"The Blue Bird" is an excellent study in how not to make a children's movie, and stands in stark contrast to "The Wizard of Oz". While many of the elements are the same, the execution is uneven and disengaging. Shirley Temple does a good job, but none of the supporting cast seem up to the task of really selling the fantasy world in which the children find themselves.
While I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt for children's films, even my 8-year old daughter pointed out some of the inconsistencies and plot holes, including the fact that while the fantasy of the "Blue Bird" occurs as Shirley sleeps (similar to the "Wizard of Oz"), when she wakes up, her younger brother has also had the same dream and "shared" the experience.
While I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt for children's films, even my 8-year old daughter pointed out some of the inconsistencies and plot holes, including the fact that while the fantasy of the "Blue Bird" occurs as Shirley sleeps (similar to the "Wizard of Oz"), when she wakes up, her younger brother has also had the same dream and "shared" the experience.