple vehicle: black and white photography, aerial photography?
4. Shirley as the focus of the film? The nickname 'Bright Eyes'? The loss of her father and the background of air accidents? Her mother as a maid? Trying to look after her? The parties, gifts and surprises? Her tragic death? Shirley liked by the airmen? Loop and his care for her? Her living with the antagonistic family, Joy as a spoilt brat, Shirley as a charming little girl? Shirley and her spirit, with the crusty old uncle? The party, the song with the airmen? Their court case for custody, her decisions, the happy resolution?
5. The aerial background of the film, flights, the storm, the bailing out? Loop as an airman? His missions? His love for Aline but her breaking off the engagement? The chance meeting? The love and reconciliation and looking after Shirley? The background of the other airmen - and their singing with Shirley 'On the Good Ship Lollipop'?
6. The snobbish family, their poor origins, their pretensions? Their inability to cope with Joy, Joy and her cattiness, tantrums, control, the old uncle, rivalry with Shirley? Comparisons, greedy? Her spoiling things at
the end - and getting her face slapped!
7. The old uncle and his crustiness, ignored by the family, kept around for his money, his affection for Shirley, his wanting to adopt her, the court case and the happy ending?
8. The Higginses and the work of servants at the time; kindly towards Shirley, critical of Joy, critical of the parents?
9. The period of the Depression, American society, family values?
