Heidi (1937)

Heidi
Directed by Allan Dwan
Written by Walter Ferris and Julien Josephson based on the book by Johanna Spyri
1937/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Repeat viewing

[box] Heidi: I am not her child! She’s a bad lady! She tried to sell me to gypsies! Please. Please, let the Grandfather take me home. He didn’t mean to do anything bad. I’ll work hard and pay back for everything he broke. So will Swanli and Bearli.[/box]

I loved the book as a girl and was pleased to find it when I cleaned out my parents’ house. Although Shirley Temple didn’t fit the image I had of Heidi in my head, I have a soft spot for this movie.  The story of an orphan who warms the heart of her hermit grandfather was made for little Shirley but she plays it blessedly straight in this one.

The orphan Heidi (Temple) is literally dumped at the mountain cabin of her grandfather when her aunt tires of caring for her.  The Grandfather (Jean Herscholt) is none too pleased to see her as he disowned her father for marrying her mother and has not spoken to anyone since.  But Heidi’s sweet nature gets through to the old man and he eventually warms up to the local villagers as well.

Then Heidi’s aunt shows up and steals Heidi away to serve as the companion of the crippled rich girl Klara in the big city.  Klara’s nanny Frau Rottenmeier hates Heidi on sight and treats her badly.  But Klara loves the girl and Frau Rottenmeier can’t get rid of Heidi. When Klara’s father returns from his travels, he falls in love with Heidi as well.  Heidi’s only wish is to go home to the Grandfather.  But events cause Frau Rottenmeier’s jealousy to get the better of her, threatening to separate Heidi from her home forever.

It had been years and years since I had seen this film.  I had forgotten how superb Jean Herscholt was in his role.  Shirley has a regrettable, but clearly mandatory, song and dance routine at the beginning but after that the film is a straight drama.  I thought she acquitted herself rather well in the acting department.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfQ_n4o2nbY

Trailer