Greetings,
I think, if there is one word that could describe Shirley Temple throughout her life, it would be adorable. And it is in this 1934 film, Bright Eyes, that I believe she is at her most adorable. It helps that she was barely six-years-old, as it does with most of us. I suppose I could say that this was one of her first films, but according to my info, big part or small part, credited or uncredited, this was the thirteenth film in which she appeared and the tenth in 1934 alone. Wow! Her name is Shirley, and she works hard for the money. Although, I think it was this, along with Stand Up and Cheer and Baby, Take a Bow, that really got her noticed. Why? Well, let's get to the story. And their may be a few spoilers.
In Bright Eyes, Shirley plays a little girl named Shirley. Why not? Shirley lives with her mother, Mary, who is a live-in maid. And where is her father, you may ask? Well, he's dead, of course, because Shirley is never allowed to have two parents in her movies. Okay, sometimes she does, but it is rare. Here, he was an aviator who died in a plane crash, and his best friend and godfather to Shirley is a guy named Loop, played by James Dunn. Most of the movie is about the relationship between these two, and it is really sweet. Shirley is also close with the rest of the aviators who were all friends of her father's and have almost adopted her in a way. But not everyone loves Shirley that much. I know, right?
The people for whom Mary works as a maid are the Smythes. We have the husband and wife, J. Wellington (of course, that's his name) and Anita, as well as their lovely, sunshine of a little daughter named Joy, who is just about Shirley's age. And when I say lovely and sunshine, I mean she is kind of evil. Jane Withers played her, and I'm going to talk more about her later, because she's worth it.
Now not everyone in the family dislikes Shirley and her mother. Uncle Ned, played Charles Sellon, is quite fond of both of them, even giving Shirley the titular nickname of Bright Eyes. Still, Uncle Ned is not fond of much else, least of all his own family. He is quite aware that they are keeping him around in order to also keep around his bank account. There is also Mr. and Mrs. Higgins, the butler and cook, and they adore Shirley and her mother as well.
The story begins just before Christmas, and we get to see that little Shirley is so excited. She knows she won't get much, but she's grateful for everything. Yeah, she's basically a teeny, tiny, perfect angel. What she is truly excited about, though, is a party she will be having with Loop and all the aviators in a airplane. And she loves airplanes. It's during this party that she sings her iconic song "On the Good Ship Lollipop"...to a bunch of grown men. And, no, it's not creepy. I don't care what anyone says, it's not. It's sweet as all heck, if your mind is proper. However, things take a sad turn when, on the way to said party, Mary is hit by a car and dies.
After this, the dilemma is what is going to happen to Shirley. Not because nobody wants her, but because a ton of people want her. Uncle Ned wants to adopt her and the Smythes are going along with it to keep the money. Loop wants her, but, despite being her godfather, the odds seem against him because he's a single guy with NO money. The Higgins would take her, but they don't have the means. Even Loop's ex-fiance, Adele, who happens to be in town and happens to be a cousin of Mrs. Smythe (what a twist), has taken a liking to her. Shirley loves them all and would be happy with any of them. She would actually prefer all of them. Does she get what she wants? Does everybody? Well, you'll have to see the movie. Warning, though, it is a pretty major tear jerker. That's right, people. Shirley cries; you cry. It's a rule.
Okay, I'm going take this opportunity, as I promised, to go back and discuss one of Shirley's co-stars. Now, I have to say, everyone was great in this movie and played their roles perfectly, but if anyone nearly stole the show from little Miss Temple herself, it would be Jane Withers as Joy. HOLY CRAP! This girl was fantastic! She was basically the polar opposite of Shirley. Joy was a loud, spoiled, ungrateful brat, and she was so mean. In fact, even as a child, Jane Withers wasn't sure if she wanted the part, because she knew she would have to be mean to Shirley and that might cause audiences to hate her. A plausible concern, indeed, and that might have actually happened. However, they were smart enough to have her play it from a highly comedic place. Yes, Joy was super-mean, but she did it such an incredibly hilarious way that you just enjoy the performance and move on. Hmmm? So we love our little protagonist, but we get a bigger kick out of the villain. In other words, Shirley and Jane are basically Thor and Loki, but even cuter...maybe.
Bright Eyes has always been one of my favorite Shirley Temple movies. Sure, it's one of the sadder ones, but, as I mentioned, it is very iconic, if for no other reason than the "Lollipop" song. That aside, there is a strong cast supporting her and the story is great. And it was just the beginning for Shirley, and a good one at that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
