Movies - Bright Eyes

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	Movies - Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes is a 1934 musical film, starring Shirley Temple and produced by 20th Century Fox (then called "Fox Pictures"). David Butler directed and co-wrote the movie. Also in the cast were James Dunn, Jane Darwell, and Jane Withers.

Synopsis

Temple plays Shirley Blake. Her mother, Mary (Lois Wilson) is employed as a maid by the haughty, ornery Smythe family; they both reside in the Smythe home. Shirley's father, an aviator, has "cracked up" (crashed) in an airplane accident, leaving the family with little money. Shirley spends most of her time at the airport with her godfather, pilot James "Loop" Merritt (James Dunn).

When her mother is killed in a car accident, the Smythe family wishes to send Shirley to an orphanage. However, the old patriarch of the family, Uncle Ned (Charles Sellon) is fond of the girl and insists that she stay. The other Smythes grudgingly agree, although they go out of their way to make Shirley feel unwelcome.

Loop wants Shirley to live with him; Uncle Ned refuses to give her up. A custody battle ensues.

The movie is mostly set in the Grand Central Airport of Glendale, California. Temple's character performs what was to become her signature song, On the Good Ship Lollipop, which actually refers to an airliner. The song went on to sell 500,000 copies.

Temple received a special Academy Award, largely on behalf of her dramatic performance in the film. This and other Temple vehicles are credited with having saved 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy.

Jane Withers, who played the spoiled, obnoxious Joy Smythe in the movie, also received accolades for her performance in Bright Eyes. After this film, she received a long-term contract with Fox, and enjoyed a successful career as a child star herself.

In 2002, a colorized version of the film was produced by Legend Films.

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Movies - Bright Eyes

Synopsis

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