Curly Top (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curly Top |
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Poster by Joseph A. Maturo
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| Directed by | Irving Cummings |
| Produced by | Winfield R. Sheehan |
| Written by | Patterson McNutt Arthur J. Beckhard |
| Starring | Shirley Temple John Boles Rochelle Hudson |
| Music by | Ray Henderson Oscar Bradley R.H. Bassett Hugo Friedhofer Arthur Lange |
| Cinematography | John F. Seitz |
| Editing by | Jack Murray |
| Studio | Fox Film Corporation |
| Distributed by | Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | July 26, 1935 |
| Running time | 74 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Money made | $1.1 million |
Curly Top is a fun musical and drama film from 1935. It was directed by Irving Cummings. The story is about a young orphan girl named Elizabeth, played by Shirley Temple. A rich man, John Boles, adopts her. He also falls in love with her older sister, Mary (Rochelle Hudson).
This movie was very popular when it came out. It was one of the top films of 1935. It features famous songs like "Animal Crackers in My Soup" and "When I Grow Up."
Curly Top was the first of four movies that Shirley Temple and Arthur Treacher made together. They also starred in Stowaway (1936), Heidi (1937), and The Little Princess (1939).
What the Movie is About
Young Elizabeth Blair (Shirley Temple) lives at the Lakeside Orphanage. It's a strict place. Her older sister Mary (Rochelle Hudson) works hard there. Elizabeth is a sweet kid. But her lively imagination often gets her into trouble. One time, she even snuck her pet horse, Spunky, into the children's room!
When the orphanage's trustees visit, Elizabeth gets caught. She was playfully copying the head trustee. She is threatened with being sent to a public institution. But a kind, rich trustee named Edward Morgan (John Boles) steps in. He likes Elizabeth right away.
He learns that Elizabeth has always had to be super thankful for everything. Edward decides to adopt her. But he doesn't want her to feel like she owes him everything. So, he tells her that a made-up person, "Hiram Jones," is her secret helper. Edward says he is just Jones's lawyer. He gives Elizabeth the nickname "Curly Top." Meanwhile, Edward has also met Mary, Elizabeth's sister. He falls in love with her but doesn't tell her yet.
Elizabeth and Mary leave the orphanage. They move into Edward's fancy beach house. His nice aunt, Genevieve Graham (Esther Dale), and his proper butler, Reynolds (Arthur Treacher), love the girls. Elizabeth now has everything a kid could wish for. This includes a pony cart and silk pajamas.
Mary secretly loves Edward. But she thinks he doesn't like her back. So, she agrees to marry a young Navy pilot named Jimmie Rogers (Maurice Murphy). Edward is surprised but congratulates her. Hours later, Mary breaks off the engagement. She realizes she doesn't truly love Jimmie. Then, Edward tells her he loves her. He also reveals that he is the "Hiram Jones" he made up. They plan to get married and go on a long honeymoon.
Meet the Cast
- Shirley Temple as Elizabeth Blair, a 7-year-old girl.
- John Boles as Edward Morgan, the rich man who adopts Elizabeth.
- Rochelle Hudson as Mary Blair, Elizabeth's older sister.
- Esther Dale as Genevieve Graham, Edward Morgan's kind aunt.
- Arthur Treacher as Reynolds, Edward Morgan's English butler.
- Jane Darwell as Mrs. Henrietta Denham, a nice matron at the Lakeside Orphanage. The children like her.
- Rafaela Ottiano as Mrs. Higgins, the very strict superintendent of the Lakeside Orphanage.
- Etienne Girardot as James Wyckoff, a serious trustee of the orphanage.
- Maurice Murphy as Jimmie Rogers, a Navy pilot.
Movie Music
The film features some memorable songs. One of the most famous is "Animal Crackers in My Soup." This song was even nominated for a special award by the American Film Institute.
