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IMDbPro

Curly Top

  • 19351935
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Shirley Temple and John Boles in Curly Top (1935)
Clip: Animal crackers in my soup
Play clip2:13
Watch Curly Top
1 Video
26 Photos
FamilyMusicalRomance
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,... Read allWealthy 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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2K
YOUR RATING
    • Irving Cummings
  • Writers
    • Patterson McNutt(screenplay)
    • Arthur J. Beckhard(screenplay)
    • William M. Conselman(contributing writer)
  • Stars
    • Shirley Temple
    • John Boles
    • Rochelle Hudson
    • Irving Cummings
  • Writers
    • Patterson McNutt(screenplay)
    • Arthur J. Beckhard(screenplay)
    • William M. Conselman(contributing writer)
  • Stars
    • Shirley Temple
    • John Boles
    • Rochelle Hudson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Curly Top
    Clip 2:13
    Watch Curly Top

    Photos26

    Shirley Temple and John Boles in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple and Rochelle Hudson in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple and John Boles in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple, John Boles, and Rochelle Hudson in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple, John Boles, and Rochelle Hudson in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple and Rochelle Hudson in Curly Top (1935)
    Esther Dale in Curly Top (1935)
    Shirley Temple and John Boles in Curly Top (1935)
    Rochelle Hudson and Maurice Murphy in Curly Top (1935)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shirley Temple
    Shirley Temple
    • Elizabeth Blair
    John Boles
    John Boles
    • Edward Morgan
    Rochelle Hudson
    Rochelle Hudson
    • Mary Blair
    Jane Darwell
    Jane Darwell
    • Mrs. Denham
    Rafaela Ottiano
    Rafaela Ottiano
    • Mrs. Higgins
    Esther Dale
    Esther Dale
    • Aunt Genevieve Graham
    Etienne Girardot
    Etienne Girardot
    • Mr. Wyckoff
    Arthur Treacher
    Arthur Treacher
    • Reynolds - the Butler
    Maurice Murphy
    Maurice Murphy
    • Jimmie Rogers
    Stanley Andrews
    Stanley Andrews
    • Orphanage Trustee
    • (uncredited)
    Lynn Bari
    Lynn Bari
    • Beach Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Leonard Carey
    Leonard Carey
    • Morgan's Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Herbert Evans
    Herbert Evans
    • Morgan's Chauffeur
    • (uncredited)
    Bess Flowers
    Bess Flowers
    • Attendee at Orphan Benefit
    • (uncredited)
    Billy Gilbert
    Billy Gilbert
    • Morgan's Cook
    • (uncredited)
    Edward LeSaint
    Edward LeSaint
    • Orphanage Trustee
    • (uncredited)
      • Irving Cummings
    • Writers
      • Patterson McNutt(screenplay)
      • Arthur J. Beckhard(screenplay)
      • William M. Conselman(contributing writer) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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

      Edward Morgan: There's no human problem that can't be solved by kindness.

    • 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.
    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Young People (1940)
    • Soundtracks
      Animal Crackers in My Soup
      (1935) (uncredited)

      Music by Ray Henderson

      Lyrics by Ted Koehler and Irving Caesar

      Sung by Shirley Temple with Rochelle Hudson on piano

      Played as background music often

    User reviews20

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Classic Shirley
    Being an extremely rebellious teenage girl and a huge Shirley Temple fanatic seemed really odd to everyone who knew me. Not only did I love the strange alternate universe she existed in where little orphan girls can triumph over any tragedy, and sing and dance all the while, but I easily recognized the young actress's remarkable talent and charisma. I can't think of any child star, now or then, who could carry an entire film the way she did every year in the 1930's. She is completely unrivaled. In "Curly Top" she plays Elizabeth Blair, a sweetly precocious orphan who, along with her older sister Mary, is adopted by a kind-hearted wealthy businessman. The musical numbers are absolutely classic, and include the famous "Animal Crackers In My Soup" in which she leads her fellow orphans in a dining room singalong. Then there's the ultra-adorable song n' dance (and jump-rope) number "When I Grow Up", where we get to see little Shirley dress up in various costumes that include a wedding gown and an old lady getup, gray hair and all. Last but not least, Shirley does one of her most famous tapdance numbers on top of a white grand piano in the aptly-titled song "Curly Top". The seasoned supporting cast definitely shines as well. John Boles is extremely charming as the handsome bachelor Edward Morgan, although his piano-accompanied operatic singing can seem a little tedious, especially to younger viewers. One of my favorite actors, Arthur Treacher, expertly plays the quietly sarcastic butler whose stiff exterior quickly melts after befriending young Elizabeth. Treacher is better known for his role in the later Shirley Temple film, The Little Princess, in which he plays the cruel schoolmaster's flamboyant brother, Mr Birdy. Filled with interesting characters and situations, "Curly Top" is such a delightful movie. It's got musical numbers, romance, drama, and comedy, all wrapped up in a cute little package. It's a must-have for Shirley Temple fans, and classic movie fans in general.

    ~Darlene
    helpful•9
    2
    • trueluvnanarchy
    • Sep 4, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 26, 1935 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Production company
      • Fox Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 15 minutes
      • Black and White

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