By 1943, Shirley’s last four films had been box office disappointments. “The Blue Bird” (1940), “Young People” (1940), “Kathleen” (1941), and “Miss Annie Rooney” (1942). Careerwise, she needed a quality boost, and that’s exactly what David O. Selznick (pictured above with Shirley) provided her. From the Ogdensburg Advance-News, Sunday, July 11, 1943:
HOLLYWOOD BY ERSKINE JOHNSON
A fifteen-year-old high school junior with three million dollars in the bank will spend her vacation this summer in her third motion picture comeback attempt in as many years. Maybe you remember the lady. Her name is Shirley Temple and not so long ago she was the top money making star in Hollywood—box-office champion from 1935 to 1939. The man who is betting he can return her to box-office favor—with her career now entirely in his hands —is the Hollywood producer who takes chances only when he knows he can’t lose—shrewd David O. Selznick. As carefully planned by her mother, Shirley survived the awkward age so dreaded by child stars But mama and everyone else forgot to count on "awkward pictures’’ and Mr. and Mrs. Movie-goer. Two comeback attempts—“Kathleen” in 1941 and “Miss Annie Rooney” last year—made little impression on the public. They were not good pictures, and they convinced Hollywood that Shirley was washed up. The public was tired of her after seven years of stardom. Her name didn’t mean a nickel at the box office. For a year Shirley did nothing on the screen, made an unsuccessful foray into radio, but her mother’s hopes were not dimmed. While attending school, Shirley continued singing and dancing and music lessons, studied dramatics and took a course in charm.
SELZNICK STEPS IN
Then, three weeks ago, Producer David O. Selznick purchased the screen rights to a soon-to-be-published first novel, “Since You Went Away.” He could see only Shirley Temple in the role of Brig, 15-year-old daughter of a father who joins the Army, leaving his wife and another daughter faced with financial problems. Selznick telephoned Mrs. Temple. No, he didn’t want to star Shirley in the picture. There would be an all-star cast. Claudette Colbert would play the mother, Jennifer Jones the other daughter and Monte Woolley as a boarder in their home who helps pay the rent. Mrs. Temple needed no reminding that Selznick had produced “Gone With the Wind,” “Rebecca” and other great films. A week later Shirley - signed a contract, to play the role. “Since You Went Away” definitely is not “another Temple picture.” It is based on a series of letters written by Margaret Buell Wilder, Dayton, Ohio, newspaper-woman and mother of two teenaged daughters, to her husband in the Army. It is the every-day story of their problems and efforts to make ends meet by taking in boarders. And it is definitely not another Temple role. Shirley plays a straight dramatic part. No dancing and no singing. In many scenes. she will wear blue jeans and a boy’s shirt.
TYPICAL TEENSTER
At 15, Shirley is a typical, adolescent Miss America. She’s interested in boys, likes to swim, worries about her tan, is an ardent film fan, likes to “cut a rug,” enjoys boogie woogie music and hot bands. She’s healthy, active and alert. At Los Angeles, swank Westlake School for Girls she is an above-average student, taking subjects which will prepare her for college. The famous 55 blond Temple curls have been replaced by naturally wavy, golden brown hair. But the familiar dimple and the wrinkle at one corner of her mouth and the Temple smile are still there.
Just nine years earlier, Shirley made headlines when she signed a contract for “Stand Up and Cheer” (first called “Fox Follies” during its production).
From the January 31, 1934 publicity blurb:
YOUNGEST FOLLIES PLAYER. Baby Shirley Temple, 4, made her first court appearance when she had her contract approved by Judge Marshall F. McComb, left, in Los Angeles. She is the youngest in the cast of the “Follies” now being produced.
See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.
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