SHIRLEY TEMPLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 June 1940, Page 9

SHIRLEY TEMPLE

i - / SAYS AU REVOIR TO FILMS. y Shirley Temple retiring from the screen? “Not much,” declared her mother, Mrs George Temple, in an interview in Hollywood following the settlement of eleven-year-old 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.” Long-rumoured reports of little Shirley Temple’s withdrawal from Twentieth Century-Fox. following her dethronement on January 1 as queen of box-office stars, crystallised when an agreement was drawn up cancelling Shirley's six-year association with the company, to be effective immediately. For the time being, Mrs Temple asserts, Shirley will continue attending the private school she entered this year, but she may make a few radio appearances and star in another picture within a year. The latter is entirely contingent on’ the appearance of the proper story and sponsorship. “Acting has been Shirley’s life,” continued Mrs Temple, “she loves it, if she wishes to continue we will make I every effort to see she is not deprived! ■of that joy, but we must have a formfit story. One that will do her fulll justice, before another deal can be discussed.” ; After four consecutive years of top- I ping 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 on all releases, including Shirley’s, which were always among the most expensive was another. Shirley's natural development from a diminutive dimpled darling into an eleven-year-old, reflecting all the physical changes of the average girl of that age r . jwas important, too, in deflecting fan atgSO.ention. “We have no complaint about the studio's efforts to find stories,” Mrs Temple continued. “I believe they tried hard enough, but still the material didn’t turn out well. I was fearful of ‘The Blue Bird’ all along—to begin with it was a dated story, and Jacking I in universal appeal. Even so, Shirley had little chance, because there was not nearly enough of her in the picture.” “At the same time it’s my 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 twenty million dollars, an amount unapproached by any other film personality save Mary Pickford | whose productions were before the j public more than twenty-five years. “We owe Shirley a great debt.” said Joseph M. Schneck. chairman of the studio's board. “She became the industry’s most valuable box-office star and held that position four years, but you I have not heard the last of Shirley Temple. Some day she will grow up to take her place with top-ranking I adult stars of the future.” When final papers arc signed. Shir- ! ley’s parents will receive a settlement of approximately 300,000 dollars, this amount representing bonuses that have ( accrued to her credit in the studios! trust fund set up four years ago. Her) total earnings are estimated at £220,000. I