Curly Top - 1935

When Edward sings "Curly Top" to Elizabeth, he says that her eyes "make the heavens proud to be blue." Shirley Temple's eyes were brown.

Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, the First Lady of China, was such a fan of this film that she arranged for repeat private viewings.

Upon its 1935 release, this film was banned in Denmark because of unspecified "controversy." It was also banned in Switzerland and Italy because Elizabeth's behavior was setting a bad example for children.

This was the first film to pair Shirley Temple with Arthur Treacher; they would appear together in three more movies.

After the success of Jean Webster's 1912 novel, "Daddy Long-Legs," she adapted it to a play which opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 28 September 1914 and closed in May 1915 after 264 performances. The opening night cast included Ruth Chatterton, Charles Trowbridge, Charles Waldron and Cora Witherspoon.

Neither the play nor the novel is mentioned in the screen credits, but most reviewers at the time recognized the similarity, and there was an item in the Los Angeles Examiner in January, 1935, announcing that Miss Temple was to star in a film based on "Daddy Long Legs." Fox owned the rights to both the novel and the play, having produced earlier versions for the screen.

This was the first film in which Rochelle Hudson sang a song.

Cast of Curly Top

Shirley Temple as Elizabeth Blair, an orphan, about 6 or 7 years of age, and an inmate of the Lakeside Orphanage. Her parents were actors before being killed in an automobile accident but Elizabeth is not entirely alone when the film opens: her older sister Mary, an attractive young woman of 18 or 19 years of age, lives in the orphanage and works in the kitchen, laundry, and dormitory. Elizabeth also has a trick pony named Spunky and a white duck named Betsy who are housed in the orphanage yard. Elizabeth is a favorite with her fellow orphans but a trial to Mrs. Higgins, the superintendent of the establishment. Young, handsome, rich trustee Edward Morgan intervenes when Elizabeth is about to be reprimanded, and adopts her. Elizabeth lives in his Southampton beach house and enjoys a life of luxury and plenty but cannot forget the friends she left behind at Lakeside and spearheads a Gala Charity Bazaar to buy toys for the children. The event gives Elizabeth the opportunity to display her vocal and dance talents. She is thrilled when Morgan and her sister Mary are united at the end of the film.

John Boles as Edward Morgan, a bachelor millionaire lawyer and a newly created trustee of the Lakeside Orphanage.

Rochelle Hudson as Mary Blair, Elizabeth’s sister. Mary is an attractive young woman about 18 or 19 years of age who works in the orphanage kitchen, laundry, and dormitory. When handsome bachelor Edward Morgan finds an opportunity to speak alone with Mary, he discovers they share an interest in musical composition and he falls in love. When Morgan makes plans to adopt Elizabeth, he decides to take Mary into his home as well. At Morgan’s Southampton beach house, Mary lives the life of a chic young lady, swimming and sporting on the beach with other elegant young people, dining by candlelight with Morgan and his Aunt Genevieve, and taking coffee on the terrace in the evening. On a moonlit night, she confesses to Morgan she is indescribably happy and Morgan's love deepens but he remains silent. As the summer days pass, Mary attracts the serious romantic interest of Jimmie Rogers, a handsome navy pilot. Mary is in love with Morgan and declines Jimmie’s marriage proposal, but is humiliated when she overhears Morgan tell his Aunt he only allowed Mary into their home because the sisters would not be separated. Mary then accepts Jimmie’s offer, but later, breaks the engagement realizing she doesn't love him. Morgan then steps forward, declares his love to Mary, and the two are united.

Esther Dale as Genevieve Graham, Morgan’s aunt. Aunt Genevieve lives in Morgan's home and believes her nephew is “tetched” when he suggests adopting a child but she comes to love the Blair sisters. Aunt Genevieve functions as a “sounding board” for Morgan‘s plans through the film, and is the first to recognize Jimmie as Morgan’s rival for Mary’s love. Aunt Genevieve goads Morgan into admitting his love for Mary, and presses him to take action.

Arthur Treacher as Reynolds, Morgan’s English butler. The character makes his first appearance mid-way through the film when the Blair sisters arrive at Morgan’s beach house. Reynolds takes a great liking to Elizabeth, but is sometimes astonished with her gauche manners, and spends much time teaching her to use a finger bowl. Following the Gala Bazaar, Reynolds joins Morgan’s cook in a reprise of “When I Grow Up” in the beach house kitchen.

Jane Darwell as Mrs. Henrietta Denham, a heavy-set, elderly matron at the Lakeside Orphanage. Mrs. Denham is a kindhearted woman who can be strict with Elizabeth when necessary. Morgan takes her into his confidence when he makes plans to adopt Elizabeth. Mrs. Denham cries with sorrow at losing the Blair sisters to Morgan, but takes joy that the two will not be separated. Mrs. Denham attends the Gala, telling Aunt Genevieve that “wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”

Rafaela Ottiano as Mrs. Higgins, the severe, thin-lipped superintendent of the Lakeside Orphanage. In the early scenes of the film, Mrs. Higgins hopes new trustee, millionaire Edward Morgan, will be favorably impress with Lakeside and will double his donation. Mrs. Higgins is stern and unyielding with the Blair sisters, and considers the high-spirited Elizabeth a genuine trial, but cries happily when Morgan adopts the girls.

Etienne Girardot as James Wyckoff, a stern, elderly, penny-pinching trustee of the Lakeside Orphanage and the manufacturer of Wyckoff’s Cough Mixture. On a visit to the orphanage, Wyckoff discovers Elizabeth singing, dancing, and mimicking him for the amusement of her fellows, and is outraged, calling Elizabeth incorrigible, and threatening to send her to a public institution. Morgan intervenes, promising to withdraw his financial support of the orphanage if Elizabeth is sent away.

Maurice Murphy as Jimmie Rogers, a handsome navy pilot who falls in love with Mary Blair. Following the Gala Bazaar, Jimmie proposes to Mary nut she declines his offer and ends the conversation when Jimmy suggests Morgan is his rival. Mary is indeed in love with Morgan, but overhears a conversation indicating he has no romantic interest in her. Mary then accepts Jimmie’s proposal, but breaks the engagement later when she realizes she doesn’t truly love him.