Curly Top (1935)

Wealthy Edward Morgan becomes charmed with a curly-haired orphan and her pretty older sister Mary and arranges to adopt both under the alias of "Mr. Jones." As he spends more time with them, he soon finds himself falling in love with Mary.

Director:

Irving Cummings

Writers:

Patterson McNutt (screenplay), Arthur J. Beckhard (screenplay) (as Arthur Beckhard)

Stars:

Shirley Temple, John Boles, Rochelle Hudson

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shirley Temple	...	Elizabeth Blair
John Boles	...	Edward Morgan
Rochelle Hudson	...	Mary Blair
Jane Darwell	...	Mrs. Denham
Rafaela Ottiano	...	Mrs. Higgins
Esther Dale	...	Aunt Genevieve Graham
Etienne Girardot	...	Mr. Wyckoff
Arthur Treacher	...	Butler
Maurice Murphy	...	Jimmie Rogers

Storyline

Wealthy Edward Morgan becomes charmed with a curly-haired orphan and her pretty older sister Mary and arranges to adopt both under the alias of "Mr. Jones." As he spends more time with them, he soon finds himself falling in love with Mary.

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Plot Keywords:

remake | ukulele | orphan | protective male | composer | 

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Genres:

Family | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Boucles d'or

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

In the song "Animal Crackers In My Soup" Shirley Temple sings "Monkeys and rabbits loop de loop". The lyric was written as "Monkeys and lions loop de loop" but Shirley sang the wrong lyrics. There are no rabbit-shaped crackers in animal crackers (and also rabbits are not generally part of a traveling circus) but there are lions amongst the animal shapes.

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Quotes

Edward Morgan: [on a painting] Just suppose the figure of that lovely child should suddenly come to life. Suppose it smiled at you and waved its hand. What would you do?
Aunt Genevieve: I'd call a doctor!

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Crazy Credits

The introductory title credit is followed by an extreme close-up of Shirley Temple's curly top. Shirley then raises her head, and shakes her curls, smiling broadly all the while.

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Connections

Referenced in Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

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Soundtracks

It's All So New to Me
(1935) (uncredited)
Music by Ray Henderson
Lyrics by Edward Heyman
Played during the opening credits
Sung by John Boles

User Reviews

"Animal Crackers In My Soup"

Shirley Temple is at the top of her adorable moppet game in Curly Top as she becomes the catalyst that gets her and her older sister Rochelle Hudson out of an orphanage and married to a rich man. Cinderella never had it better.

Shirley and Rochelle's parents were killed in an accident and Rochelle promised them as they were dying that she and Shirley would not be separated. She even stayed on at the orphanage to cook and clean after she became an adult.

Prince Charming who looks a lot like John Boles is captivated by Shirley when she sings one of the songs most identified with her Animal Crackers In My Soup. He's inherited a ton of money and is the newest member of the orphanage's board of directors. Boles brings them to his dream house with aunt Esther Dale, butler Arthur Treacher, and cook Billy Gilbert. Sounds like a dream house to me.

All that's missing in this Cinderella story is a coach that turns back into a pumpkin.

Even at my age I have to admit to being charmed by Shirley and her singing and dancing and all around sunny disposition. Curly Top ranks as one of her best films and holds up well for today's audience.