Still Entertaining
Added 9/28/2009
Well, if you want to watch a Shirley Temple movie, you can expect two things to happen: One, they (the movie makers) will make you fall in love with this adorable little girl, and two, they will then wrench your heart by putting her into serious trouble.
"Heidi" is the story of a little orphan girl ... seven years old ... who is deposited (by her mean-spirited aunt) at the home of her paternal grandfather. The grandfather is a gruff old man who has lived apart from society for some years, and ... not really having a choice ... he takes Heidi in with no more to-do than one would show when taking in a stray cat.
Heidi's innocence and goodness of heart soon win the crusty old man over, however, and his hardened heart is softened. The two of them then simply live their lives together at the old man's cabin in the Swiss Alps ... and it is an idyllic and happy time for the both of them.
Unfortunately, the mean old aunt returns to the scene and snatches Heidi away (when the grandfather is not at home) to sell her into servitude. Heidi then becomes a resident of Frankfort (against her will) in a wealthy family's home. She tries to make the best of it, but longs to return to her grandfather and the happiness of their mountain home. The grandfather, upon learning of Heidi's disappearance ... and her presumed where-abouts ... decides to set off ... on foot ... for Frankfort ... a city 100 miles away. Eventually he gets there, and after some contrived drama, he and Heidi are re-united.
Made in 1937, "Heidi" is still an entertaining movie. Shirley Temple stars as Heidi, and she is as charming and adorable as ever. Jean Hersholt plays the grandfather, and he is excellent at conveying ... in an understated way ... the growing affection he has for the little girl. But the strength of this movie is in the story ... part of it anyway ... where an old man, embittered by the rejection of his village and the (apparent) rejection of his god, alienates himself from them both. Then an innocent little girl comes into his life, and her love ... and the love she engenders in him ... cause the old man to seek a reconciliation. That is the heart of "Heidi," and the universal appeal of this part of the story is what has drawn people to "Heidi" these many years.
AS A SIDE NOTE:
It is generally agreed that the Heidi character is Shirley Temple's most memorable role ... and it was indeed an excellent fit for the young actress ... but consider this: Shirley Temple was MGM's first choice to play Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." What a great fit that would have been! If you've ever read the book, you know that the character Dorothy has Shirley Temple written all over it. But alas. Due to studio rivalry, it was not to be.
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An evergreen that has stood the test of time
Added 6/15/2009
"Heidi" is one of my favorite childhood movies and I watched it with my 4.5-year-old daughter today [in the original B&W]. To my utter delight, she loved it, and sat through the entire movie without so much as a squirm. I attribute this to Shirley Temple's precocious and adorable performance as the spirited and gentle-hearted orphan Heidi, who is taken by her Aunt Dete [Mady Christians] to the mountains, where she is unceremoniously dumped on her curmudgeon of a grandfather [Jean Hersholt]. Though both are initially wary of each other, a mutual and true affection slowly develops until Heidi is whisked away by Dete to the home of a rich man, where Heidi is to be the rich man's daughter's companion. Klara [Marcia Mae Jones], the rich girl, is wheelchair-bound and is delighted by Heidi's down-to-earth nature and funny antics, but Heidi pines for the mountains and especially for her beloved grandfather. The baddie role is played by Mary Nash as the mean-spirited Faulein Rottenmeir who truly does some mean things to Heidi in this adaptation.
But, this is a great family movie with wholesome values and wonderful acting. Even in B&W, the charms of this story are many and I'm so glad to be able to share this wonderful classic with my little girl.
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Heidi DVD review
Added 3/8/2009
I purchased this for my grandparents and sent it to them-it was delivered earlier than expected and the product was in perfect condition. Everything worked out better than expected.
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One Of Shirley's Most Touching Films
Added 2/20/2009
Some people have said this is Shirley Temple's best film. It's not my favorite but I admit it is very good....and it has some of the most touching, wonderful moments of any of her films.
The mean old lady, "Fraulein Rottenmeier," played by Mary Nash, has too big a role in the second half of the movie making for a number of unpleasant scenes. I had gotten so involved with the story that I couldn't stand to see this mean woman so nasty to "Heidi" (Temple). Also, there was only one song-and-dance number and that's not enough for a Shirley Temple movie, in which we come to expect songs-and-dances.
The other characters were fine. Arthur Treacher provides good humor; Jean Hersholt is great as the gruff-then-loving grandfather and Marcia Mae Jones is nice as the young invalid.
This is a true classic story and ends with perhaps the most gorgeous and sweetest smile I've ever seen on Shirley's face.
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"HEIDI": ONE OF SHIRLEY TEMPLE'S BEST FILMS
Added 2/1/2009
Shirley Temple is perfectly cast as Johanna Spyri's perky Swiss Miss. She receives excellent support from Jean Hersholt as Grandfather, Marcia Mae Jones as Clara, and Mary Nash as the aptly named Miss Rottenmeier. Arthur Treacher is also featured as the Butler Andrews. Treacher played the Butler, or some similar role, in several films with Shirley Temple.
