The Blue Bird (1940 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Blue Bird |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Walter Lang |
| Produced by | Darryl F. Zanuck |
| Written by | Screenplay: Ernest Pascal Walter Bullock Play:The Blue Bird (1908) Maurice Maeterlinck |
| Starring | Shirley Temple Spring Byington Nigel Bruce |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Arthur C. Miller Ray Rennahan |
| Editing by | Robert Bischoff |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | January 15, 1940 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
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The Blue Bird is a fantasy film from 1940, directed by Walter Lang. It was made in both black-and-white and Technicolor. The movie's story was written by Walter Bullock, based on a play from 1908 by Maurice Maeterlinck.
This film was made by 20th Century Fox as their answer to The Wizard of Oz, which was a very popular movie released the year before. The Blue Bird tells the story of a young girl who isn't very kind at first, played by Shirley Temple. She goes on a magical journey to find happiness. Even though the movie didn't make much money when it first came out, it was later nominated for two Academy Awards. You can find it on VHS and DVD.
Contents
The Story of Mytyl's Adventure
The movie takes place in Germany during a time called the Napoleonic Wars. Mytyl (Shirley Temple) is a girl who lives with her family. She finds a special bird in the forest but doesn't want to share it with her sick friend, Angela (Sybil Jason). Mytyl's parents (Spring Byington and Russell Hicks) are very upset by her selfish behavior.
That night, Mytyl has a dream. A fairy named Berylune (Jessie Ralph) visits her and sends Mytyl and her brother, Tyltyl (Johnny Russell), on a quest. They need to find the "Blue Bird of Happiness." To help them, the fairy turns their dog, Tylo (Eddie Collins), their cat, Tylette (Gale Sondergaard), and their lantern, "Light," into human forms.
The children have many adventures on their journey. They visit the past and meet their dead grandparents, who come alive because they are being remembered. They also escape a scary fire in the forest, which was caused by Tylette's lies. They even experience a life of luxury and see the future, where children are waiting to be born.
This dream journey helps Mytyl change. When she wakes up, she is a much kinder and gentler girl. She has learned to appreciate her home, her family, and all the good things in her life. The next morning, Mytyl's father gets good news: the war has stopped, and he doesn't have to leave for the army. Mytyl is inspired to give the special bird she found – which turns out to be the Blue Bird of Happiness she was looking for – to her friend Angela.
Who Are the Characters?
Here are some of the main actors and the characters they played in The Blue Bird:
- Shirley Temple as Mytyl
- Spring Byington as Mummy Tyl (Mytyl's mother)
- Nigel Bruce as Mr. Luxury
- Gale Sondergaard as Tylette (the cat)
- Eddie Collins as Tylo (the dog)
- Sybil Jason as Angela Berlingot (Mytyl's sick friend)
- Jessie Ralph as Fairy Berylune
- Helen Ericson as Light (the lantern)
- Johnny Russell as Tyltyl (Mytyl's brother)
- Laura Hope Crews as Mrs. Luxury
- Russell Hicks as Daddy Tyl (Mytyl's father)
- Cecilia Loftus as Granny Tyl
- Al Shean as Grandpa Tyl
- Leona Roberts as Mrs. Berlingot
- Gene Reynolds as Studious Boy
- Stanley Andrews as Wilhelm
- Frank Dawson as Caller of Roll
- Sterling Holloway as Wild Plum
- Thurston Hall as Father Time
- Edwin Maxwell as Oak
- Herbert Evans and Brandon Hurst as Footmen
- Keith Hitchcock as Major Domo
- Tommy Baker and Dorothy Joyce as Lovers
- Billy Cook as Boy Chemist
- Scotty Beckett, Juanita Quigley and Payne Johnson as Children
- Ann Todd as Little Sister
- Diane Fisher as Little Girl
- Roberta Skoll as little girl who tried to board the ship too early
A four-year-old named Caryll Ann Ekelund also appeared in the film as an unborn child. The "Studious Boy" played by Gene Reynolds is meant to be a young Abraham Lincoln, which is hinted at by the music used for his character.
Film vs. Play: What's Different?
While the movie follows the main idea of the original play, it adds many new parts and doesn't use the exact same words. For example, the first scenes of the movie, which are in black-and-white, and the story about the war, were made up just for the film. Mytyl's selfish personality, which is a big part of the movie's plot, was also added for the film. This was not in the original play.
The play starts with the children already dreaming. It doesn't show their daily life before the dream begins, like the 1940 movie does.
The Music of The Blue Bird
The music for The Blue Bird was created by Alfred Newman. The full movie soundtrack was released in 2003. It includes all the music heard in the film, in the order it appears. The music was carefully restored from old recordings. The song "Lay-De-O" is sung by Shirley Temple herself in the movie.
One part of the music, called "The Land of Unborn Children," includes a few notes from Newman's music for another film, Young Mr. Lincoln. This is a clue that the "Studious Boy" in the movie is meant to be a young Abraham Lincoln.
Awards and Recognition
The Blue Bird was nominated for two awards at the 13th Academy Awards ceremony:
- Best Cinematography: This award goes to the people who did the camera work and lighting, which were Arthur Miller and Ray Rennahan.
- Best Visual Effects: This award is for special effects in the movie, given to Fred Sersen (for photographic effects) and Edmund H. Hansen (for sound effects).
