The Blue Bird (1940 film)
| The Blue Bird | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Walter Lang |
| Screenplay by | Ernest Pascal Walter Bullock (additional dialogue) |
| Based on | the play by Maurice Maeterlinck |
| Produced by | Gene Markey (associate producer) |
| Starring | Shirley Temple Spring Byington Nigel Bruce Gale Sondergaard Eddie Collins Sybil Jason Jessie Ralph Helen Ericson Johnny Russell Laura Hope Crews Russell Hicks Cecilia Loftus Al Shean Gene Reynolds |
| Cinematography | Arthur Miller, A.S.C. Ray Rennahan, A.S.C. |
| Edited by | Robert Bischoff |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox |
Release date |
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Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million |
The Blue Bird is a 1940 American fantasy film directed by Walter Lang. The screenplay by Walter Bullock was adapted from the 1908 play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck. Intended as 20th Century Fox's answer to MGM's The Wizard of Oz, which had been released the previous year, it was filmed in Technicolor and tells the story of a disagreeable young girl (played by Shirley Temple) and her search for happiness.
Despite being a box office flop and losing money, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards. It is available on both VHS and DVD.