Summary
- Shirley Temple began her acting career at 3 and quickly became Hollywood's number-one box office draw, beloved by audiences of all ages.
- Despite playing child roles, Temple continued acting until her early 20s and transitioned into rom-coms, like Almost a Bride.
- Temple's final films, like "Fort Apache" opposite John Wayne and "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" with Cary Grant, showcased her diverse talent.
As one of the most prominent child stars ever, Shirley Temple began her acting career at three years old and quickly became among the most recognizable actresses on the planet. From 1934 to 1938, Temple was Hollywood’s number-one box office draw as she sang, danced, and acted her way through several feature films per year. Temple's cute curls, coy charisma, and quintessential star power led to her being beloved by audiences of all ages who turned out to see her family-friendly films. One of the greatest female American screen legends, her movies are still acclaimed more than 90 years later.
Although Temple was primarily known as a child star, she continued acting until her early 20s with memorable roles in rom-coms like The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer opposite Cary Grant or the John Ford and John Wayne Western classic Fort Apache. When she was just 21 years old, Temple appeared in her final film and went on to a successful diplomatic career with the United Nations. A true icon from a bygone era, Temple deserved to be remembered among the best child stars there ever were.
10 Almost A Bride (1949)
Shirley Temple as Corliss Archer
Almost A Bride (1949)
In Almost a Bride, a young woman named Patty is mistaken for her wealthy twin sister by a suave gambler named Tom. Determined to win a bet, Tom tries to woo Patty, believing she is her heiress sister. With her identity hidden and both none the wiser to each other's intentions, comedic mishaps ensue as the two slowly grow closer to one another.
- Director
- Richard Wallace
- Release Date
- November 25, 1949
- Cast
- Shirley Temple , David Niven , Tom Tully , Virginia Welles , Darryl Hickman , Gloria Holden
- Runtime
- 88 minutes
The child star Shirley Temple was 21 years old when she starred in her final movie, Almost a Bride, a sequel to her comedy Kiss and Tell. Although Almost a Bride did not live up to the reputation of Temple’s earlier movies, it was of serious cinematic importance as it represented the end of the star’s impressive showbiz career before she entered diplomacy and worked as a United States ambassador. As the story of a teenage girl who falsely told the whole town she was going out with an older man, Almost a Bride was typical of Temple’s rom-com roles.
Almost a Bride, which was also known under the title A Kiss for Corliss, represented the kind of good-natured, lighthearted farce that Temple did so well, but it also highlighted her difficulties transitioning into adult roles. At 21, Shirley was still playing a teenager, and having already worked as an actress for 15 years, this was the final movie before she decided to call it quits. A fun and harmless comedy, Almost a Bride had plenty of issues, but was significant as the final cinematic outing for Temple.
Although Almost a Bride was Shirley Temple’s final film role, she did not retire entirely from show business as she returned to host and narrate the children’s anthology series Shirley Temple’s Storybook in 1958.
9 Stowaway (1936)
Shirley Temple as Barbara "Ching-Ching" Stewart
Stowaway (1936)
In this adventure-filled film, Shirley Temple plays an orphan in Shanghai who stows away on a ship bound for America. Discovered by a charming playboy, she quickly wins his heart with her endearing ways.
- Director
- William A. Seiter
- Release Date
- December 25, 1936
- Cast
- Shirley Temple , Robert Young , Alice Faye , Eugene Pallette , Helen Westley , Allan Lane , Astrid Allwyn , Philip Ahn , Arthur Stuart Hull
- Runtime
- 87 minutes
The incredible talent of Shirley Temple was on full display in the family-friendly musical drama Stowaway, which Temple starred in when she was just eight years old. Although there was a perception that Temple was beginning to grow out of playing cute toddler roles, Temple’s incredible screen presence and strong star power ensured that Stowaway was a success at the box office, earning $1 million against its $500,000 budget (via Solomon.) The story of a young American orphaned girl in Shanghai, Temple was even tutored in Mandarin for her role in Stowaway (via New York Times.)
Stowaway featured Temple as Barbara “Ching-Ching” Stewart, an optimistic little girl who found herself stowed away on an ocean liner that the wealthy playboy Tommy Randall (Robert Young) was traveling on. What followed was a tale of family connection as Tommy decided to adopt Ching-Ching and raise her as his daughter. However, to do this, he needed a wife, and in the process of planning a wedding, he truly fell in love with his bride-to-be. Stowaway was a well-meaning movie that provided audiences with a healthy dose of positivity and a nice, tidy, happy ending for all.