Temple began her film career in 1932 at the age of three and, in 1934, found international fame in Bright Eyes, a feature film designed specifically for her talents. She received a special Juvenile Academy Award in February 1935 for her outstanding contribution as a juvenile performer to motion pictures during 1934, and film hits such as Curly Top and Heidi followed year after year during the mid-to-late 1930s. Licensed merchandise that capitalized on her wholesome image included dolls, dishes, and clothing. Her box office popularity waned as she reached adolescence, and she left the film industry in her teens. She appeared in a few films of varying quality in her mid-to-late teens, and retired completely from films in 1950 at the age of 22. She was the top box-office draw four years in a row (1935–38) in a Motion Picture Herald poll.
Temple returned to show business in 1958 with a two-season television anthology series of fairy tale adaptations. She made guest appearances on television shows in the early 1960s and filmed a sitcom pilot that was never released. She sat on the boards of corporations and organizations including The Walt Disney Company, Del Monte Foods, and the National Wildlife Federation. In 1988, she published her autobiography, Child Star. Temple was the recipient of awards and honors including Kennedy Center Honors and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Temple ranks 18th on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female American screen legends of all time.
Temple began dance classes at Meglin's Dance School in Hollywood in 1931, at the age of 3. Her film career began when a casting director from Educational Pictures visited her class. Although Temple hid behind the piano in the studio, she was chosen by the director, invited to audition, and, eventually, signed to a contract with Educational.
Temple worked at Educational from 1932 to 1933, and appeared in two series of short subjects for the studio. Her first series, Baby Burlesks, satirized recent motion pictures and politics. In the series "Baby Burlesks", Shirley would dress up in a diaper, but then be wearing adult clothes everywhere else. The series was considered controversial by some viewers because of its depiction of young children in adult situations. Her second series at Educational, Frolics of Youth, was a bit more acceptable, and cast her as a bratty younger sister in a contemporary suburban family.
While working for Educational Pictures, Temple also performed many walk-on and bit player roles in various films at other studios. She is said to have auditioned for a lead role in Hal Roach's Our Gang comedies (later known as The Little Rascals) in the early 1930s; various reasons are given for her not having been cast in the role. Roach stated that Temple and her mother were unable to make it through the red tape of the audition process, while Our Gang producer/director Robert F. McGowan recalls that the studio wanted to cast Temple, but they refused to give in to Temple's mother's demands that Temple receive special star billing. Temple, in her autobiography Child Star, denies that she ever auditioned for Our Gang at all. However, Temple had some connection with Our Gang in that Temple's carpool friend, David Holt, had a small role in the 1933 Little Rascals film Forgotten Babies.
Temple was finally signed to Fox Film Corporation (which later merged with 20th Century Pictures to become 20th Century Fox) in late 1933 after appearing in Stand Up and Cheer! with James Dunn. Later, she was paired with Dunn in several films.
Temple would stay with Fox until 1940, becoming the studio's most lucrative player. Her contract was amended several times between 1933 and 1935, and she was loaned to Paramount for a pair of successful films in 1934. For four solid years, she ranked as the top-grossing box office star in America. Shirley's birth certificate was altered to hold on to her babyhood; her birth year was advanced from 1928 to 1929. She was not told her real age until her twelfth (actually thirteenth) birthday.
Her popularity earned her both public adulation and the approval of her peers. Even at the age of five, the hallmark of her acting work was her professionalism: she always had her lines memorized and dance steps prepared when shooting began.
Temple also made pictures with Carole Lombard, Gary Cooper, Adolphe Menjou, and many others. Arthur Treacher appeared as a kindly butler in several of Temple's films.
Temple's ability as a dancer (especially a tap dancer) is well known and celebrated. Even in her earliest films she danced, and she was able to handle complex tap choreography by the age of five. She was teamed with famed dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson in The Little Colonel, The Littlest Rebel, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Just Around the Corner. Robinson also coached and developed her choreography for many of her other films. Because Robinson was African-American, and the South was replete with racism, his scenes holding hands with Temple had to be edited out in many cities in the South.
Aside from the films, there were many Shirley Temple product during the 1930s. Ideal's numerous Temple dolls, dressed in costumes from the movies, were top sellers. Original Shirley Temple dolls bring in hundreds of dollars on the secondary market today. Other successful Temple items included a line of girls' dresses and hairbows. Several of Temple's film songs, including "On the Good Ship Lollipop"(from 1934's Bright Eyes), "Animal Crackers in My Soup" (from 1935's Curly Top) and "Goodnight My Love" (from 1936's Stowaway) were popular radio hits. She frequently lent her likeness and talent to promoting various social causes, including the Red Cross.
