Bright Eyes (1929 film)

Bright Eyes is a 1929 British-Austrian silent romance film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Betty Balfour, Jack Trevor, and Fritz Greiner. It is also known under the alternative title of Champagner.

The film was a co-production between British International Pictures and Sascha-Film. Bolváry directed the film after travelling to Britain to make The Wrecker and stayed on to make another film, The Vagabond Queen, before returning to Germany.

Plot summary
Set in the early years of commercial aviation, "Bright Eyes" follows the story of Shirley Blake (played by Shirley Temple), a spirited young girl who spends much of her time with her godfather, Loop Merritt (played by James Dunn), and his aviator friends at an airport in Los Angeles. Shirley's father, Loop's best friend, died in a plane crash years earlier, leaving her in the care of her widowed mother Mary, who works as a maid for a wealthy family in Flintridge.

The wealthy family, the Smythes, are depicted as selfish and snobbish, with Shirley's mother enduring their disdain while striving to provide a better life for her daughter. However, tragedy strikes on Christmas Day when Mary is killed in a car accident, leaving Shirley orphaned. Despite the reluctance of the Smythes, Shirley's Uncle Ned insists they take her in, but Loop, as Shirley's godfather, wants to bring her to live with him.

Uncle Ned decides to adopt Shirley, prompting Loop to take a risky flight in dangerous weather conditions to earn money for legal fees to fight the adoption. Meanwhile, Shirley, aware of her unwelcome presence in the Smythe household, stows away on Loop's plane. The narrative builds towards a custody battle between Uncle Ned and Loop, with Shirley's safety hanging in the balance.

Reception
"Bright Eyes" was said to have encapsulated many of the elements typical of Shirley Temple's films, including her portrayal as an orphaned but resilient character, her ability to win over adults, and her signature song, "On the Good Ship Lollipop." The film also marks Temple's final collaboration with James Dunn, whose career declined due to alcohol dependency.