Today’s post celebrates “Wee Willie Winkie,” the movie Shirley Temple herself said was her very favorite childhood movie to make. She remembered that most of all she wanted director John Ford to not just like her, but respect her as a professional.
“[He] made no bones about his indifference toward me, saying, “Working with a child star is a most horrible thing.” Mutual cooperation between us was paramount if I were to do a good job, but I also simply wanted Ford to respect me as a professional and like me as a person.…Halfway through the film several things happened which did seem to catch Ford’s attention.…He asked me directly if I was ready to do a particularly hazardous scene myself or if I preferred a double. The action called for me to flee across a dirt trail and climb quickly to safety on a rocky island directly in the path of a herd of several dozen stampeding horses erupting from the Khyber Pass. Doubles always were an unwelcome thought, their presence connoting professional inadequacy. But additionally, danger was appealing. Imminence of peril does wonders to concentrate the senses. Without split-second timing and sure feet, I knew I could easily be a victim. There lay the attraction.…On Ford’s signal I bolted across the path and leaped up among the boulders just as the stampede of wild horses plot and thundered by me on both sides in a swirl of snorting and pounding hooves. From my rocky perch I looked through the dust and across at Ford. I could see he was smiling, finger and thumb circled in the traditional gesture of approval.”
Another convert to the Temple of Shirley.
Here’s the publicity still blurb from this photo:
READY FOR ACTION — Shirley Temple, star of 20th Century-Fox’s “Wee Willie Winkie” awaits the cry for “Action” with a backward glance at the camera, in the foreground. To the right are Pat Somerset and Gavin Muir, who have the roles of Highlander officers in “Wee Willie Winkie.”
The outfit Shirley wore in this scene was part of the 2015 “Love, Shirley Temple” auction:
From the Theriault’s catalog:
SILK DRESS AND PINAFORE WORN BY SHIRLEY TEMPLE IN THE 1937 FILM "WEE WILLIE WINKIE"
Featuring a fine loosely woven tussah silk dress with fitted bodice, set-in waist and yoke, widely flared skirt, pouffed sleeves and unusual matching trim of layered scallops at the collar, sleevelets, and hem, with bands of alternating lace and dimity. Included with the dress is a flowered cotton pinafore with ruffles and pockets which Shirley sometimes wore with the dress, an original petticoat, and a wooden-handled parasol with owl's head carved handle tip. Generally excellent condition, some fabric darkening around the shoulders. The petticoat has the original studio label "8210 Shirley T". Various parasols were used by Priscilla (Shirley) in the film, of which this appears to be one. Two vintage photographs of Shirley wearing the costume are included. The costume, with and without the pinafore, was worn by Shirley Temple in her role of Priscilla Williams in the 1937 film "Wee Willie Winkie", notably in an early scene with Victor McLaglen (Sergeant MacDuff) when she asks "Who ever heard of a soldier named Priscilla?" MacDuff then proclaims her new name will be Wee Willie Winkie and she is now "a full-fledged soldier of the Queen".
Realized Price: $6,250 • Presale Estimate: 5000+
This still from the movie shows Shirley marching, which was one of her favorite parts of making this film:
From the publicity blurb:
MAKING A SOLDIER out of Shirley Temple is Victor McLaglen’s job in this scene from “Wee Willie Winkie.”
This elaborate costume also made it’s way to the Theriault’s auction:
SHIRLEY TEMPLE SCOTTISH REGIMENTAL COSTUME FROM THE 1937 FILM "WEE WILLIE WINKIE"
The costume includes plaid woolen kilt, twill jacket with ornate brass buttons with royal crest design of the Black Watch, Third Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, white leather belt with emblem "Dieu et mon droit" (God and my right), sporran, argyle plaid wool leggings, woven spats with buttons, and cap with Latin motto emblem of the Royal Stuart dynasty of Scotland (translated "no one attacks me with impunity"). Excellent condition. Included are two vintage photographs of Shirley Temple wearing the costume. The young star Shirley Temple, named Priscilla Williams in the 1937 film, wore this uniform in multiple scenes alongside co-star Sergeant MacDuff (Victor McLaglen) as he trains Priscilla in the proper discipline of a Scottish soldier. The costume designer for the film was Gwen Wakeling. In later years, Shirley Temple declared that "Wee Willie Winkie", which had been directed by John Ford, was her favorite film of all that she made.
Realized Price: $14,000 • Presale Estimate: 20,000+
I think this photo bears out the fact that Shirley won Ford over:
See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.
No comments:
Post a Comment