Temple was the first recipient of the special Juvenile Performer Academy Award in 1935 for recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment in 1934. Seventy years later, Temple is still the youngest performer ever to receive this honor, or any Oscar. She is also the youngest actress to add foot and hand prints to the forecourt at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
I Love to Walk In the Rain
Shirley Temple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Mister Weather man
Where's that rain you promised me
Oh Mister Weather man
I've been waiting patiently
Mister can you spare a drop
Here a drop, there a drop
Two drops, four drops
Now it's all around me
Gee I'm glad you found me
------
I love to walk in the rain
Look for me when it's stormy
Down some lazy lane and I'll be there
I'd love to walk in the rain
The lightning may be frightening
I love the rain so I don't care
I feel wonderful
When the sky's above are thunderful
I don't complain
I know it's fun in the sun
But take all kinds of weather
When all said and done
I love to walk, in the rain
------
Monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
How about a week with every day a pitter patter day
I wouldn't complain
The song "I Love to Walk in the Rain" by Shirley Temple is a whimsical and playful tune that celebrates the simple joys of being caught in a rainfall. The opening lines of the song, "Oh Mister Weather man, where's that rain you promised me? I've been waiting patiently" give the impression of an eager child who's been promised a special treat by a parent or caretaker. The use of the honorific "Mister" underscores the plea for an affectionate favor from a figure of authority who holds the power over the natural elements.
The lyrics continue with the singer requesting more raindrops to fall so that they can revel in the moment. The repetition of "two drops, four drops, can't we have more drops" conveys childlike enthusiasm and a sense of lightheartedness. When the rain finally arrives, the singer expresses their joy and exclaims, "Now it's all around me, Gee I'm glad you found me." The sense of contentment and satisfaction conveyed in these lines is reminiscent of the serendipitous moments of childhood when stumbling upon a small joy or pleasure can feel like the biggest discovery.
The chorus of the song reinforces this sentiment, with the vocalist reveling in the prospect of taking a walk in the rain. The line, "The lightning may be frightening, I love the rain so I don't care," highlights the fact that even during moments of potential danger, the singer remains committed to enjoying the moment. Overall, the song seems to celebrate the beauty of finding joy and wonder in small and simple things.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Mister Weather man
Addressing the person responsible for forecasting the weather
Where's that rain you promised me
Questioning the broken promise of rain by the weatherman
Oh Mister Weather man
Repeating the address of the person responsible for forecasting the weather
I've been waiting patiently
Stating the waiting period with patience
Mister can you spare a drop
Asking for precipitation in any form
Here a drop, there a drop
Highlighting the inadequacy of the amount of rainfall
Two drops, four drops
Stating the low quantity of rainfall
Can't we have more drops
Expressing the desire for more precipitation
Now it's all around me
Announcing the arrival of the awaited rain
Gee I'm glad you found me
Expressing happiness at being present for the rainfall
I love to walk in the rain
Stating the personal love of rain and its related activities
Look for me when it's stormy
Inviting someone to search for the artist during the storm
Down some lazy lane and I'll be there
Giving the location where the singer can be found during the storm
I'd love to walk in the rain
Repeating the personal love for rain and its related activities
The lightning may be frightening
Acknowledging the potential danger of lightning during the storm
I love the rain so I don't care
Stating that the love for rain overrides the fear of lightning
I feel wonderful
Expressing the positive feeling from the rain and storm
When the sky's above are thunderful
Describing the current condition of the sky and weather
I don't complain
Stating the lack of complaints during the storm
I know it's fun in the sun
Acknowledging the enjoyment of sunny weather
But take all kinds of weather
Resolving to accept all types of weather
When all said and done
Following up on the acceptance of all types of weather
I love to walk, in the rain
Repeating the personal love of rain and its related activities
Monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
Listing days of the week
How about a week with every day a pitter patter day
Proposing a week where each day has rainfall
I wouldn't complain
Stating the lack of complaints during such a week
Contributed by Alexander O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
geebeeman1
Great performance: the song , the set, and the dancing!
Mark Campbell
Love this. This song has been going through my head for a week now!! LOL!
Joe K
Great Performance!...and a catchy little tune. I was born in the wrong era! 😞
Ricky Ricky
I'm fond of the rain as well. 😀 😀 ☔ ☔ 👏 👏
emmaluv.
weird noone has said anything in the comments...
Laura Bordeanu
🙏❤❤❤
Priangka's Creation
❤❤❤❤🇧🇩
Theresa P.
💚💚
次男 浅野
She Just Muses chosen one!
Ellena Rochon
I play her