THE BLUEBIRD
US, 1940, 82 minutes, Colour.
Shirley Temple, Spring Byington, Gale Sondergaard, Nigel Bruce.
Directed by Walter Lang
The Bluebird is from Maeterlinck's 19th century dramatic fable. Made at the outset of World War Two, the film intended to have an uplifting message about peace and happiness within the heart. The film was also meant to be 20th Century Fox's answer to The Wizard of Oz. Shirley Temple had been considered for the role but was not allowed to do it. Fox then adapted this film as a vehicle for her. It was not a box office success.
The film has some attractive special effects - but it is very much an obvious kind of fable, all sweetness and light. Shirley Temple is not quite as engaging a heroine as Judy Garland. The supporting cast tends to act as if they were in an edifying tableau, except for Gale Sondergaard who is excellent as the insinuating Cat. At times, the fantasy is too far-fetched, bordering on the preposterous as with the children waiting to be born.
The film was remade in the '70s by George Cukor with an all star cast including Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Fonda, Cicely Tyson.
1. The popularity of Maeterlinck's fable? 19th. century period? Experience of the Napoleonic wars? Hopes, optimism? Moral? A fantasy for children and adults? 1940 and the atmosphere of World War Two? Entertainment and morale-boosting needs? The comparisons with the remake?
2. 20th Century Fox production: the emphasis on Technicolour and beauty, period, the life of the family, the town, Christmas? Fantasy: the fairy, Light, the graveyards, the forest, the domain of Luxury, the Dog and Cat. the Future Children? The special effects with the lightning and the forest fire? The score?
3. World War Two and morale boosting? War, hopes, treaties, peace?
4. The film as a Shirley Temple vehicle? An attractive heroine? The supporting cast? The screenplay and its moralising? Contemporary comparisons with the Wizard of Oz?
5. How acceptable as a fable: allegory of good and evil? A credible fable? Shirley Temple looking at the audience at the end indicating that happiness is within? The title of the film and the symbol of the elusive bluebird? Beauty in the eye of the beholder?
6. The opening with the two children, the heroine as cranky and critical, wandering the streets, watching the rich enjoying themselves, refusing the butler's food, dissatisfaction with life? The children and their parents? The announcement of war? Going to bed?
7. The dream and the rather robust and rugged fairy indicating that they should search? Comparisons with Light and her 'angelic sweetness'?
8. The changing of the dog into a human being and the comedy imitation of a dog's appearance and manner? His fear, clashes with the cat, staying to help the children? Gale Sondergaard as the Cat, sleek, sinuous, seeming to help. sinister, wanting her own freedom, misleading the children, at home with Luxury, caught in the forest fire? The Dog and the Cat and the end and the Cat being chased?
9. The visit to the Past: the cemetery, the fear, the Dog falling into the open grave, thinking about the grandparents and their house, the grandparents coming alive, their attractiveness, message? Not having a bluebird?
10. The domain of Luxury, Mr and Mrs Luxury and their selfishness, the lavish house and grounds, the merry go round, the pony, the two children fighting, unhappiness, the escape?
11. Going into the forest and its being dark, the fire and the terror?
12. The encounter with the Future and the children yet to be born, the colonnades. the pool, their clothes, their explanation of themselves to the children. the sister who would live only a short time, the boy reluctant to go, the two children in love and their pain. eagerness of others to go? Father Time and the choice of the children? The boat taking them away. The importance of their visions and experiments ? as gifts to the world? Themes of immortality?
13. The bluebird as a symbol of vision, beauty in the eye of the beholder? The curing of the crippled girl? Her letting it fly away, the true bird within?
14. Themes of hope and optimism? Moral uplift?
