good back-story, and good acting

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Shirley Temple is about as good as ever and there are some other nice acting performances but this is otherwise a second-rate film.It is obvious that 20th Century Fox was looking for their own Wizard of Oz but this movie lacks much of what made that classic what it was.This film is released one year after that breakthrough smash but was a flop.There are some nice special effects and the Technicolor is excellent but there is not enough substance here.The plot is largely too dark and doesn't fit well with Temple's persona.There are some brilliant cinematic setups, particularly one in the forest and another that is supposed to be a mix of heaven and a Greek temple that is reminiscent of the castle scene in The Thief of Baghdad (same year - 1940).This is one of the first films to feature Ann E. Todd, who is a scene stealer.Helen Ericson is lovely as literally the bright light.This is also Sybil Jason's last film. Some of her scenes were cut, reportedly at the urging of Temple's mother, so as not to overshadow the star. Jaosn was a great child actress and she steals the screen in her two scenes.This is worth seeing for film buffs but not for a date night.

The movie is so and so excellent that instead of 10 it would give a 28.

The only thing worse could have been the entire film shot in black and white. No songs (probably edited out) except for a short one at the start. My synopsis will make it sound wonderful but it is lifeless and humorless for much of the film. Starts out b/w and turns to color 10 minutes in when she falls asleep. A kindly old witch sends Shirley Temple (and her brother) on a quest for the proverbial "Blue Bird of Happiness". She travels far. She visits her "sleeping" grandparents in the cemetery, visits The Land of Luxury, struggles to survive a truly scary burning forest, and the Land of the Future where all the unborn children wait until birth. The dog and cat are magically transformed into humans. Eddie Collins gives a good performance as the feisty bulldog and Gale Sondergaard, a beautiful villain as always, plays the devious cat. Nigel Bruce is Mr. Luxury and beautiful blonde "Light" is played by Helen Ericson. Also in the cast are Spring Byington (as her Mother) and Sterling Holloway as the plum tree. The trees want to kill them and the only funny action is the cat and dog fight in the mansion of Mr. and Mrs. Luxury. In spite of all this, a very boring movie with stiff looking yet beautiful sets and obviously painted backdrops. Her father is a woodcutter just called to fight in the war. Shirley awakes, after traveling everywhere in vain, and lo and behold, the caged bird is now blue! In spite of the great cast, it's a terrible example showing "How not to make a children's movie". (I quote another reviewer.) I own a huge collection of children's movies, both live action and animated, and not just Disney. I also own several other Shirley Temple films for my family to watch, but not this mess.

the film deals with the journey of a quest to find the elusive bluebird thru many trials and adventures....the echos of oz are quite evidenti first saw this film wen i was about 9...and it still grips my imagination...even tho i haven't seen it for 20 years...i can still remember the unborn children sequence, and the earthquake/storm .... technically, the film lives in that lush Technicolour universe that the wizard of oz and most other childhood films seem enshrined in...the film needs to be seen by a new audience....the shoddy 1970 remake had nothing on this original...and i hope that they bring out a DVD in time to show my kids while they're young enough to appreciate it.