1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Blue Bird
"1001 Wonders in Technicolor"
1940 1h 28m EN
😐
5.9
MID
★5.9TMDB · 48
FamilyFantasyAdventureComedy
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Peasant children Mytyl and Tyltyl are led on a magical quest for the fabulous Blue Bird of Happiness by the fairy Berylune. On their journey, they're accompanied by the anthropomorphized presences of a Dog, a Cat, Light, Fire, and Bread, among other entities.
“1001 Wonders in Technicolor”
Cast
Shirley Temple
Mytyl
Spring Byington
Mummy Tyl
Nigel Bruce
Mr. Luxury
Gale Sondergaard
Tylette
Eddie Collins
Tylo
Sybil Jason
Angela Berlingot
Jessie Ralph
Fairy Berylune
Helen Ericson
Light
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Walter Lang
- Writers
- Walter Bullock, Ernest Pascal
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
MONEY
Did you know
Shot for just $2.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
ERA
Did you know
86 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Walter Lang, shot by Arthur C. Miller. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Alfred Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Robert Bischoff shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Shirley Temple and Spring Byington and Nigel Bruce carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
AWARDS
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "1001 Wonders in Technicolor".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Walter Lang directs. Arthur C. Miller behind the camera. Alfred Newman scores. Robert Bischoff cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 2Shot for just $2.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
- 386 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 4Directed by Walter Lang, shot by Arthur C. Miller. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Alfred Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Robert Bischoff shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Shirley Temple and Spring Byington and Nigel Bruce carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "1001 Wonders in Technicolor".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0032264 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Only 48 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Arthur C. Miller
- Original score
- Alfred Newman
- Editing
- Robert Bischoff
- Costume design
- Gwen Wakeling
- Runtime
- 88 min · 1h 28m
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $2,000,000
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- G
Also by
Walter Lang
Production companies
Who made it
20th Century Fox
US
Key crew
- EditorRobert Bischoff
- ProducerDarryl F. Zanuck
- Costume DesignGwen Wakeling
- Art DirectionRichard Day
- Art DirectionWiard B. Ihnen
- Set DecorationThomas Little
- Theatre PlayMaurice Maeterlinck
- Special EffectsEdmund H. Hansen
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- fairy tale
- peasant
- based on fairy tale
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical (limited)1940-01-15
- Theatrical1940-01-19G
Also known as
International titles
- A kék madárHU
