Shirley Temple Movies: The Definitive Guide

Shirley Temple’s film career began at the tender age of three and spanned an impressive forty years. Her precocious charm and talent won her legions of devoted fans, making her one of Hollywood’s most beloved icons. Here we take a look back at some of her best-known films from childhood to adulthood.

Bright Eyes (1934)
Bright Eyes were Shirley Temple’s first feature-length film, which catapulted her to fame. She plays Shirley Blake, an orphan adopted by a rich man who wanted a child to replace his deceased daughter. When his new daughter turns out to be very different than he expected, he struggles to accept her into his life. Shirley’s performance is full of warmth, innocence, and joy that endeared her to audiences worldwide. Her iconic song “On the Good Ship Lollipop” from this movie became an instant classic and one of the most popular songs in America at the time.

Curly Top (1935)
Curly Top is Shirley Temple’s second feature-length film, another box office success for her. She plays Elizabeth Ann Brown, a young girl taken in by a wealthy benefactor who falls in love with her spunkiness and charm. With the help of her guardian angel, she helps him find true love with a woman he previously dismissed as too old for him. This movie also features another memorable song from Shirley Temple entitled “Animal Crackers in My Soup,” which has become a children’s classic over time.

The Little Colonel (1935)
Lloyd Bacon directed this film that stars Shirley Temple as a young Southern girl who helps unite two feuding families in post-Civil War Kentucky through friendship and understanding. It features an all-star cast including Lionel Barrymore, Bill Robinson, and Evelyn Venable, as well as an incredible dance number between Robinson and Temple that has become one of their most notable performances together on screen.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938)
In this musical drama based on Kate Douglas Wiggin’s novel by the same name, Shirley plays Rebecca Winwood, an orphan sent to live with her strict aunt on Sunnybrook Farm, where she soon charms everyone around her with her innocence and cheerfulness despite their initial skepticism about taking care of such a young child alone. This movie also features several iconic songs, such as “Animal Crackers In My Soup,” which further cemented Shirley’s place as America’s sweetheart at the time.

The Little Princess (1939)
The Little Princess is a beloved classic starring Shirley Temple as Sara Crewe, a young girl sent to a boarding school in Victorian England after her father fights in the Boer War. When unfortunate news reaches the school that her father has been killed in action, Sara finds herself penniless and alone. She must use her courage and tenacity to survive the difficult circumstances she finds herself in. This movie was nominated for four Academy Awards and won Shirley Temple a special Juvenile Academy Award for her performance.

Young People (1940)
In this musical comedy, Shirley plays Jane Mason, a spoiled rich girl who takes up residence with her extended family at their farm to escape the pressures of high society life. Once there, she discovers an unlikely friendship with an old man who teaches her about life and love. This movie features several memorable songs written by Harold Arlen and his wife Ethel, as well as some of Shirley’s most acclaimed dance numbers from this period of her career.

Kiss and Tell (1945)
Kiss and Tell were released during Shirley Temple’s teenage years when she was transitioning from child star to adult actress. She plays Kathy Larson, an aspiring author who comes up with a scheme to use gossip columnist Max Shady’s contacts to get published more quickly. Still, she soon finds herself embroiled in an international espionage plot instead. The movie is full of zany humor and wild plot twists that keep audiences entertained throughout its running time.

Fort Apache (1948)
John Ford directed this Western starring John Wayne and Shirley Temple as father-daughter duo Captain York and Philadelphia Thursby, respectively, on a mission to bring peace to the Apache nation living on their Army fort’s grounds. The two characters must learn how to balance their love for each other while also fulfilling their professional duties with the Army, which often puts them at odds with one another. Fort Apache solidified Shirley Temple’s transition into adulthood as she successfully portrayed Philadelphia as both an obedient daughter and a strong-willed woman determined to make her own way despite being surrounded by men in positions of power.

Adventure In Baltimore (1949)
Adventure In Baltimore was one of Shirley Temple’s final feature films before she retired from acting at the age of 21. She plays Susan Wyatt, an orphaned teen who wants nothing more than to find out who she truly is by searching for information about her birth parents so that she can finally feel complete again. Along the way, she befriends various people from different walks of life, which helps teach her valuable lessons about acceptance and understanding that will stay with her forever, no matter what secrets lie waiting at the end of her journey.

Conclusion

Shirley Temple’s film career spanned four decades. It showcased some of Hollywood’s most memorable performances by this talented actress, who captured hearts worldwide with each new role she took on, no matter what age or stage of life it represented for her character onscreen. From Bright Eyes through Adventure In Baltimore, these movies still remain beloved classics today that continue to charm audiences everywhere, thanks largely due to Shirley’s natural likeability that cannot be replicated even after all these years since they were first released.