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Bright Eyes Overview:

Bright Eyes (1934) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by David Butler and produced by Sol M. Wurtzel.

SYNOPSIS

Little orphan Shirley gets in the middle of a nasty custody battle. One of Temple's first and best, most famous for the song "On the Good Ship Lollipop."

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Bright Eyes BlogHub Articles:

The Charles Sellon Film Festival: "Bright Eyes" and "It's a Gift"

By David on Aug 13, 2015 From The Man on the Flying Trapeze

"Bah!" Of all the actors and actresses who appeared in 1930s films, Charles Sellon (1870-1937) was certainly one of them. A native of Boston, Sellon made his stage debut in 1901 and his film debut in 1923. He was rarely the lead; skinny and with a long face, with a mouth usually in a frown or scow... Read full article

The Charles Sellon Film Festival: "Bright Eyes" and "It's a Gift"

By David on Aug 13, 2015 From The Man on the Flying Trapeze

"Bah!" Of all the actors and actresses who appeared in 1930s films, Charles Sellon (1870-1937) was certainly one of them. A native of Boston, Sellon made his stage debut in 1901 and his film debut in 1923. He was rarely the lead; skinny and with a long face, with a mouth usually in a frown or scow... Read full article

Bright Eyes

on Jul 9, 2014 From Journeys in Classic Film

When I spoke to Jane Withers last May she talked quite a bit about filming Bright Eyes and her struggles working with Shirley Temple. I hated to admit to her that I hadn’t seen the finished product, and she, of course, urged me to get to it!  I doubt Jane is reading, but if she is, I finally ... Read full article

Farewell Bright Eyes: Shirley Temple Black (1928 - 2014)

By Vanessa Buttino on Feb 13, 2014 From Stardust

Farewell Bright Eyes: Shirley Temple Black (1928 - 2014) Shirley Temple circa the 1930s, fifty-two curls and all! Would you be surprised if I told you this was the third crack I've taken at writing this post? See, this is what happens when one of my absolute favourite classic film stars d... Read full article

Bright Eyes (1934)

By Beatrice on Apr 7, 2013 From Flickers in Time

Bright Eyes Directed by David Butler 1934/USA Fox Film Corporation First viewing?? Shirley Blake: Oh, it’s so pretty. Thank you, Loop. Little Shirley (Shirley Temple) loves to spend time at the airport with her buddy Loop (James Dunn), a pilot who was the friend of her late father.  Shirl... Read full article

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Bright Eyes Quotes:

Anita Smythe: I don't approve of all these telephone calls, Mary.
Mary Blake: I'm sorry.
Anita Smythe: And I don't approve of all these aviators who keep coming here to see your little girl.
Mary Blake: She's sort of a pet with them. They all knew her father.
Anita Smythe: I know that, but I really can't have it. It isn't everyone who'd engage a maid with a small child. I have no fault to find with your work, but if you want to stay on with us, you'll have to correct these things.
Mrs. Elizabeth Higgins: It's just a bit of a Christmas gift for Shirley.
Mary Blake: You're so kind. I bought a few things for her, not very much of course. Things were different when her father was alive.
Mrs. Elizabeth Higgins: Yes, the poor young fellow. But it must be a comfort to know you're doing all you can for her. She's such a sweet child. Not like that Joy. There's a brat if ever one lived.
Joy Smythe: Let's play hospital. I'll be the doctor, and you'll be the nurse. We'll get a big knife out of the kitchen and operate on your doll.
Shirley Blake: I don't want Mary Lou to be operated on.
Joy Smythe: I don't care. You have to play the way I want to.
Shirley Blake: I don't, either.
Joy Smythe: Yes, you do because this is my house and my yard and you're nothing but an old charity.
Shirley Blake: I am not!
Joy Smythe: Yes, you are because I heard my papa tell my mama so.
James 'Loop' Merritt: Now I've got a present for you. This isn't from Santa Claus. This is from me to you. This is a magic ring, see? Just like in the fairy tales. If ever you're in trouble, or if you ever want me to do anything for you, you send me this ring, and I'll come.
Shirley Blake: Oh, it's so pretty. Thank you, Loop.
Shirley Blake: Ooh, we're going up!
James 'Loop' Merritt: That's right, we're going way up. Do you know where we're going?
Shirley Blake: No.
James 'Loop' Merritt: We're going right up to Heaven. You know, Shirley, Heaven is a very nice place. If we're good, we'll all live there someday.
Shirley Blake: Yes, I know.
James 'Loop' Merritt: My mother and father are there now.
Shirley Blake: So's my daddy. We're up pretty high now. Are we near Heaven?
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Bright Eyes Facts
The aviators in the plane during the "On the Good Ship Lollipop" song sequence were all volunteers from the football team at the nearby University of Southern California.
Shirley Temple was presented with the first Academy Award ever given to a child for her role as Shirley Blake. She was then the youngest person to ever be listed in Who's Who, and was also the youngest person to ever be spotlighted on the cover of TIME Magazine.
One scene called for Shirley Temple to slap Jane Withers. Temple repeatedly refused to do so, but after much coercion from director David Butler, she finally slapped Withers so hard that both girls burst into tears.
The photo shown of Shirley's dead father is that of Dale Van Sickel.
Director David Butler wrote the story based on an incident that happened in his childhood. His parents had advertised for a live-in maid, and a woman answered the ad who had just arrived from Scotland. She had a little girl and was separated from her husband - an unusual circumstance at the time - and said she wouldn't take the job unless her daughter was allowed to live in the house with her, also an unusual circumstance at the time. Butler's parents agreed, and the woman and her daughter moved in with the family.
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