2023学年完整公开课版BiographyofShirleyTempleBlack

BiographyofShirleyTempleBlack

ShirleyTempleBlack

(actress,bornApril23,1928,SantaMonica,California)

Fromthestart,ShirleyTemplehadwhatthecameraloves:brighteyesandacurlytop,amagicalpresenceandirrepressiblecharm--andanamazingtalent.President,FranklinDelanoRoosevelt,proclaimedthat"aslongasourcountryhasShirleyTemple,wewillbeallright."Shewasthestarofmorethanfortymotionpictures,mostofthemmadeduringthe1930sbeforeshehadcelebratedher12thbirthday.TherecipientofaspecialAcademyAwardforherperformanceinBrightEyes,ShirleyTemplebecameauniquesymbolofAmericanmoviesandajoyoustonicforanationgreatlytroubledbytheGreatDepression.Shewasahouseholdnamethroughoutthenationandtheworld.

Herfatherwasabankerandhermotherahousewife,yetShirley'sfutureinshowbusinesswasallbutordained.HermotherclaimedthatShiriey'sveryfirstwordswerealyrictoaRudyValleesong.BabyBurlesque,amoviestudiothatspecializedinslightlywickedparodiesofmoviehits--withtinytotsinrolesmadefamousbyadultstars--gaveShirleyherfirstprofessionalwork.Soon,theprecociouslittlegirlwithadorabledimpleswasplayingJanetoapint-sizedTarzanandWildWestfemmefataletocowboysindiapers.Hersaucy,wide-eyedimpersonationofMarleneDietrichdestroyingtheheartsofbabylegionarieswithapoutandasongthatcanstillraiseaneyebrowortwo.By1933,theHayesCodeputastoptoBabyBurlesqueproductionsandthehard-workingfiveyear-oldfoundherselfunemployedalongwiththerestofthecountry.Notforlong,though.AyearlateratFoxStudios,shegraduatedfromcontractplayertofull-blownstarwithjustonepicture.

StandUpandCheerwasreleasedin1934,becameanationalsensation,andShirleyTemplehaspersonifiedyoungHollywoodeversince.OnscreenShirleyhadthewondrousabilitytoradiatesheerhappiness,shewaseverythingDepression-eraparentswantedtheirchildrentobe.Onlysixyearsold,Shirleyhadalreadymade20films.OnloantoParamount,shecatapultedtointernationalfamewithLittleMissMarker,basedontheclassicDamonRunyonstory.Foxwelcomedbackitsprizedstarwiththefirstofseveralcustom-madeshowcases,BabyTakeaBow.LaterthestudioreleasedBrightEyes,featuringafullydimensionalcharacterthatgaveShirleyanopportunity,forthefirsttime,todemonstrateherdramaticgiftsalongsidehersong-and-danceexpertise.ItsolidifiedtheformulathatwouldserveShirleysowellinfutureroles:ragamuffinclothes,parentsinperil,boundlessoptimism,andanuncannyabilitytomeltthehardestofadulthearts.ItalsointroducedShirleyTemple'ssignaturesong,"OntheGoodShipLollipop,"whichsoldhalf-a-millioncopies,andearneditsstaraspecialAcademyAward.

In1935FoxStudiobecame20th-CenturyFoxanditsdynamichead,DarylF.Zanuck,madethecultofShirleyTemplehistoppriority.Inthatyearalone,fourofShirley'smostmemorablefilmswerereleased.TheLittleColonel,acivilwardramawithmusic,introducedthesweetest,unlikeliestcoupleintapdancehistory,aslittleShirleyTempleand.thegreatBill"Bojangles"Robinsonshowedtheworldhowtodanceupanddownstairsinincomparablestyle.Theywereanincandescentanddaringduo,asthetimesstilldidnotpermitanyaffectionate,physicalcontactbetweenblacksandwhites.OurLittleGirlandCurlyTopfollowed,thelatterintroducinganothersongclassic,"AnimalCrackers."TheLittlestRebelreteamedherwithRobinsonasshesingle-handedlykeptnortherncarpetbaggersfromdevouringtheSouth.

Shirleymaniawasnowinfullbloom.PresidentRooseveltpubliclypraisedher"infectiousoptimism,"FoxsawunimaginableearningsfromShirley'spictures,andShirley-endorsedproducts--dresses,cereal,andsoap.ShirleyTempledollsweresellingatarateofmillionayear.Atseven,littleShirleysavedherstudiofrombankruptcyandZanuckwasgrateful.Thestudio'stoptalentwereputtoworkonherpictures.Fox'sShirleyTempleDevelopmentDivisionemployednineteenwritersandZanuckevenassignedhisownbodyguardtoprotecthispreciousstar.Rarely--ifever--hastheHollywoodstudiosystemgrounditsByzantinemachinerytosuchhappyeffect.

Ateight,ShirleyTemplewasdispatchingexquisitelysomeofthemostdemandingsong-and-danceroutineseverperformedonaHollywoodsoundstage.Prestigiousliteraryadaptations,suchasWeeWillieWinkie,directedbyJohnFord,andHeidiwerereleasedin1937.RebeccaofSunnybrookFarmandLittleMissBroadwaywerereleasedin1938,andTheLittlePrincessayearlater.TheBlueBirdin1940markedShirley's44thfilmandherlastasachildactress.Shewas12andhercareerwasnineyearsold.

Shemadeafewmorefilmsasateenagerandyoungadult,includingtheclassicWWIImelodramaSinceYouWentAwayforDavid0.Selznick(LookMagazinewelcomedhertoadulthoodin1944byproclaiminghertheyear'smostpromisingnewcomer),TheBachelorandtheBobbySoxeroppositeCaryGrantandMymaLoy,andJohnFord'sFortApache,withJohnWayne,HenryFonda,andhernewhusband,JohnAgar.

Butat21,alreadydivorcedandanxioustotakethefirstrealvacationofherlife,sheleftHollywoodandwenttoHawaii.Thereshemethersecondhusband,CharlesBlack.Althoughshecontinuedtoactonradioandtelevisionthroughoutthe1950s,shenevermadeanotherfeaturefilm.Instead,shededicatedherlifetopublicservice.Asachildshewastheworld'sbestknowambassadorofgoodwill.ThisnewchapterinShirleyTempleBlack'scareerwasanatural.

Shehasservedourcountryunderfourpresidents:RichardNixonappointedherUnitedStatesRepresentativetotheUnitedNationsin1969,forGeraldFordshewasAmbassadortotheRepublicofGhanaandlaterthefirstwomanWhiteHouseChiefofProtocol,forRonaldReagansheservedasaforeignaffai