Film Review of Curly Top: Shirley Temple in 1935 Musical

A charming waif cherishes animals, family, and orphans in Curly Top by writers Arthur J. Beckhard and Patterson McNutt; producer Winfield R. Sheehan; and director Irving Cummings. John F. Seitz, Jack Murray, and Ray Henderson handle cinematography, editing, and music. Filming showcases California’s Movietone City.

The 74-minute musical adapts Jean Webster’s (born Alice Jane Chandler Webster, 1876-1916) 1921-published novel Daddy-Long-Legs. Its distributor was 20th Century-Fox. Its USA-release date was July 26, 1935.

The movie begins with Elizabeth Blair (Shirley Temple) sheltering her pony from downpours. Lakeside Orphanage’s kindly matron Mrs. Henrietta Denham (Jane Darwell) finds Spunky sleeping in the bed next to Elizabeth’s. Strict superintendent Mrs. Higgins (Rafaela Ottiano) orders Betsy’s and Spunky’s sale. Elizabeth protests since the duck and pony were performing animals until Elizabeth’s vaudevillian parents’ deaths in an automobile accident.

Lakeside trustee James Wyckoff (Etienne Girardot) belittles heating drafty rooms. He favors selling Lakeside his company’s cough mixture. He hears Elizabeth mimicking him in her sister’s (Rochelle Hudson) composition, “Animal Crackers in My Soup”. He intends to send such a “wicked child” to a public institution. Mary Blair labels him a “hateful” and “mean” man.

Trustee Edward Morgan (John Boles) intervenes. He nicknames Elizabeth Curly Top. He pretends to be a lawyer who acts on the behalf of fictitious, wealthy, world-traveling businessman Hiram Jones. Elizabeth requires:

• Mary’s removal from dormitory, kitchen, and laundry work;

• Charity bazaars and variety shows to raise money for Lakeside.

Edward and Mary enjoy composing songs. The storyline gives Edward credit for composing “It’s All So New to Me” and “The Simple Things in Life” and Mary credit for “Animal Crackers in My Soup”. It gives no credit for “When I Grow Up”.

Edward’s Aunt Genevieve Graham (Esther Dale) keeps Betsy, Elizabeth, Mary and Spunky company in one of Long Island’s summer estates at Southampton. English butler Reynolds (Arthur Treacher) reacts to Elizabeth’s spontaneity by:

• Dancing and singing “When I Grow Up” with cook (Billy Gilbert);

• Saying “my word” to Elizabeth’s “Oh, my goodness”.

Edward buys Elizabeth a pony cart. He pays Mary’s music school tuition. He showers both sisters with clothes, jewelry and silk pajamas. He takes them water-skiing.

Navy pilot Jimmie Rogers (Maurice Murphy) asks Mary out dancing and flying. They become engaged after Edward denies Genevieve’s charges of envying Jimmie and loving Mary. Edward offers congratulations. He prepares to sail for Europe.

The movie ends with:

• Mary breaking her engagement;

• Edward identifying himself as Hiram;

• Edward and Mary planning their marriage and European honeymoon;

• Edward singing “Curly Top” to Elizabeth grand piano-top tapdancing;

• Elizabeth stating “Oh, my word!”

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Shirley Temple is costumed in pom-pom one-piece pajama playsuit designed by Swiss costumer Rene Hubert (October 7, 1895-June 5, 1976).
Pom-pom pajama playsuit is made of ivory silk crepe, with four fluffy pom poms on bodice.: Conrad J. Barrington @cjubarrington, via Twitter Aug. 9, 2021, @ https://twitter.com/cjubarrington/status/1424589926251712514

myvideosym. "Shirley Temple: Animal Crackers In My Soup Extended Version." YouTube, March 3, 2008, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNwFXLcrsbc

Andrew Medico. "Curly Top 1935." YouTube, Feb. 27, 2015, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGJUOafQ7KA