Laughing eyes

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Movie
German title Laughing eyes
Original title Bright eyes
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1934
length 83 minutes
Rod
Director David Butler
script David Butler ,
Edwin J. Burke ,
William Conselman ,
Henry Johnson
production Sol M. Wurtzel for
Fox Film Corporation
music Richard A. Whiting ,
Samuel Kaylin
camera Arthur C. Miller
occupation

Laughing eyes (original title Bright Eyes ) is an American film by David Butler from 1934. The melodrama with elements of a musical and a comedy made its leading actress Shirley Temple to Hollywood's greatest child star. In this film she also sings her best-known song On the Good Ship Lollipop .

action

Shirley Blake has been a half-orphan since her father, a pilot, was killed in a plane crash several years ago. Nevertheless, she still likes to visit the nearby airfield, where she has a lot of fun with her godfather, the pilot James "Loop" Merritt. But Shirley's life also has downsides: She lives with her mother Mary with the newly rich Smythe family, where Mary found a job as a maid after her husband's death. The vicious and lavish Smythe family makes life hell for their employees, especially the spoiled daughter Joy turns out to be a daily horror. Only the quirky Uncle Ned, the wheelchair-bound family patriach, is friendly towards Shirley. At Christmas the family receives a visit from Mrs. Smyte's cousin Adele from New York , who was once engaged to James Merritt. The planned wedding was canceled because Adele's family considered the engagement to be inappropriate. Since then there has been radio silence between the two.

At Christmas the pilots throw a party for Shirley at the airfield. But the celebrations come to an abrupt end: When Shirley's mother wants to drive to the airport with a cake, she is run over by a car and dies. James then has the difficult task of telling Shirley of her mother's death. They take a flight together, which has always been Shirley's dream, then he tells her that her mother is now like her father in heaven. Shortly after the death of their mother, the Smythes want to get rid of the orphan and hand it over to institutions. But Uncle Ned intervenes and ensures that Shirley can stay in the household of the Smythe family. The Smythes obey Uncle Ned in hope of his great legacy, but continue to loathe Shirley. She gets to feel this especially from the arrogant Joy, who explains to her that she is only in the Smythes' house out of charity.

Meanwhile, James plans to adopt Shirley himself and seeks the support of Adele, which she gives him. But first James had to find a more suitable home than the airfield for Shirley. But Uncle Ned also wants to adopt Shirley, which causes an argument between him and the pilot. On a stormy night, Shirley overhears a conversation between the Smythe couple who hatefully talk about Shirley. She escapes to James on the airfield. The next day, a violent blizzard sweeps across the country, bringing air traffic to a standstill. In order to raise money for an adoption of Shirley, James still wants to fly a package to New York for 1000 US dollars. He sends Shirley back to the Smythes, but they secretly sneaks into his plane. Meanwhile, James is wanted for child abduction, and the plane fails in the storm. Shirley and James have to land by parachute. In the aftermath there is a lawsuit for custody of Shirley between James and Uncle Ned. Shirley explains to the judge that she would like to live with James, Uncle Ned and Adele. The judge sends out all the lawyers and makes sure that James and Adele reconcile and marry. So everyone can live together in the future. Only the Smythes are left out and have to live without the prospect of Uncle Ned's inheritance in the future.

background

In 1934 the Fox film studio was in dire need of a film hit to avoid bankruptcy. Bright Eyes became the studio's hope because the previous films with Shirley Temple were all successes. In fact, this film also became a box-office hit, saved Fox from bankruptcy and made Shirley Temple the biggest child star in Hollywood. The scene in which Temple sings the only song in the film, On the Good Ship Lollipop , in front of some pilots on the plane became famous. The film was directed and scripted by David Butler, who made films with Shirley Temple on a regular basis in the 1930s. He got the idea for the film from his childhood: His affluent family also employed a Scottish maid, even though they had a young daughter.

At Shirley Temple's side, Jane Withers played the vicious girl Joy Smythe. Withers, two years older than Temple, had been on stage for a long time, but mostly only played small roles in films. But her notable supporting role in Bright Eyes also gave Withers her breakthrough as a child star. She received her own film series, in which she was allowed to play sympathetic girls in the lead role. In commercial terms, Withers became the second most successful child star behind Temple. Also in the film is the dog Terry, for whom it was one of the first films. Terry later became famous alongside Judy Garland as the dog Toto in The Wizard of Oz .

reception

The film was a huge hit with audiences, although the critics were only cautiously positive. Andre Sennwald judged in the New York Times that Shirley Temple was an “amazing joy”, and the lollipop song in particular was a highlight of the film. Director Butler would have the goal to prove that Temple really is the cutest girl on screen. Sennwald took little pleasure in the depiction of the Smythe family, which is overdrawn and overly malicious. But it is precisely this weakness that would also allow the talented Jane Withers to play the "most unpleasant child of the film year" as the evil Smythe daughter. In addition to Withers, Sennwald also praised the "capable and enjoyable" James Dunn, the "appropriately wistful" Lois Wilson as mother and Charles Sellon, who as an old uncle would prove his comedic talent.

Nine of the eleven reviews of Laughing Eyes at Rotten Tomatoes are positive, giving the film a rating of 82%.

Shirley Temple received an honorary Oscar at the 1935 Academy Awards for her extraordinary film achievements in 1934, including Laughing Eyes .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Eleanor Quin: Bright Eyes (1934) - Articles. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved April 2, 2020 .
  2. ^ Andre Sennwald : THE SCREEN; The Radio City Music Hall Presents Its Christmas Show, 'Bright Eyes,' With Shirley Temple. In: The New York Times . December 21, 1934 ( online on the New York Times pages [accessed April 2, 2020]).
  3. ↑ Bright Eyes at Rotten Tomatoes (English) Template: Rotten Tomatoes / Maintenance / Wikidata name different from the page name. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  4. ↑ The 7th Academy Awards Memorable Moments. In: Oscars.org. Retrieved April 2, 2020 .