Heidi (1937)

Director:

Allan Dwan

Writers:

Johanna Spyri (novel) and
Walter Ferris (writer)

Release Date:

15 October 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Drama

Tagline:

Shirley's A Little Swiss Miss In The Loveliest Story of Her Career !

Plot:

When little Heidi is stolen by her cruel aunt (who sells her) her grouchy grandfather searches for her...

Plot Keywords:

Invalid | Gypsy | Wheelchair | Police Station | Alps

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Shirley Temple	...	Heidi Kramer
Jean Hersholt	...	Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather
Arthur Treacher	...	Andrews, the Butler
Helen Westley	...	Blind Anna
Thomas Beck	...	Pastor Schultz
Mary Nash	...	Fräulein Rottenmeier
Sidney Blackmer	...	Herr Sesemann
Pauline Moore	...	Fräulein Elsa
Mady Christians	...	Dete
Marcia Mae Jones	...	Klara Sesemann
Delmar Watson	...	Peter, the Goat General
Egon Brecher	...	Inn Keeper
Christian Rub	...	Baker
George Humbert	...	Organ Grinder

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

New Zealand:G | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | UK:U | USA:G (1994)

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

As she had worried about Jane Withers in Bright Eyes (1934) three years before, Shirley Temple's mother, Gertrude Temple, worried that Marcia Mae Jones would steal the spotlight from her daughter in this movie. However, Shirley and Marcia Mae worked well with each other and appeared together again in _Little Princess, The (1939)_.

Goofs:

Continuity: Heidi removes the ribbon from her Christmas present twice, once in a closeup, then again when the shot changes.

Quotes:

Dete: I'm Dete, sister of Gretchen, who married your son Tobias. I've brought their orphan to live with you. I've taken care of her for six years, but I've got a job in Frankfurt now, with a rich family, and I can't be bothered with her any more. I know you hated Tobias and Gretchen, but you've got to take their daughter just the same.
Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Get out!
Dete: Here she is, her name's Heidi.
[Dete leaves]
Heidi: How do you do, Grandfather? I'm very glad to see you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Will & Grace: Sons and Lovers (#3.22)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

Shirley's sweetest 'dramatic' performance

Yes, another very good Shirley Temple movie. I must say I love all Shirley movies, I don't have a "favorite" one(except for the very first movie of hers I saw, which is very close to my heart), but Heidi is a great movie and I think everybody must see it.

Heidi's an orphaned girl who lived with her aunt for six years. Then the aunt got a job and she had to live with her grandfather, a very unsociable man, who have a terrible humor and hates everyone. He lives in the mountains. Later, the aunt comes back to take Heidi to the big city to be the playmate of a girl that can't walk.

I think this is one of the greatest(if it's not the best)Shirley's acting performances. In that movie she shows that she's not just a cute little girl that can tap dance and smile! She shows she's a good actress. A very good actress. I just think that only one sing-and-dance number's not enough for a Shirley Temple movie -- but the only sing-and-dance number in that film is great("In our little Wooden shoes").

That story was adored by me when I was a kid. I saw an animated version, the 1970's movie version and I read the book. When I became a Shirley Temple fan and noticed that she'd played Heidi, I said "WOW! Shirley played Heidi!" and after I saw that movie I absolutely 'fell in love' with Shirley.There are some parts of the film that make me cry, like the Christmas scene and the ending scene(apart from Shirley's cute smile of course!).

Anyway, a very good movie. Enjoyable, happy, and with the great Child-Star Shirley Temple starring in it. Anyone who wants to watch this film with the kids but think they won't like because it's black-and-white, just try. I'm sure they'll get into the story and that they'll love it!