Top 10 Shirley Temple Films

Shirley Temple began her career at 3 years old and by the age of 5 in 1934 she was the biggest and most successful star in Hollywood. She was the biggest box office draw for four consecutive years; 1935-1938.

For such a young person she was an amazing dancer, she could listen to a choreographer with her eyes closed and learn the steps through listening to the sounds of the taps. How many people can do that? I doubt even Gene Kelly could manage it. She was a great fan of Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson who she worked with in four films and broke down many racial barriers, they were the first inter-racial couple in Hollywood. She is also responsible for many catchy tunes; On the Good Ship Lollipop and Animal Crackers being the most famous of these.




As a tribute to the great screen legend Shirley Temple Black who passed away at her home in California at 85 years old yesterday, this is my list of favourite Shirley Temple Roles.


10 - Stowaway (1936)

Running Time: 87 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Robert Young, Alice Faye

Temple stars as Ching-Ching a little orphan who gets lost in Shanghai, she is befriended by a playboy Tommy Randall (Young). She falls asleep in his car and ends up on a ship heading for America. On board Randall meets a young woman, both are enchanted with Ching-Ching and each other and decide to get married so they can give her a family.







9 - Fort Apache (1948)
Running Time: 125 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Henry Fonda, John Wayne

One of the last film roles Temple took, she played Philadelphia Thursday daughter of Henry Fonda's Lt. Col. Owen Thursday who comes to blows with John Wayne's Captain about the way to run the Fort and treat the Indians. Temple played one of the few women on the fort who falls in love with a young soldier (John Agar, her real life first husband).

This was a character that really showed Temple as a grown up, and in a very successful film. It was the only western she was in, all her other adult roles were in romantic or comedy films.



8 - Wee Willie Winkie (1937)


Running Time: 100 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Victor McLaglen

Temple is Priscilla Williams who travels to India with her mother to live with her grandfather a colonel in the British army. Her grandfather is a strict gruff man, Priscilla learns the ways of the soldiers nicknamed Wee Willie Winkie and is even given a uniform but her grandfather disapproves. She eventually charms him and the Indian leading a rebellion. As the hostilities rise Priscilla travels to the rebels base and is able to help settle things. Temple has great chemistry with Victor McLaglen who plays a sergeant in the army.
Directed by the great westerns director John Ford.



7 - Dimples (1936)

Running Time: 79 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Frank Morgan, John Carradine

Temple is Dimples Appleby  a young girl who lives with her grandfather (Morgan) in 19th Century New York. He is a pick-pocket and she entertains crowds while he makes his way around. That is until a rich woman makes it possible for Dimples to live a better life.
Frank Morgan was reportedly a notorious scene stealer and would try many tricks to draw attention away from Temple in a scene. But no matter who the co-star these were Temple's films and she is the true shining star in every role.



6 - Curly Top (1935)

Running Time: 75 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Jane Darwell

Temple is Elizabeth Blair who lives in an orphanage with her older sister Mary. A wealthy man by the name of Edward Morgan becomes charmed by her and aims to adopt her. He does this under the alias Mr. Jones, as he gets to know the two he begins to fall in love with Mary.
This is the film in which Temple sings Animal Crackers, which is one of her most popular songs.






5 - The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947)

Running Time: 95 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Cary Grant, Myrna Loy

Temple is Susan a teenage girl who falls in love with a much older playboy Richard Nugent (Grant) she is caught in his apartment by her sister who happens to be a judge. Nugent is threatened with jail but agrees to date Susan until the crush passes. Temple's best adult role, a very funny film.





4 - Heidi (1937)

Running Time: 88 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Jean Hersholt

Darryl F. Zanuck bought the great tale of a young orphan girl who melts the heart of her grandfather and becomes the friend of a young invalid girl just for Temple who plays the title role. This was the perfect role for Temple and suited her on-screen persona completely.








3 - The Little Colonel (1935)

Running Time: 81 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Lionel Barrymore, Hattie McDaniel

Temple plays Lloyd Sherman whose mother a southerner is disowned by her Colonel father when she decides to run away and marry a young Yankee man. 6 years later when they run out of money mother and daughter return to a small cottage near the house of the colonel whilst the husband is away looking to make them some money. Lloyd is stubborn and has a temper which rivals her grandfathers, but after spending some time together she mellows him. This was the first time Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson and Temple danced together. It was a memorable moment.

2 - Captain January (1936)

Running Time: 77 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, Buddy Ebsen, Jane Darwell

Temple plays Star who rescued by the lighthouse Keeper Captain January when she was a baby and her parents drowned. She is well liked around the harbour dancing with Ebsen's sailor to 'At the Codfish Ball'. A new truant officer in town demands that Star go to a boarding school away from Captain January's influence. Relatives come to her aid and she is reunited with the captain.

With a lot of heart and humour this is ranked high on my list due to the great story and heart-warming performance by Temple.

1 - Bright Eyes (1934)

Running Time: 85 mins
Stars: Shirley Temple, James Dunn, Jane Darwell

Shirley Temple is by far at her cutest in this film as Shirley Blake a young flying enthusiast whose father, a pilot died in a crash. She lives with her mother, a maid for a horribly snobbish family with a brat of a daughter. Shirley spends a lot of time with her Godfather Loop Merrit (Dunn) another pilot and the other aviators at the air base. When she is orphaned after a car accident involving her mother, the family Smythe are doing what they can to get rid of her but their Uncle Ned has taken a shine to her. Both him and Loop begin fighting for who will get to take care of her. It is in this film Shirley sang the song most connected with her; On the Good Ship lollipop.


Every one of the films on this list show how great a performer Shirley Temple was, a truly talented all rounder who could, sing, dance, act and melt the hearts of even the most miserable person. She was one of the brightest screen legends in Hollywood. She has left us a great legacy. Enjoy the films on this list.

RIP Shirley Temple