The Blue Bird (1940 film)

The Blue Bird
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Walter Lang
Screenplay by	Ernest Pascal Walter Bullock (additional dialogue)
Based on	the play by Maurice Maeterlinck
Produced by	Gene Markey (associate producer)
Starring	Shirley Temple Spring Byington Nigel Bruce Gale Sondergaard Eddie Collins Sybil Jason Jessie Ralph Helen Ericson Johnny Russell Laura Hope Crews Russell Hicks Cecilia Loftus Al Shean Gene Reynolds
Cinematography	Arthur Miller, A.S.C. Ray Rennahan, A.S.C.
Edited by	Robert Bischoff
Music by	Alfred Newman
Production company	Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Distributed by	Twentieth Century-Fox
Release date	January 15, 1940 (1940-01-15)
Running time	88 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2 million

The Blue Bird is a 1940 American fantasy film directed by Walter Lang. The screenplay by Walter Bullock was adapted from the 1908 play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck. Intended as 20th Century Fox's answer to MGM's The Wizard of Oz, which had been released the previous year, it was filmed in Technicolor and tells the story of a disagreeable young girl (played by Shirley Temple) and her search for happiness.^[1][2]

Despite being a box office flop and losing money, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards. It is available on both VHS and DVD.