Curly Top

Curly Top (1935) starring Shirley Temple

Wealthy businessman adopts Curly Top and her lovely older sister. But then, he begins to fall in love with the older sister! So then …

Elizabeth: What’s a lawyer?
Edward Morgan: Well, if you ever get into trouble, a lawyer is a person who gets you out of trouble.
Elizabeth: Oh, my. I could use one almost every day!

Product Description 

When Edward Morgan the rich trustee on an orghanage, first meets little Elizabeth and her older sister Mary, he is immediately entrancd and adopts them for an imaginary benefactor. Though both girls come to adore Edward, Mary falls in love with him, unaware he is having the same feelings about her. So it’s up to Elizabeth to play matchmaker and bring her two favorite grown-ups together.

Songs in Curly Top

• Animal Crackers in My Soup (1935)
  • Music by Ray Henderson
  • Lyrics by Ted Koehler and Irving Caesar
  • Sung by Shirley Temple with Rochelle Hudson on piano
  • Played as background music often
• When I Grow Up (1935)
  • Music by Ray Henderson
  • Lyrics by Edward Heyman
  • Sung by Shirley Temple
  • Reprised a cappella by Billy Gilbert, Arthur Treacher, and then Esther Dale
• Curly Top (1935)
  • Music by Ray Henderson
  • Lyrics by Ted Koehler
  • Played during the opening credits and often in the score
  • Sung by John Boles
  • Danced by Shirley Temple
• It’s All So New to Me (1935)
  • Music by Ray Henderson
  • Lyrics by Edward Heyman
  • Played during the opening credits
  • Sung by John Boles
• On The Beach At Waikiki (1935) (henry kailimai)
  • from “SpongeBob SquarePants”
  • Played when Elizabeth hula dances and Mary plays the ukulele
• The Simple Things in Life (1935)
  • Music by Ray Henderson
  • Lyrics by Ted Koehler
  • Sung by Rochelle Hudson
• Rock-a-Bye Baby (1886)
  • Music by Effie I. Canning
  • Played briefly during dormitory scene

Cast of characters

• Shirley Temple (Our Little Girl) … Elizabeth Blair
• John Boles (Frankenstein 1931) … Edward Morgan
• Rochelle Hudson (Les Miserables (1935)) … Mary Blair
• Jane Darwell (The Lemon Drop Kid) … Mrs. Denham
• Rafaela Ottiano (The Devil-Doll) … Mrs. Higgins
• Esther Dale (Holiday Affair) … Aunt Genevieve Graham
• Etienne Girardot (The Kennel Murder Case) … Mr. Wyckoff
• Arthur Treacher (Mary Poppins, The Little Princess) … Reynolds – the Butler
• Maurice Murphy (Beau Geste 1926) … Jimmie Rogers

Additional cast

• Stanley Andrews (Road to Rio Superman and the Mole Men) … Orphanage Trustee
• Lynn Bari (Shock, Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Cops) … Beach Girl
• Leonard Carey (Rebecca) … Morgan’s Secretary
• Herbert Evans (The Hot Scots) … Morgan’s Chauffeur
• Bess Flowers (Springtime in the Rockies) … Attendee at Orphan Benefit
• Billy Gilbert (The Music Box) … Morgan’s Cook (uncredited)
• Edward LeSaint (Modern Times) … Orphanage Trustee (uncredited)