Connection
The Blue Bird is a american film of genre Drama directed by Walter Lang released in USA on 19 january 1940 with Shirley Temple
The Blue Bird (1940)
If you like this film, let us know!
- Infos
- Casting
- Technical infos
- Photos
- Videos
- Film quotes
- Characters
- Music
- Awards
Add to a movie listThe Blue Bird is a 1940 B&W and Technicolor 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 little girl (played by Shirley Temple) and her search for happiness.
Despite being a box office flop and losing money, the film was later nominated for two Academy Awards. It is available on both VHS and DVD.
Synopsis
Set in Germany sometime in the late 18th century where Mytyl (Shirley Temple), the bratty daughter of a woodcutter (Russell Hicks), finds a unique bird in the Royal Forest and selfishly refuses to give it to her sick friend. Mother and Father are mortified at Mytyl's behavior. That evening, Father is called on to report for duty the next morning in an unspecified war. That same night, Mytyl is visited in a dream by a fairy named Berylune (Jessie Ralph) who sends her and her brother Tyltyl (Johnny Russell) to search for the Blue Bird of Happiness. To accompany them, the fairy magically transforms their dog Tylo (Eddie Collins), cat Tylette (Gale Sondergaard), and lantern ("Light") into human form. The children have a number of adventures, visiting the past and their dead grandparents who come to life because they are being remembered, a scary adventure in the forest, the life of luxury, and the future, a land of yet-to-be born children. The dream journey makes Mytyl awake as a kinder and gentler girl who has learned to appreciate all the comforts and joys of her home and family. In the morning, the Father receives word that a truce has been called and he does not have to go to war.Actors
Shirley Temple
(Mytyl)
Spring Byington
(Mummy Tyl)
Nigel Bruce
(Mr. Luxury)
Gale Sondergaard
(Tylette (the cat))
Eddie Collins
(Tylo (the dog))
Comments
Leave comment :
Suggestions of similar film to The Blue Bird
There are 205 films with the same actors, 60 films with the same director, 92973 with the same cinematographic genres (including 9 with exactly the same 6 genres than The Blue Bird), 10261 films with the same themes (including 8 films with the same 4 themes than The Blue Bird), to have finally 70 suggestions of similar films.If you liked The Blue Bird, you will probably like those similar films :
The Little Princess (1939)
, 1h33Directed by Walter Lang, William A. Seiter
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Musical theatre, Fantasy, Musical
Themes Films about education, Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Children's films
Actors Shirley Temple, Richard Greene, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, Arthur Treacher, Cesar Romero
Rating70%
Captain Crewe (played by Ian Hunter), called to fight in the Second Boer War, has to leave his daughter Sara (Shirley Temple) with her pony at Miss Minchin's School for Girls. With all the money Captain Crewe can offer, Miss Minchin gives Sara a fancy, private room.
Susannah of the Mounties (1939)
, 1h18Directed by Walter Lang, William A. Seiter
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Western
Themes Children's films
Actors Shirley Temple, Randolph Scott, Margaret Lockwood, Victor Jory, Lester Matthews, J. Farrell MacDonald
Rating63%
As the Canadian Pacific Railway makes its way through the western frontier of Canada in the early 1880s, railroad workers and settlers come under frequent attack by Indians who resent the white man's encroachment on their land. One such attack on a wagon train leaves only one survivor of the Indian massacre, a young girl named Susannah Sheldon (Shirley Temple) who is found by a mounted patrol in the command of Inspector Angus "Monty" Montague. The young girl is taken back to the post where she is adopted by Monty (Randolph Scott) and his friend, Pat O'Hannegan (J. Farrell MacDonald). The two men do their best to help the girl overcome her terrible ordeal.
The King and I (1956)
, 2h19Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical theatre, Adventure, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Politique, Théâtre, Musical films, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Children's films, Films about language and translation, Films about royalty
Actors Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Rita Moreno, Maureen Hingert, Martin Benson, Alan Mowbray
Rating73%
Strong-willed, widowed schoolteacher Anna Leonowens arrives in Bangkok from Wales with her young son Louis after being summoned to tutor the many children of King Mongkut. The two are introduced to the Kralahome, King Mongkut's confidante and Siam's prime minister. His severe countenance makes Louis apprehensive, but Anna refuses to be intimidated and convinces him to disguise his fear ("I Whistle a Happy Tune"). The Kralahome explains he has come to escort them to the Royal Palace where they will live – a violation of Anna's contract, which calls for them to live in a separate house outside the walls of the palace. Despite her threat to return to Singapore, Anna reluctantly disembarks with Louis and the Kralahome.
Desk Set (1957)
, 1h43Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Themes Films about computing, Théâtre, Films based on plays, Children's films
Actors Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Joan Blondell, Gig Young, Dina Merrill, Neva Patterson
Rating71%
Desk Set takes place at the "Federal Broadcasting Network" (exterior shots are of Rockefeller Center, headquarters of NBC). Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) is in charge of its reference library, which is responsible for researching and answering questions on all manner of topics, such as the names of Santa's reindeer. She has been involved for seven years with rising network executive Mike Cutler (Gig Young), with no marriage in sight.
, 1h47Directed by Walter Lang, Frank Tashlin
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Comedy, Musical theatre, Romantic comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Musical, Romance
Themes Musical films, Political films, Buddy films, Children's films, Films about royalty
Actors Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe DeRita, Edson Stroll, Patricia Medina, Guy Rolfe
Rating52%
Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Fortunia, a noble king and his lovely young queen lack but one blessing to make their joy complete. The queen gives birth to a daughter named Snow White, but dies soon after. The king mourns her, but in time, he remarries because of the pleading of his people. His new Queen is a beautiful, but evil woman who soon becomes jealous of Snow White's beauty.
