Shirley Temple was growing up. The nine-year-older was surrendering her 56 curls in her hair in favor of a more Mary Pickford-style hairdo in March 1938's "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm." Even Temple's repeated catchphrase, "I'm self reliant," reflected a more adult behavior by her perseverance, a trait she inspired many still reeling from the effects of the lingering economic Depression.
"Shirley looks adorable in pigtails," observed film reviewer Andrew Pragasam. When the studio released photos of Temple right before "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" premiered, her new hair style made national headlines. The 20th Century Fox film didn't quite rank with her normal top ten movies in ticket sales, but it still drew enough for Shirley to make her Hollywood's top box office star for the third year in a row. The famous 'poison box office' open letter by the independent theatre owners credited her as a prime example of an actress drawing customers into their movie houses while high-salaried performers such as Katherine Hepburn and Joan Crawford failed.
"Rebecca of Sunnybook Farm," based on 1903 Kate Wiggins' book of the same name, was a subject for both Pickford's 1917 film and the first talkie version in 1932 with Marian Nixon and Ralph Bellamy. The Temple picture, updated from its turn of the century time period, differed from its predecessors, sharing only the protagonist's first name and residency at her aunt's farm. Unbeknownst to Rebecca (Temple) and her stepdad, Harry (William Demarest), they won the contest to be the voice of a cereal product because they slinked out of the radio station's building thinking she had no chance of being selected. In one of the biggest coincidences in cinematic history, Harry drops off Rebecca at her aunt Miranda's (Helen Westley) farm, who happens to be next door to Tony Kent (Randolph Scott), the advertising executive of the cereal company. Tony had been in another room during the audition and has been searching for her ever since. The two eventually connect, with the help of Rebecca's cousin Gwen (Gloria Stuart).
Actress Stuart initially turned down the offer to play Gwen, thinking the part was too fluffy for her normal serious acting. Studio head Darryl F. Zanuck informed her that an appearance in a Shirley Temple movie was a guarantee millions would see her. Stuart, 28, who later earned an Academy Award nomination for playing the elder Rose in 1997's "Titanic," admitted in a 1998 interview that being in the Temple film certainly elevated her career in Hollywood. Shirley's older brother, Jack Temple, was hired as third assistant director, where his sole responsibility was to watch over his younger sister. Shirley later said Jack "spent time thinking up things to take care of, one of which was me," a task that became irksome for her and the film crew. In one scene, Shirley is sitting at the dinner table of Tony Kent's farmhouse in front of a cooked turkey. To keep the flies off, the turkey was sprayed with insecticide. Jack ordered Shirley in a loud, forceful voice, not to eat the turkey. She knew better, and was embarrassed by her brother in front of the film crew. Rebellious as ever, Shirley took a large chunk of the bird and put it into her mouth. Jack sprang forward and shoved his hand down to extract the meat. The fuss was so disruptive director Alan Dwan ordered Jack to leave the set.
"Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" capped off with one of Shirley Temple's most famous dance number, the 'Toy Trumpet,' with her good friend tap dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson. The military dance number, largely filmed in one unedited sequence, is included in many Temple retrospective documentaries. But it sure was tough on the little dancer. "Our practice routine was long, incorporating jazz and blues with complicated nerve taps, all in an unbroken sequence," recalled Shirley years later. "Even when we did the film I got a charley horse." The American Film Institute nominated Temple's picture as one of the Greatest Movie Musicals.
"Shirley looks adorable in pigtails," observed film reviewer Andrew Pragasam. When the studio released photos of Temple right before "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" premiered, her new hair style made national headlines. The 20th Century Fox film didn't quite rank with her normal top ten movies in ticket sales, but it still drew enough for Shirley to make her Hollywood's top box office star for the third year in a row. The famous 'poison box office' open letter by the independent theatre owners credited her as a prime example of an actress drawing customers into their movie houses while high-salaried performers such as Katherine Hepburn and Joan Crawford failed.
"Rebecca of Sunnybook Farm," based on 1903 Kate Wiggins' book of the same name, was a subject for both Pickford's 1917 film and the first talkie version in 1932 with Marian Nixon and Ralph Bellamy. The Temple picture, updated from its turn of the century time period, differed from its predecessors, sharing only the protagonist's first name and residency at her aunt's farm. Unbeknownst to Rebecca (Temple) and her stepdad, Harry (William Demarest), they won the contest to be the voice of a cereal product because they slinked out of the radio station's building thinking she had no chance of being selected. In one of the biggest coincidences in cinematic history, Harry drops off Rebecca at her aunt Miranda's (Helen Westley) farm, who happens to be next door to Tony Kent (Randolph Scott), the advertising executive of the cereal company. Tony had been in another room during the audition and has been searching for her ever since. The two eventually connect, with the help of Rebecca's cousin Gwen (Gloria Stuart).
Actress Stuart initially turned down the offer to play Gwen, thinking the part was too fluffy for her normal serious acting. Studio head Darryl F. Zanuck informed her that an appearance in a Shirley Temple movie was a guarantee millions would see her. Stuart, 28, who later earned an Academy Award nomination for playing the elder Rose in 1997's "Titanic," admitted in a 1998 interview that being in the Temple film certainly elevated her career in Hollywood. Shirley's older brother, Jack Temple, was hired as third assistant director, where his sole responsibility was to watch over his younger sister. Shirley later said Jack "spent time thinking up things to take care of, one of which was me," a task that became irksome for her and the film crew. In one scene, Shirley is sitting at the dinner table of Tony Kent's farmhouse in front of a cooked turkey. To keep the flies off, the turkey was sprayed with insecticide. Jack ordered Shirley in a loud, forceful voice, not to eat the turkey. She knew better, and was embarrassed by her brother in front of the film crew. Rebellious as ever, Shirley took a large chunk of the bird and put it into her mouth. Jack sprang forward and shoved his hand down to extract the meat. The fuss was so disruptive director Alan Dwan ordered Jack to leave the set.
"Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" capped off with one of Shirley Temple's most famous dance number, the 'Toy Trumpet,' with her good friend tap dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson. The military dance number, largely filmed in one unedited sequence, is included in many Temple retrospective documentaries. But it sure was tough on the little dancer. "Our practice routine was long, incorporating jazz and blues with complicated nerve taps, all in an unbroken sequence," recalled Shirley years later. "Even when we did the film I got a charley horse." The American Film Institute nominated Temple's picture as one of the Greatest Movie Musicals.