This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Bright Eyes became the signature film for Shirley Temple as America's favorite moppet launched the Good Ship Lollipop and that song was the launching of her. It wasn't long after that the little girl became the number one seller of movie tickets in the Great Depression.Shirley lives with her mother Lois Wilson who is a live-in maid for Dorothy Christy and Theodore Von Eltz and their hellion brat of a daughter Jane Withers. Wilson is the widow of an aviator and the pilots have all made her a kind of mascot. Most of all James Dunn who was her father's best friend and her godfather. The outlook is grim for our plucky little moppet when mom is killed in a traffic accident. Shirley becomes a pawn in a great scheme for Von Eltz and Christy to get their cranky uncle Charles Sellon's money because he's always liked her. Still pluck and luck rule the day in the end.I really did love Jane Withers who had America hating her because she was so mean to Shirley. That scene at the very end when Withers finally got what was coming to her was priceless.Bright Eyes gave Shirley Temple her signature song On The Good Ship Lollipop which millions of stage mothers taught their daughters in the hopes the kid would be discovered as the next Shirley Temple. As a lad I remember hearing it on a 78 record sung by Rosemary Clooney though.Bright Eyes holds up very well even after over 80 years. It's still a nice voyage.

Bright Eyes is a film that probably made Shirley Temple go to that height of her career by performing her iconic song "The Good Ship Lollipop" And like the song, the plot, the acting and just Shirley---are so sweet you just may get diabetes watching the film.Not to say that this type of diabetes is not enjoyable. It just fits into Shirley's character. "Shirley" (yes, that is her character's name) is an adorable Lil moppet whose attractive mother works as a maid for a snotty family named Smith (Please! pronounce it as Smythe!) I think I heard the person who wrote the screen play based this story while growing up, the Scottish maid in his home had a sweet little daughter about Shirley's age. Shirley's deceased father who was a pilot, died in a crash. But not to worry---His father's friends, especially best friend "Loop" treat Shirley as their own daughter by showering her with attention and presents. Sweet, unspoiled Shirley is surrounded by other love--The Smith's family invalid uncle who is charmed by the little girl as well as the servants and Loop's ex-girlfriend.You know the sugar-now here is the spice. The Smith's daughter, Joy played beautifully by Jane Withers is a Super Brat! But such a brat that you'll love the performance that she unintentionally steals some scenes from Temple. It was said that Jane Withers got the part of Joy because she could make the noise of a machine gun.Then,tragedy strikes! Shirley's Mom is killed in an accident. And during the joyful season of Christmas as well....Now, poor Shirley is an orphan. What will become of Shirley? Who will adopt her? So, if you need a little sugar, Sail abroad the Good Ship Lollipop and prepare to tug at your heart strings.

This was Shirley Temple's last movie as a "real" child. After this she was always "Little Miss Fixit", usually wiser than the adults, manipulating the people around her, whether by tears, songs or sweet looks to her particular needs. Of course the main reason to see this film is Jane Withers. She is a riot as Joy, whether trying to run Shirley over, slapping her dolls into good behaviour, pounding away on the piano or asking for a machine gun for Christmas. She proved that brats have more fun in the movies (except at the end when she gets her come-uppance). I can remember watching Jane Wither's films as a child - she was certainly a lot more bubbly and energetic than Shirley and I agree with the other reviewers, there should be more of her films in release.The first sight is of Shirley, looking adorable, in aircap, goggles and leather coat - she is "thumbing a ride" to the airport to see Loop (James Dunn). He was her daddy's best friend and tells her stories about her father's flying adventures before he "cracked up". Her mother is employed by the Smythes, a high flying family (excuse the pun), counting on the expectations of rich "Uncle Ned". Their daughter, Joy, is the ultimate "spoilt brat" whose obnoxious behaviour is encouraged by her psychiatrist, who tells her parents not to criticize but always give her positive encouragement. Jane Withers is the whole show - in her scenes with Shirley she completely dominates the screen (and not only because she is twice as tall)!!!Uncle Ned's one consolation is Shirley and after her mother is killed in a road accident he is determined to adopt her. Before all the drama Shirley gets to sing her most famous song, "On the Good Ship Lollipop" to the crew of Loop's plane. Did she ever get sick of singing that song I wonder??? Loop's one time fiancé, Adele (Judith Allen) comes to stay with the Smythes and falls under Shirley's spell. She and Uncle Ned join forces to try to adopt her but Loop also wants Shirley. James Dunn had such a rapport with Shirley - he was by far the best of her male co-stars. He was a bright and breezy leading man who should have had a bigger career.After another scene with Joy - this time about Shirley's dog Wags, Shirley decides to use Loop's magic ring and runs away. She hides in the plane that Loop uses for an unexpected mail run to New York. In the film's most exciting sequence Loop and Shirley bail out when the plane is caught in a fierce storm. Their parachutes almost go over the cliff and Shirley quips "Let's do it again"!!!This is one of her best films and it is really lifted by the co-stars. Apart from Jane Withers, Charles Sellon is an absolute scene-stealer as Uncle Ned. Jane Darwell often played sympathetic roles in Temple movies and Dorothy Christy, who always enhanced any movie she was in plays Anita Smythe.Recommended.

Author/Director David Butler put together a script that showcases SHIRLEY TEMPLE as a lovable little girl who gets caught up in a nasty custody battle when her mother dies and her aviator god-father (JAMES DUNN)wants to adopt her. Scenes between Temple and Dunn are so natural that you'll have a hard time not getting a lump in your throat in the scene where he assures her that her mother (who has just died) is in heaven with the angels. Yes, it does get a little sticky at times.But wait!! Before things become to saccharine and predictable, little JANE WITHERS, America's most lovable brat, shows up as a nasty rich girl who delights in tormenting everyone around her, especially Shirley. It's a great role for Jane and she makes the most of it, whether imitating a machine-gunner or threatening to make mincemeat of Shirley's dolls.And believe me, she's a welcome presence in a Shirley Temple vehicle that does tend to get all dewy-eyed over the adorable princess. Watch the scene on the plane where the aviators all watch Temple as she sings "On the Good Ship Lollipop", strolling down the aisle and enjoying all the male attention. You can almost sense something darker than is supposed to meet the eye with the way they all leer at her. But she is, quite simply, at her most fetching in that casually charming little number.Shirley's first film tailored just for her, and it opened at Radio City Music Hall in 1934 to cheer Depression-era audiences with its innocent star at her most disarming. Easy to see why she would become the nation's number one box-office star four years in a row.