Heidi (1937)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

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 | Wheelchair | Gypsy | Police Station | Aunt Niece Relationship

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:

Shirley Temple developed throat problems after she accidentally swallowed fake snow during a winter scene, and the crew had to shoot around her for two days.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Dete brings Heidi to the Sesemann house in the evening, and she leaves almost immediately. However, the next day, Fräulein Rottenmeier says that Dete did not leave until earlier that morning.

Quotes:

Heidi: Shall I get ready to go home now?
Sesemann: No. I have another Christmas present for you: a home with us as long as you live.
Heidi: No. I couldn't do that.
Sesemann: Why not?
Heidi: The Grandfather's been waiting for me such a long time.
Klara Sesemann: Oh, Heidi. I hoped you wouldn't want to go now.
Sesemann: Don't you want to stay here with Klara and be her little sister?
Heidi: Yes. I'd like to be that but I've got to go home.
Klara Sesemann: Papa, I told Heidi you'd let her go if she wanted to.
Sesemann: But you don't understand, dear. You'll be my own daughter. You'll - You'll have clothes like Klara's, everything just like hers, and grow up to be a great lady. Now, wouldn't you like that?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "20 to 1: Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (#6.6)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

In Our Little Wooden Shoes

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!