The Marriage-Go-Round (1961)
, 1h38Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Films about sexuality, Théâtre, Erotic films, Films based on plays, Children's films
Actors Susan Hayward, James Mason, Julie Newmar, Robert Paige, June Clayworth, Everett Glass
Rating59%
At a Florida college, professor Paul Delville and wife Content, who is the school's dean of women, anticipate a visit from Sweden. The people they expect are a former colleague, Professor Sveg, and his daughter Katrin.
Call Me Madam (1953)
, 1h54Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Romantic comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Monde imaginaire, Théâtre, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Vera-Ellen, George Sanders, Helmut Dantine, Billy De Wolfe
Rating66%
A wealthy Washington, D.C., socialite, Sally Adams, has political connections and is appointed U.S. ambassador to the tiny country of Lichtenburg, even though nothing in her background qualifies her for the job. A young journalist, Kenneth Gibson, persuades her to let him tag along as her press attache.
State Fair (1945)
, 1h40Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Children's films
Actors Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Vivian Blaine, Charles Winninger, Fay Bainter
Rating69%
The Frake family is getting ready for the Iowa State Fair - each with their own hopes for the trip ("Our State Fair"). Daughter Margy (Jeanne Crain) is in a melancholy mood as she packs for the fair, singing "It Might As Well Be Spring". Margy muses about how the Fair will at least give her a break from seeing and doing the same old things every day on the farm. Father Abel (Charles Winninger) tends to his pig Blue Boy and bets his neighbor Dave Miller (Percy Kilbride) five dollars that the pig will win at the fair, and that the Frake family will all have a good time at the fair with no bad experiences. Mother Melissa (Fay Bainter) is preparing pickles and mincemeat to enter in the cooking competition. The mincemeat recipe calls for brandy, but Melissa objects to adding it because she doesn't believe in cooking with alcohol, even though Abel disagrees and thinks the brandy is essential to the recipe. When Melissa goes to the phone, Abel secretly puts some brandy in the mincemeat. The phone call is for son Wayne (Dick Haymes), whose girlfriend Eleanor is calling to tell him that she cannot go to the fair with him because her mother has been ill. Melissa comes back from the phone to her mincemeat and, not knowing Abel already added brandy, adds even more. Harry, Margy's fiance, tells her he can't go to the fair with her because he has to take care of his cows. He describes the new modern farm he wants to have after they are married, with a farmhouse made out of prefabricated plastic with linoleum floors throughout. Margy, who thinks old houses are charming, is not enthusiastic about Harry's ideas or about Harry himself.
The Baroness and the Butler (1938)
, 1h20Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Themes Films based on plays, Children's films
Actors William Powell, Annabella, Helen Westley, Henry Stephenson, Joseph Schildkraut, J. Edward Bromberg
Rating64%
Johann Porok, a third-generation butler in the service of Count Albert Sandor, the Prime Minister of Hungary, is unexpectedly elected to the Hungarian parliament, representing the opposition social progressive party. Despite this, he insists on remaining a servant as well. Count Sandor is pleased with this peculiar arrangement, as he has found Johann to be the perfect butler and does not wish to break in a new man. His daughter, Baroness Katrina Marissey, however, considers Johann a traitor and treats him very coldly.
Can-Can (1960)
, 2h11Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Children's films
Actors Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Juliet Prowse, Marcel Dalio
Rating63%
À Paris, en 1896, Simone Pistache, directrice et meneuse de revues du cabaret Bal du Paradis à Montmartre, brave la censure en présentant le cancan, une danse qu’une ligue de dames vertueuses a déclarée « obscène et lascive » (sic) bien que ces dames ne l’aient jamais vue. François Durnais, avocat et amant de Simone, est censé avoir négocié un accord avec la police, mais celle-ci fait irruption à chaque tentative de représentation. Lors du procès, le président du tribunal, Paul Barrière (un ami de François), apprend que c’est l’un des juges de sa cour qui a validé la plainte : le jeune et nouveau Philippe Forestier. Un soir, lorsque ce dernier se rend incognito au Bal du Paradis pour constater le délit, il fait la connaissance de Simone et en tombe amoureux. Une rivalité s’érige entre Durnais et Forestier. Simone est très liée à Durnais, mais contrariée, car ce dernier fait du refus du mariage une question de principe. Forestier propose plusieurs rendez-vous à Simone, mais elle temporise jusqu’à ce qu’il lui demande de l’épouser. Simone accepte, stupéfaite de se voir spontanément offrir ce que Durnais lui a toujours refusé. Durnais, avec la complicité de Barrière, cherche alors un plan pour rompre leurs fiançailles. Invité à la réception donnée sur une péniche par Forestier pour présenter sa future épouse à son distingué entourage, Durnais profite de l’appréhension de Simone d’être confrontée à la gent bourgeoise pour lui faire exagérément boire du champagne avant de la pousser à exécuter un numéro de cabaret qui scandalise l’assistance. Simone réalise que sa prestation a compromis son mariage et s’enfuit en regagnant les quais à la nage. Elle imagine un stratagème pour se venger de Durnais : elle lui demande de lui prêter de l’argent en contrepartie de quoi elle lui fait signer un document stipulant qu’il restera propriétaire du Bal du Paradis tant que l’argent ne lui sera pas remboursé. Quand le cancan est représenté au cabaret, la police fait une descente et arrête son propriétaire, Durnais en l’occurrence. Celui-ci passe au tribunal, et Simone, estimant que sa vengeance va trop loin, refuse de l’enfoncer davantage, mais ne veut plus avoir affaire à lui. Durnais a finalement recours à un subterfuge pour reconquérir Simone et lui faire enfin sa demande en mariage.