History Creator / ShirleyTemple

She was very popular during the desperate times of TheGreatDepression, but those viewing her films today are more likely to have a reaction of TastesLikeDiabetes due to most of her films being sugary goop, and ValuesDissonance, due to her blackface scene in ''The Littlest Rebel'', though the many times she was paired with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson can be considered one of the few times that a black man and a white girl could be seen on film during the days of UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode, which didn't allow interracial pairings (especially if they were sexual and/or romantic. This got a free pass since it was platonic.)

Temple's career tailed off as she approached adulthood, partly because she wasn't getting a lot of good parts and possibly in part because audiences weren't comfortable with cute little Shirley Temple growing into a very pretty young woman. She retired from show business at age 21. After leaving the stage, Temple entered politics, serving terms as chief of protocol and the U.S. ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

** Shirley's mother wanted her to be able to play sassy little brats, maybe even [[EnfantTerrible Enfants Terribles]], and Shirley wanted to play more ActionGirl type roles, but the studio (Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox) wouldn't allow either.

* TheDanza: In four of her early films.[[note]]Including ''Bright Eyes'', the first movie written specifically with her in mind.[[/note]]

* SheIsAllGrownUp: Her later films, like ''Since You Went Away'' and ''The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer''.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: She was considered for the role of Dorothy in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' before the part was given to Creator/JudyGarland. Temple was age-appropriate, while Garland was a good ten years older than the Dorothy of Baum's novel.

* CuteButCacophonic: Just listen to her singing.

* ''Film/BrightEyes (1934)

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: In ''Film/BrightEyes'', Temple is the GirlyGirl to Creator/JaneWithers' {{Tomboy}}, although because of the mores of the time, and UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode, both girls wear dresses.

* [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhof Israelis Love Shirley Temple]]: Back in TheEighties, when Israel still had only one channel with little budget, said channel bought the rights to air her old movies, as they weren’t expensive to buy. This lead to a generation of Israelis who grew up watching these films remembering her performance [[NostalgiaFilter with fond nostalgia]].

After leaving the stage, Temple entered politics, serving terms as chief of protocol and the U.S. ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: She was considered for the role of Dorothy in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' before the part was given to Creator/JudyGarland.

She was very popular during the desperate times of TheGreatDepression, but those viewing her films today are more likely to have a reaction of TastesLikeDiabetes due to most of her films being sugary goop, and ValuesDissonance, due to her blackface scene in ''The Littlest Rebel'', though the many times she was paired with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson can be considered one of the few times that a black man and a white girl could be seen on film during the days of UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode, which didn't allow interracial pairings (especially if they were sexual and/or romantic. This got a free pass since it was platonic.

She was very popular during the desperate times of TheGreatDepression, but those viewing her films today are more likely to have a reaction of TastesLikeDiabetes and ValuesDissonance, due to her blackface scene in ''The Littlest Rebel'', though the many times she was paired with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson can be considered one of the few times that a black man and a white girl could be seen on film during the days of UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode, which didn't allow interracial pairings (especially if they were sexual and/or romantic. This got a free pass since it was platonic.

She was very popular during the desperate times of TheGreatDepression, but those viewing her films today are more likely to have a reaction of TastesLikeDiabetes and ValuesDissonance (due to her blackface scene in ''The Littlest Rebel'', though the many times she was paired with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson can be considered one of the few times that a black man and a white girl could be seen on film during the days of the HaysCode, which didn't allow interracial pairings (especially if they were sexual and/or romantic. This got a free pass since it was platonic).

Temple died at the age of 85 in 2014.

For some reason, characters based off her tend to be {{Spoiled Brat}}s, despite Shirley never really doing that in her films or real life. Careful not to confuse her with [[TheLittleRascals Darla Hood]].

** Shirley's mother wanted her to be able to play sassy little brats, maybe even [[EnfantTerrible Enfants Terribles]], and Shirley wanted to play more ActionGirl type roles, but the studio (TwentiethCenturyFox) wouldn't allow either.

