Shirley Temple's Future

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 6 (Supplement)

Shirley Temple's Future

SHIRLEY TEMPLE retiring from the screen? "Not much." declared her mother, Mrs. George Temple, in an interview in the family's Bel Air home, following settlement of 1 I -yearold Shirley's contract in the home offices of Twentieth Century-Fox' studio. "It may be au revoir, but certainly not good-bye for Shirley and the movies," she said. "There's a terrible finality about the word 'retirement,' and when she makes another picture I dread to think of people saying she's doing a come-back."

By---Harold Heffernan

Loner rumoured reports of the little Temple's withdrawal from Twentieth l'entury-Fo.\. following her dethronement on January 1 as queen of boxnfliee stars, crystallised when an agreement «'a« drawn up cancelling Shirley's six-year association with the company, effective immediately. For the time being. Mrs. Temple asserts, Shirley will continue attending the private school she entered last autumn, but she may make a few radio appearances and star in another picture within a year. The latter is entirely contingent on the story and sponsorship offering.

Acting Her life "Acting has been Shirley's life," continued Mrs. Temple, "she loves it. If ehe wishes to continue we will make every effort to eee she is not deprived of that joy, but we must have a formfit story—one that will do her full jnstice—before another deal can be discussed." After four consecutive years of topping all other Hollywood stars in. money-making ratings, a series of complications set in to uproot Shirley's, world-wide popularity. Most unfortunate of all was a succession of four unsuccessful productions. The European war and the necessity of slashing budgets 911-' all releases, including Shirley I*,1*, which were always among the most expensive' was another. Shirley's natural development from a diminutive dimpled darling into an. 11-year-old,

reflecting all the physical changes of the average girl of that age was important, too, in deflecting fan attention. "We have no complaint about the studio's efforts to find stories," Mrs. lemple continued, "I believe they tried hard enough, but still tihe material didn't turn out well." Mrs. Temple is impatient with assertions that Shirley has reached "that awkward age." "I think that is absolutely ridiculous," she declared. "At just what period in her life does a sjirl reach the awkward age? I have always been led to believe that 13 or 14 are the ages when girls become gangling—if they

must become that war at all. Shirley's growth lias been steady and normal. She's just as pretty to-dav a-s she was six years ago, and naturally she's much more talented. What's most important to all of us is this: Shirley is still the same lovely, unspoiled child she was when she began. Her experiences in tile studio have been one, long joyful romp. That's because she loves her studio work. "At the same time it's niv opinion it wouldn't be wise for us to deprive her, at this critical period, of natural associations with other girls her age. That is why I firmly believe a limited number of pictures—possibly one a year, and perhaps a few appearances on the radio would be an ideal programme to follow in safeguarding Shirley's happiness."

During six years before the cameras Shirley's pictures have grossed slightly less than 20.000,000 dollars, an amount unapproached by any other film personality save Mary Pickford, whose productions were before the public, more than 25 years. "We owe Shirley a great debt," said Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the studio's board. "■She became the industry's most valuable box-office star and held that position for four years. But you have not heard the last of Shirley Temple. Some day she will grow up to take her place with top-ranking adult stars of the future." When final papers were signed in May, Shirley's parents received a settlement cheque of approximately 300,000 dollars, this amount representing bonuses that have accrued to her credit in the studio's trust fund set up four years ago. Her total earnings are estimated at 1,100,000 dollars.

fTHE magazine story by Jane Allen— "A Girl's Best Friend is Wall Street"—has been purchased by Columbia as a probable vehicle for Loretta Young. + + + ♦ Q.REER Garson's troubles are not yet over. It is not enough that she ("remember her in "Mr. Chips?") has been yanked from "Susan and God," but now Vivien Leigh wants to play the leading part in "Pride. And Prejudice," which Greer was promised as compensation for" the loss of the Susan role. . It seems that a certain Mr. Laurenc® Olivier is up for the masculine lead in the Jane Austen epic. 'Nough said. I have a hunch that unless Greer gets better treatment, writes Sheilah Graham, she will leave Hollywood and accept one of the numerous stage offers received from the Broadway theatre moguls.