The Blue Bird (1940 film)

The Blue Bird
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWalter Lang
Screenplay byErnest Pascal
Walter Bullock
(additional dialogue)
Based onthe play
by Maurice Maeterlinck
Produced byGene Markey
(associate producer)
StarringShirley Temple
Spring Byington
Nigel Bruce
Gale Sondergaard
Eddie Collins
Sybil Jason
Jessie Ralph
Helen Ericson
Johnny Russell
Laura Hope Crews
Russell Hicks
Cecilia Loftus
Al Shean
Gene Reynolds
CinematographyArthur Miller, A.S.C.
Ray Rennahan, A.S.C.
Edited byRobert Bischoff
Music byAlfred Newman
Production
company
Distributed byTwentieth Century-Fox
Release date
  • January 15, 1940 (1940-01-15)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million
Johnny Russell (foreground), Eddie Collins, and Shirley Temple in a publicity photo for the film

The Blue Bird is a 1940 American fantasy film directed by Walter Lang. The screenplay by Walter Bullock was adapted from the 1908 play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck. Intended as 20th Century Fox's answer to MGM's The Wizard of Oz, which had been released the previous year, it was filmed in Technicolor and tells the story of a disagreeable young girl (played by Shirley Temple) and her search for happiness.[1][2]

Despite being a box office flop and losing money, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards. It is available on both VHS and DVD.

  1. ^ Nugent, Frank S. (January 20, 1940). "THE SCREEN / Fantasy Comes a Trip in Miss Temple's 'Blue Bird' at the Hollywood—'He Married His Wife' at the Roxy". The New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Bennett, Jim (February 13, 2014). "'The Blue Bird': Shirley Temple's forgotten gem". Deseret News. Retrieved September 4, 2022.