Temple Tuesday: Blue Bird Deletion

Deleted scenes from vintage classics rarely survive, yet there are often little bread crumbs that still exist, showing what might have been. Shirley Temple’s 1940 film “The Blue Bird” begins with some depressing sepia-toned scenes about the impending war that cause the father (Russell Hicks) to leave the family at Christmas time. Mother (Spring Byington) and daughter (Shirley) comfort each other after they learn of this news. In the finished film, the two children go to sleep and we next see them being awakened to a Technicolor world of talking animals, fairies, and children from the future. Originally, there was to be another scene before the film transitioned into color. I recently acquired this vintage photograph which illustrates the deleted footage. Melissa (aka “The Colonel”) immediately dug up her copy of the script to provide the accompanying text:



INT. KITCHEN

Daddy Tyl is fixing up his military accoutrement.About him on table and chair are his boots, his cap, his uniform. He is polishing the brass buttons on his tunic.



After a moment Mummy enters. She drops to her knees and picks up a boot, starting to polish it.

DADDY
(noticing this and forcing a smile)
I’ve almost finished. Good serviceable stuff - these uniforms - (with a dry laugh) - as though they were made to last a lifetime!

Suddenly, overwhelmed with grief, Mummy drops the boot and lets the brush clatter to the floor. She covers her eyes with her hands.

MUMMY
(anguished)
I can’t let you go…I can’t!

Daddy looks at her startled, then tenderly helps her to her feet.

DADDY
(tenderly)
There, there…I’ll be all right, Mummy.

ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING MUMMY

With an effort she regains control of herself, brushes the tears from her eyes.

MUMMY
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a coward.

DADDY
(tender and comforting)
You couldn’t be that - ever.
(he puts an arm about her shoulder)
You must be tired - and we’ve got quite a day ahead of us tomorrow. Come along, now.

He moves toward the lamp on the table.



INT. MYTYL’S ROOM - CLOSEUP MYTYL

Her head on the pillow - she turns her head restlessly

EXT. COTTAGE - LONG SHOT - TECHNICOLOR

After a moment the light in the window goes out. TECHNICOLOR STARTS ON THIS SCENE AND CONTINUES TO THE END OF THE PICTURE.

FADE OUT

It isn’t too difficult to understand the deletion of this scene; Mummy Tyl already has had a minor breakdown while serving her husband his stew and he bolsters her up. The deleted scene is repetitive and only serves to bring down an already depressing film.

However, the transition from sepia to Technicolor would have been less jarring if the transition had occurred as originally written. In the final film, Shirley and mother hug and the scene fades out. Suddenly, we hear the obnoxious knocking on the front door and the cat waking up, all in vivid Technicolor. It was not surprising to discover that something had been snipped here.

“The Blue Bird” truly was a noble effort on the part of Producer Darryl Zanuck. He intended to have a beloved classic come to life in glorious Technicolor, full of spectacle, beauty, and not so subtle messages about the problems caused by greed and war.



As you can see by this page from the original press book, Shirley is barely a part of the publicity campaign. Instead, the posters and lobby card art focus on Maeterlinck, Technicolor, expressionistic art, and the overall cast. This was intentional, as Zanuck felt the movie would have greater appeal if it wasn’t marketed as yet another formula Shirley Temple film aimed at the junior generation.

See more Shirley Temple “Blue Bird” photos at my main website.