The Blue Bird (1940)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Walter Bullock (additional dialogue)
Maurice Maeterlinck (play)

Release Date:

19 January 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy

Plot:

Mytyl and her brother Tyltyl, a woodchopper's children, are led by the Fairy Berylune on a magical trip through the past...

Plot Keywords:

Bird | Grandparent | Fantasy Land | Animal As Human | Family Pet

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Shirley Temple	...	Mytyl
Spring Byington	...	Mummy Tyl
Nigel Bruce	...	Mr. Luxury
Gale Sondergaard	...	Tylette (the cat)
Eddie Collins	...	Tylo (the dog)
Sybil Jason	...	Angela Berlingot
Jessie Ralph	...	Fairy Berylune
Helen Ericson	...	Light
Johnny Russell	...	Tyltyl
Laura Hope Crews	...	Mrs. Luxury
Russell Hicks	...	Daddy Tyl
Cecilia Loftus	...	Granny Tyl
Al Shean	...	Grandpa Tyl
Leona Roberts	...	Mrs. Berlingot
Gene Reynolds	...	Studious Boy

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (first reel) | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

A scene in which the crippled Angela miraculously walks after Mytyl gives her the blue bird was cut from the film. Director Walter Lang recalled, "The finished film didn't make sense at all. One moment Angela is crippled, and the the next minute, without explanation except for Mrs. Berlingot's amazement, Angela is outside her house standing up and talking to Mytyl."

Quotes:

Tylette: Why don't you go to the Land of Luxury? There's plenty to eat there. Everything you could think of.
Mytyl: Do you think we'd find the blue bird there?
Light: No, dear. I don't.
Tylette: Why not? They'll have everything they want there. Where would be a better place to look for the blue bird?
Mytyl: We might find the blue bird there.
Light: Very well. Go there if you want.
Mytyl: How do we get to the Land of Luxury?
Tylette: It's very easy. We take the first side road.
Mytyl: Will you be waiting for us?
Light: Yes, dear, just beyond. But don't stay too long. It's never wise to spend too much time in the Land of Luxury.

Movie Connections:

Remade as "Mon meilleur Noël: L'oiseau bleu" (1981)

Soundtrack:

Lay Dee Oh

Beautiful movie with an important message

After having watched this movie, for the life of me I can't figure out why this picture flopped at the box office when it was released in 1940. Shirley Temple plays Mytyl, a young girl who is not happy because her family is poor. She believes that if she were rich and had the luxuries that she has been denied in her life she will be happy. Her parents love her and try to teach her to realize how blessed she is with her loving family, but Mytly doesn't believe it's enough. Without giving the movie completely away she "dreams" that she goes to a magical land in search for the bluebird of happiness. If she can find the bluebird, then she will finally be happy. There is a true dream like quality to the film, and the set decorations are lavish and beautiful. Shirley is supported by a wonderful supporting cast such as Spring Byington, who plays her mother, Gale Sondergaard, who plays an evil cat come to life, and Nigel Bruce (usually remembered as Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes movies opposite Basil Rathbone) as Mr. Luxury. I love the fact that the movie tries to teach that true happiness is not found through riches and things, but found right at home, with the people we love. I have read that people felt that this was a "rip-off" of the Wizard of Oz which was released the year before, but even though there are some similarities in the story lines (young girl goes on a magical journey only to find her happiness is truly in her own backyard) but other than that, the similarities end. Both movies are beautiful and teach their lessons in their own magical way. If you have never seen this movie, and especially if you are a Shirley Temple fan, then you must see this movie. I was impressed...I think you will be.