There is a lot of drama and action packed into the film's 88 minutes. One may wonder if Heidi/Shirley suffers a bit too much. First, her Aunt Dete dumps her on her dour, reclusive Grandfather's doorstep. Then, just as she manages to melt her crusty Grandfather's heart and bond with him, Aunt Dete returns again and kidnaps Heidi(!)
off to Frankfurt, where she is to be a companion to wheelchair-bound Clara. Leaving Heidi with witchy governess Miss Rottenmeier, Dete says, "Sell her to the gypsies for all I care!"
Heidi teaches Clara to walk again. This infuriates Miss Rottenmeier, who kidnaps Heidi again (!) and actually does try to sell her to the gypsies. Grandfather has been looking for Heidi, however. He is thrown into the Frankfurt jail on Christmas day, but manages to escape in the nick of time. Heidi and Grandfather are chased by the police across the mountains in the film's frantic climax. I don't know if this has anything to do with Spyri's book. Shirley Temple's fans aren't likely to care. This 1937 version is one of Temple's best films. The "Heidi" formula was repeated most successfully in 1939's "The Little Princess." Here, a particularly determined Shirley is again menaced by witchy Mary Nash. Marcia Mae Jones, in contrast to sweet Clara, plays snobby schoolmate Lavina.
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Still Entertaining
Added 9/28/2009
Well, if you want to watch a Shirley Temple movie, you can expect two things to happen: One, they (the movie makers) will make you fall in love with this adorable little girl, and two, they will then wrench your heart by putting her into serious trouble.
"Heidi" is the story of a little orphan girl ... seven years old ... who is deposited (by her mean-spirited aunt) at the home of her paternal grandfather. The grandfather is a gruff old man who has lived apart from society for some years, and ... not really having a choice ... he takes Heidi in with no more to-do than one would show when taking in a stray cat.
Heidi's innocence and goodness of heart soon win the crusty old man over, however, and his hardened heart is softened. The two of them then simply live their lives together at the old man's cabin in the Swiss Alps ... and it is an idyllic and happy time for the both of them.
Unfortunately, the mean old aunt returns to the scene and snatches Heidi away (when the grandfather is not at home) to sell her into servitude. Heidi then becomes a resident of Frankfort (against her will) in a wealthy family's home. She tries to make the best of it, but longs to return to her grandfather and the happiness of their mountain home. The grandfather, upon learning of Heidi's disappearance ... and her presumed where-abouts ... decides to set off ... on foot ... for Frankfort ... a city 100 miles away. Eventually he gets there, and after some contrived drama, he and Heidi are re-united.
Made in 1937, "Heidi" is still an entertaining movie. Shirley Temple stars as Heidi, and she is as charming and adorable as ever. Jean Hersholt plays the grandfather, and he is excellent at conveying ... in an understated way ... the growing affection he has for the little girl. But the strength of this movie is in the story ... part of it anyway ... where an old man, embittered by the rejection of his village and the (apparent) rejection of his god, alienates himself from them both. Then an innocent little girl comes into his life, and her love ... and the love she engenders in him ... cause the old man to seek a reconciliation. That is the heart of "Heidi," and the universal appeal of this part of the story is what has drawn people to "Heidi" these many years.
AS A SIDE NOTE:
It is generally agreed that the Heidi character is Shirley Temple's most memorable role ... and it was indeed an excellent fit for the young actress ... but consider this: Shirley Temple was MGM's first choice to play Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." What a great fit that would have been! If you've ever read the book, you know that the character Dorothy has Shirley Temple written all over it. But alas. Due to studio rivalry, it was not to be.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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An evergreen that has stood the test of time
Added 6/15/2009
"Heidi" is one of my favorite childhood movies and I watched it with my 4.5-year-old daughter today [in the original B&W]. To my utter delight, she loved it, and sat through the entire movie without so much as a squirm. I attribute this to Shirley Temple's precocious and adorable performance as the spirited and gentle-hearted orphan Heidi, who is taken by her Aunt Dete [Mady Christians] to the mountains, where she is unceremoniously dumped on her curmudgeon of a grandfather [Jean Hersholt]. Though both are initially wary of each other, a mutual and true affection slowly develops until Heidi is whisked away by Dete to the home of a rich man, where Heidi is to be the rich man's daughter's companion. Klara [Marcia Mae Jones], the rich girl, is wheelchair-bound and is delighted by Heidi's down-to-earth nature and funny antics, but Heidi pines for the mountains and especially for her beloved grandfather. The baddie role is played by Mary Nash as the mean-spirited Faulein Rottenmeir who truly does some mean things to Heidi in this adaptation.
But, this is a great family movie with wholesome values and wonderful acting. Even in B&W, the charms of this story are many and I'm so glad to be able to share this wonderful classic with my little girl.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Heidi DVD review
Added 3/8/2009
I purchased this for my grandparents and sent it to them-it was delivered earlier than expected and the product was in perfect condition. Everything worked out better than expected.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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