Heidi (1937 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heidi |
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Promotional Poster
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| Directed by | Allan Dwan |
| Produced by | Darryl F. Zanuck |
| Written by | Julien Josephson Walter Ferris |
| Starring | Shirley Temple Jean Hersholt Arthur Treacher Mary Nash Marcia Mae Jones Sidney Blackmer |
| Music by | David Buttolph Charles Maxwell Ernst Toch |
| Cinematography | Arthur Miller |
| Editing by | Allen McNeil |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | October 15, 1937 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Heidi is a 1937 American musical drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Shirley Temple. The screenplay by Julien Josephson and Walter Ferris was loosely based on the 1881 children's story of the same name by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. The film is about an orphan named Heidi (Temple) who is taken from her grandfather (Jean Hersholt) to live as a companion to Klara, a spoiled, crippled girl (Marcia Mae Jones). The film was a success and Temple enjoyed her third year in a row as number one box office draw.
Plot
Adelheid, called Heidi (Shirley Temple), is an eight-year-old Swiss orphan who is given by her aunt Dete (Mady Christians) to her mountain-dwelling hermit grandfather, Adolph (Jean Hersholt). While Adolph behaves coolly toward her at first, her cheery nature turns him warm, and sees him open up to the nearby town.
Heidi is then stolen back by her aunt, to live in the wealthy Sesemann household in Frankfurt am Main as a companion to Klara (Marcia Mae Jones), a sheltered, disabled girl in a wheelchair who is constantly watched by the strict Fräulein Rottenmeier (Mary Nash). Heidi is unhappy but makes the best of the situation, always longing for her grandfather.
When Klara's body and spirits mend under Heidi's cheerful companionship, Rottenmeier (who has tried to keep Klara dependent upon her) tries to get rid of Heidi by selling her to the gypsies, but she is stopped by the police. Heidi is rescued and reunited with her grandfather.
Cast
- Shirley Temple as Heidi, an 8-year-old girl who is a young orphan living with her hermitted grandfather in an Alpine hut. She is very happy, optimistic and adventurous and she loves her grandfather very much.
- Jean Hersholt as Adolph Kramer, a 51-year-old man who is Heidi's grandfather who is grumpy at first but learns to love Heidi as his granddaughter.
- Marcia Mae Jones as Klara Sesemann, a 13-year-old girl who is a kind and crippled rich girl but very caring, polite and happy towards Heidi.
- Sidney Blackmer as Herr Sesemann, a 42-year-old man who is Klara's doting and busy father who wants nothing but happiness for his daughter.
- Thomas Beck as Pastor Schultz, the pastor of the village who talks to Adolph about Heidi's future.
- Arthur Treacher as Andrews, a 43-year-old man who is a butler in the Sesemann household who is always nice to Heidi.
- Mary Nash as Fräulein Rottenmeier, a 53-year-old woman who is the châtelaine of the Sesemann household who is mean and strict on Klara's well-being.
- Delmar Watson as Peter, the goat general of Adolph Kramer's and a good friend of Heidi's.
- Mady Christians as Dete, a 45-year-old woman who is Heidi's self-interested aunt who has taken care of her for 6 years.
- Helen Westley as Blind Anna, Peter's grandmother.
- Christian Rub as Baker
- Frank Reicher as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