* IfItTastesBadItMustBeGoodForYou: In ''Poor Little Rich Girl'', Temple's character Barbara is forced to eat spinach, and says something along the lines of this. Barbara even performs a song on the radio based around this.
* HeartwarmingOrphan: Often (but not always) played these in her films.

* TheRedStapler: Set a lot of trends for girls, notably the hairstyle.
** And the first name "Shirley", which was originally a boys' name (among others, the name is given to one of ''AnneOfGreenGables''' sons). To this day, Shirley is a time capsule name dated to the peak of Temple's popularity that makes it very difficult for a woman to [[http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=shirley&ms=false&exact=false lie about her age]].

* SheIsAllGrownUp: Her later films, like ''Since You Went Away'', and ''The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer''.
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: In ''Film/BrightEyes'', Temple is the GirlyGirl to Creator/JaneWithers {{Tomboy}}, although because of the mores of the time, and UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode, both girls wear dresses.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Was considered for the role of Dorothy in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' before the part was given to JudyGarland.

Shirley Temple (1928-2014) is arguably the most famous child actress in film history. She was the top box office draw for four straight years, a record no other child star has come close to.

Shirley Temple (1928-2014) is arguably the most famous child actress in film history. She was the top box office draw for six straight years, a record no other child star has come close to.

Shirley Temple (1928-2014) is arguably the most famous child actress in film history.

Shirley Temple (born 1928) is arguably the most famous child actress in film history.

After leaving the stage, Temple entered politics, serving terms as chief of protocol and the U.S. ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Today she continues to reside in California.

* TheDanza: In four of her early films.[[hottip:*: Including ''Bright Eyes'', the first movie written specifically with her in mind.]]

She was very popular during the desperate times of TheGreatDepression, but those viewing her films today are more likely to have a reaction of TastesLikeDiabetes and ValuesDissonance (due to her blackface scene in ''The Littlest Rebel'', though the many times she was paired with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson can be considered one of the few times that a black man and a white girl could be seen on film during the days of the HaysCode, which didn't allow interracial pairings [especially if they were sexual and/or romantic. This got a free pass since it was platonic]).

She was very popular during the desperate times of TheGreatDepression, but those viewing her films today are more likely to have a reaction of TastesLikeDiabetes due to ValuesDissonance. The racism of ''The Littlest Rebel'' (Shirley's character is shown in blackface at one point) is also startling to a modern audience.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: In ''Film/BrightEyes'', Temple is the GirlyGirl to Creator/JaneWithers {{Tomboy}}, although because of the mores of the time, and the HaysCode, both girls wear dresses.

For some reason, characters based off her tend to be {{Spoiled Brat}}s. Careful not to confuse her with [[TheLittleRascals Darla Hood]].

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: In ''Film/BrightEyes'', Temple is the GirlyGirl to JaneWithers {{Tomboy}}, although because of the mores of the time, and the HaysCode, both girls wear dresses.

** And the first name "Shirley", which was originally a boys' name (among others, the name is given to one of ''AnneOfGreenGables''' sons). To this day, Shirley is a time capsule name that makes it very difficult for a woman to [[http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=shirley&ms=false&exact=false lie about her age]].

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: In ''Film/BrightEyes'', Temple is the GirlyGirl to JaneWithers {{Tomboy}}, although because of the mores of the time. and the HaysCode, both girls wear dresses.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: In ''BrightEyes'', Temple is the GirlyGirl to JaneWithers {{Tomboy}}, although because of the mores of the time. and the HaysCode, both girls wear dresses.

** And the first name "Shirley", which was originally a boys' name (among others, the name is given to one of ''AnneOfGreenGables''' sons).

After leaving the stage, Temple entered politics, serving terms as chief of protocol and the U.S. ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Today she continues to reside in California. Check out her {{Website/Twitter}} account [[https://twitter.com/TempleShirleyJ here.]]

After leaving the stage, Temple entered politics, serving terms as chief of protocol and the U.S. ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia.