Shirley Temple in a role that seems custom-made for her, portrays the spirited young heroine of the popular children’s novel, giving her a rich emotional depth and infinite charm. When her aunt tires of caring for her, orphan Heidi is taken into the Swiss mountains to live with her gruff grandfather (Jean Hersholt), a hermit who comes to adore her. But the aunt returns to steal Heidi away, selling her to a family whose invalid daughter (Marcia Mae Jones) needs a companion. Bullied by an evil governess (Mary Nash), Heidi still charms the entire household and never stops trying to return to her beloved grandfather.One thing Shirley Temple did extremely well (besides sing, dance, and act) was turn the cranky cuddly. She’d done it effectively, two years prior, in 1935′s The Little Colonel with grandfather Lionel Barrymore. Now in Heidi she turns her reclusive grumpy grandfather, Adolf (Jean Hersholt), into the loving sort she knows he really is. Heidi is an orphan, dumped into the Swiss Alps by self-centered Aunt Dete (Mady Christians) onto a grandfather she’s never known, but they soon learn to love each other. Heidi’s mercenary aunt returns and sells (!) Heidi to a cruel woman, appropriately named Fraulein Rottenmeier (Mary Nash). Adolf sets out on a quest to find his granddaughter. Meanwhile, Heidi charms Klara Sesemann (Marcia Mae Jones), the wealthy handicapped girl in Fraulein Rottenmeier’s care. Look for a delightful Arthur Treacher as the Sesemann butler. There’s a cute fantasy production number, “In Our Little Wooden Shoes,” featuring Temple in various period costumes. Throughout Heidi, Temple is, as always, wonderfully joyful. This is perhaps the best-known rendering of the popular children’s story by Johanna Spyri (it’s been filmed some 10 times). –N.F. Mendoza
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April 10, 2010
#1
I didn’t see anything totally special or touching about this movie. The Alps don’t even look that pretty. If you want to see the best Heidi I suggest watching the 1993 version of it.
April 10, 2010
#2
The best part of this film was the scene in which she gets knocked down by a goat! LOL it was funny, that’s worth a star
April 10, 2010
#3
When is anything ever faithful these days? I’m quite sure there’s a couple of open mouths out there as to why I’m reviewing this. I loved the whole story of Heidi when I was young, and I’ve collected many different versions over the years. It was my favourite book when I was young, and I used to read it over and over.
I bought ages ago the TV series from 1978, and finally got round to watching it today. And it was really, really bad. I couldn’t even sit through the first episode. After switching it off, my mum suggested watching Shirley Temple in Heidi. Since it’s only 84 minutes in length, I gave it a go.
I sat through it, but I just don’t understand the appeal of Shirley Temple, she looked like a precocious little brat. And she does everything. Sings, dances, talks in this whiny little voice.
What disappointed me was that the film was nothing like the book. It brought some things to life, but Peter did not feature enough, I always imagined Heidi as being dark haired, not a dirty blonde, there’s not one, but TWO song & dance sequences in it. Which totally detract from the film. Some of the stuff about Klara was good, as I didn’t remember what happened straight away, but the chase between the police & the grandfather was just stupid.
This was originally filmed in black & white, and the DVD version is “colourised” for some reason. So some of the colours can be quite dodgy, particularly the greens I noticed (and everyone’s lips & tongue are the same colour as their skin!) Frankly, I don’t understand why they did this, people are gonna watch it whether it’s black & white, or colour.
There are a few funny moments in the film, Heidi desperately trying to yodel, people falling over, and her little sulky face when she tries to get back to her beloved grandfather.
There’s a lot of sickly sweetness injected into the story at regular intervals, and it does get a bit too much. Great if you’re a fan of Shirley Temple (like my mum), average if you’re not (like me!)
April 10, 2010
#4
I realy enjoy that movie
Ann Marie Pengra
April 10, 2010
#5
I just purchased the DVD tonight after looking for it for some time. It was well worth the money. While I can’t say anything at all for the black and white version I can say that the colorized one was very good – next to excellent.
I did however review the black and white promo for the film and it was very bad – sad. I wonder if the black and white film was as bad as someone had mentioned? He should get a better DVD player or just watch it in color and stop crying like a baby… get REAL!
The color in a few situations (times) did seem to flutter some
but when you consider the age of the film and all who can truly complain? Its sad that films with this heart and true feeling aren’t made anymore. The demand is still there but Hollywood has forgotten what it means to take the time to make a lasting film that will stand the tests of time as this one has….
All actors were surperb in their unique roles. I espcially enjoyed the antics of the Grandfather and his gruff ways and the befuddled expressions on the butler Arthur Treacher… the old woman that overlooked the care of the young girl was a true classic too.
Does she need a girls night out or what? Talk about your biddies!
I can’t help but wonder…. was this Arthur Treacher guy anyway associated with a fast food (seafood) place of the same name?
I guess maybe its just my wild imagination running loose again….