Intended as 20th Century Fox's answer to MGM's The Wizard of Oz, which had been released the previous year, it was filmed in Technicolor and tells the story of a disagreeable young girl (played by Shirley Temple) and her search for happiness.

Mytyl, the grumpy daughter of a wood cutter, finds a unique bird in the royal forest and selfishly refuses to give it to her sick friend Angela.

Mytyl is visited in a dream by a fairy named Berylune who sends her and her brother Tyltyl to search for the Blue Bird of Happiness.

Despite a lingering myth that Shirley Temple was originally cast in The Wizard of Oz, she had been only briefly considered because she was a proven box-office draw.

Arthur Freed, an uncredited producer on The Wizard of Oz, wanted rising child star Judy Garland for the lead role.

But unlike in The Wizard of Oz, when The Blue Bird changes to full color, it remains as such for the remainder of the film.

He also wanted to cast Bobs Watson as Tyltyl, Gene Lockhart as Daddy Tyl, Joan Davis as Tylette, Jessie Ralph as Mrs. Berlingot, Anita Louise as Light, Zeffie Tilbury as Granny, George Barbier as Grandpa, Andy Devine as Cold in Head and Berton Churchill as Time.

During the writing of the screenplay, Temple's mother objected to her daughter's characterization as "too nice" and also raised concerns that the script did not focus enough on her.

The tension came to a head when Zanuck threatened suspension, and after consulting with their lawyer, the Temples agreed to proceed with the film as planned.

Mytyl's selfishness, the basic trait of her personality, is a plot thread specifically written into the motion picture that is not present in the original play.

It was produced using rare preservation copies of the original nitrate optical scoring sessions, which were digitally restored by Ray Faiola.

[11] 16 Inch Shirley doll with a dress with a white top half and a bottom blue skirt section.

[16][17] After the ending of the one and only official company licences to produce Shirley Temple toy merchandise Ideal was dissolved, Danbury Mint soon took over.

[18] A figure from their Silver Screen Collection Depicts her standing in the grass and flowers holding the bluebird up high on one finger looking at it in awe.

On the side it is marked 17 and has a full body image of Shirley holding her bluebird in a small basket cage.