MovieChat Forums > The Blue Bird (1940) Discussion > WHICH child is the unfortunate actress C...

WHICH child is the unfortunate actress Caryll Ann Ekelund??

posted 18 years ago by khsemmens
29 replies | jump to latest

This child actress is listed in the full credits for The Blue Bird as "Little Girl" (from the heaven/unborn children scene). IMDB says this young actress sadly died from burns at the age of 4.5 years:
"According to Shirley Temple, her co-star in The Blue Bird (1940), in her autobiography "Child Star," she was killed after a lighted birthday candle at home ignited her dress and burned her to death. Her five older brothers acted as pallbearers while a graveside quartet sung her favorite song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz (1939) when she was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Her burial shroud was the unborn child toga from her role in The Blue Bird (1940)."
My question:

Does anybody know WHICH little girl she is???

There are so many little girls in those scenes, although a few are "featured".

A sad footnote to such a unique movie .....

[–] Doylenf 18 years ago

Interesting question.

I wondered the same thing when I read CHILD STAR and Shirley talked of the tragic incident. You have to wonder which girl in the unborn children sequence she was. The film is distinctive mainly for that sequence alone. That and the raging forest fire with its wonderful special effects.

Personally, I like the film but it would have been even better if they included a few more charming musical moments like the Yodel song Shirley does with her grandparents.

[–] Bruce7 13 years ago

She is told this is the third time you've tried to be born before your time.

Can you fly this plane?
Surely you can't be serious.
I am serious,and don't call me Shirley

[–] pinoypride 18 years ago

Caryll Ann Ekelund is the little girl who would exclaim to the Young Lad, "Look! Live children!" and "Look how funny they dress." She would also ask Mytyl, "What are those things on your feet?" I found these out by clicking on the link leading to the Little Girl's memorable film quotes on The Blue Bird's IMDB page. Be sure to keep your eyes and ears glued to the running movie to catch her one brief moment there.

[–] khsemmens 18 years ago

Thank you so much for clearing that one up for me :-D
I just knew SOMEONE would!

[–] jtseidle 18 years ago

That can't be the right girl. We would be looking for a girl of only 4 years. The little girl who asks about the shoes was at least 8. Caryll had to be one of the really small girls.

[–] kristinajbrown 18 years ago

Not everything posted on this site is accurate. A lot of the information is posted by fans.
About the little girl, I think she is actually the one towards the end of the scene that is afraid she won't be born. And when father time calls her name, Shirley hugs her before the little girl runs off to the boat. I could be wrong, but she fits the age.

[–] HalfBloodPrincess1967 17 years ago

I was wondering that too. It was on Fox movie channel today. I was curious as to what she looked like. If she is the little girl your talking about, she was as cute as she could be. How sad that happened to her. Could she have been one of the unborn children that tried to be born before their time and Father Time stops them? There is a little girl around that age that tries to do that in that segment.

Spiders! They want me to tapdance! I don't wanna tapdance!

[–] bun4fun 17 years ago

I found some information regarding Caryll:

http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/168/Jana+Lund/index.html

[–] HalfBloodPrincess1967 17 years ago

I wrote to Shirley Temple's official website, they have an ask Shirley section there. I was hoping that I would get some kind of valid answer. The only response I got was from the admins at the site directing me to this thread. *rolls eyes*

I'm still curious about this though.

Spiders! They want me to tapdance! I don't wanna tapdance!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] HalfBloodPrincess1967 17 years ago

I wrote to the website again, this is the response I got...

Thank youfor writing to Shirley. She really appreciates having great fans
like
you!
You ask a very good question -- we are not sure of the answer at Shirley
Temple.com -- but we will forward the question to Shirley and may be able to
add this information on the Shirley Temple Website that can be shared by
all. If we find an answer for you soon, we will forward it to you.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at ShirleyTemple.com

If I get an answer to this question back from them, I will post it on here.

Spiders! They want me to tapdance! I don't wanna tapdance!

[–] ilahilda 9 years ago

I saw this film a few weeks ago, it was cute. That is very sad about the young actress.

[–] kathys1977 15 years ago

she is also listed on findagrave.com. there is a picture of her on there. you can find her in the movie from there. i have never seen the movie so im not sure where to find her in the film

kathy

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] pantheonzeus 15 years ago

see pics of her grave and the house where she lived here

www.findadeath.com/Deceased/e/Ekelund/caryllannekelund.htm

[–] williamjeffreykoch 15 years ago

I have seen her picture and can tell you with certainty that she is one of the kids who runs past the guard, trying to sneak onto the ship, and gets stopped. She is seen very close up, smiling at the guard, then turns and runs back to the children have yet to board. Here is a link to a write up and a picture from that scene:

http://findadeath.com/Deceased/e/Ekelund/caryllannekelund.htm

BTW- check out the rest of this site if you are interested at all in deceased stars. It's AWESOME!!!

[–] HalfBloodPrincess1967 15 years ago

You guys beat me to it.

Clickable link to make things easier...

http://findadeath.com/Deceased/e/Ekelund/caryllannekelund.htm

AVADA KEDAVRA!!!

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] stefanbain 15 years ago

There is some information on her at findadeath.com

"not everyone gets corrupted....you have to have a little faith in people"

[–] wenarskys 15 years ago

Shirley sent me her autograph twice in the late 1980's. :) Once when she signed my copy of her autobiography and once when she sent me an actual autograph on pretty white stationary and hand addressed the envelope herself when I wrote and requested her autograph. I can testify that she HAS communicated with fans, but honestly, as far as email, and being 81 years old...can you really expect her to answer ALL the email she must get?