The Blue Bird (1918 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Blue Bird |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Maurice Tourneur |
| Written by | Maurice Maeterlinck |
| Starring | Tula Belle Robin Macdougall |
| Music by | Edward Falck Hugo Riesenfeld |
| Cinematography | John van den Broek |
| Editing by | Clarence Brown |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | March 31, 1918 |
| Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Blue Bird is a 1918 silent fantasy film. It is based on a play from 1908 by Maurice Maeterlinck. Maurice Tourneur directed the film in the United States. In 2004, the Library of Congress chose this film for its National Film Registry. This means it was seen as very important for culture, history, or art.
Story of the Blue Bird
The film tells the story of two children, Tyltyl and Mytyl. They live next door to an old widow named Berlingot. Her daughter is sick, and the widow asks to borrow the children's pet bird to cheer her up. Mytyl, however, does not want to share their bird.
That night, a fairy named Bérylune visits the children's home. She looks like the old widow at first, but then shows her true, beautiful self. The fairy tells Tyltyl and Mytyl that they must find the bluebird of happiness.
To help them, the fairy gives Tyltyl a special hat. This hat lets him see inside things. Because of the hat, everyday things like fire, water, light, bread, sugar, and milk come to life! Even their pet dog and cat can now talk to them. The fairy warns them that these new friends will disappear once the bluebird is found.
The group then goes on an adventure to many different places:
- The Palace of Night: Here, the sneaky cat warns the Mother of Night about the children's quest. The loyal dog saves Tyltyl from danger in this dark palace.
- A Graveyard: At midnight, the dead come to life. Tyltyl and Mytyl meet their grandparents and other family members here. They even find a blue bird, but it vanishes when they leave.
- The Palace of Happiness: The children see many kinds of happiness. The greatest joy they find is the love of their own mother.
- The Kingdom of the Future: This is a place where children wait to be born. They even see their future brother.
After searching everywhere, they cannot find the bluebird. They return home feeling empty-handed.
Finding the Blue Bird at Home
When they get back, the children realize something amazing. The bluebird they were looking for was in a cage in their own home the whole time! Mytyl gives the bird to the widow Berlingot. Soon after, the widow returns with her daughter, who is now well.
But then, the bird flies away from the daughter's hands. Tyltyl comforts the upset girl. He then turns to the audience and asks everyone watching to look for the bluebird in their own homes. This means happiness can often be found right where you are.
Main Actors
- Tula Belle as Mytyl
- Robin Macdougall as Tyltyl
- Edwin E. Reed as Daddy Tyl
- Emma Lowry as Mummy Tyl
- William J. Gross as Grandpa Gaffer Tyl
- Florence Anderson as Granny Tyl
- Edward Elkas as Widow Berlingot
- Katherine Bianchi as Widow Berlingot's Daughter
- Lillian Cook as Fairy Bérylune
- Gertrude McCoy as Light
- Lyn Donelson as Night
- Charles Ascot as Dog
- Tom Corless as Cat
- Mary Kennedy as Water
- Eleanor Masters as Milk
- Charles Craig as Sugar
- Sammy Blum as Bread
- S.E. Potapovitch as Fire
- Rose Rolanda
