ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.
Twilightfa Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.
ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
vincentlynch-moonoi The news came out today that Shirley Temple has died. And so, as is my custom when an actor I ire dies, I try to watch one of their films. And, for my money, "Heidi" is the best of the Temple childhood films. I loved it when I was a kid, and I still love...and I'm 64 years old now! And, despite the "unrealness" of it, I actually prefer the colorized version.This film is a treat for so many reasons. In the early scenes, much is seen, but not spoken...and it works very well. And then there are the classic scenes -- the breaking of the snow globe by the rotten Fraulein Rottenmeier (what a delicious name for her), the monkey, the sled chase...and so many more.Another treat, aside from Shirley Temple at her best, is the fine old actor Jean Hersholt as the grandfather; the Academy Award's Humanitarian Award is dedicated to him. Marcia Mae Jones was fine as the invalid rich girl, and this film was where I first noticed the fine character actor Sidney Blackmer as Herr Sesemann, Clara's doting father. Arthur Treacher is fun -- again here -- as (who else) the butler. And Mary Nash has her most memorable role as Fräulein Rottenmeier. Worth mentioning is Helen Westley as the old blind woman. Now to those who complain that the film doesn't follow the original story. So what? That was a book. This is a film. Two different mediums, each with its own talent of telling a story. Get over it.The film is a gem.
PamelaShort Shirley Temple's version of Heidi, is another film I enjoy watching every Christmas season, and little children will find it delightful too. This is really one of Temple's best film's, added with her special charming touches. The underrated child actress, Marcia Mae Jones is also very lovely with her performance as Klara, the invalid girl who Heidi helps to walk. Jean Hersholt is marvellous as the grandfather, who is surly towards Heidi at first, but soon turns to love the precious child. The comical Arthur Treacher adds some humorous touches to this story. Mary Nash, Sidney Blackmer, and child actor Delmar Watson, all portray their characters perfectly, making this a very entertaining and heart-warming adaption of the classic child's story.Well worth a look during the Christmas holidays.
JoeytheBrit One of Temple's biggest hits for 20th Century Fox, this version of Johanna Spyri's much-filmed children's classic might provide suitable entertainment for young children but will prove far too saccharine-sweet for any adult whose critical facilities aren't compromised by watching the film through rose-coloured spectacles…The little moppet plays the eponymous heroine, a spunky little madam with an infectious grin and an abundance of curls, who is foisted upon her grumpy Santa-look-alike Grandpa (Jean Hersholt) by her wicked Aunt Dete (Mady Christians) who has found work in Frankfurt. Of course, it's not long before Heidi has melted grumpy old Grandpa's heart, which is the cue for the wicked Aunt to snatch Heidi back and whisk her to Frankfurt to be companion to Klara (Marcia Mae Jones) the crippled daughter of her employer… Nine-year-old Temple is cute as a button in this one, and has enough screen presence to carry even mediocre material. The story is decent enough, and the production values are good, but the heavy doses of sentimentality injected into the plot at regular intervals really get too much to stomach after a while and are wholly unnecessary. If you can overcome that however, the story does offer a fair measure of suspense as it reaches its inevitably happy ending, and any film with not one but two wicked witches has to be awarded points for originality. Arthur Treacher is also worth catching as an outwardly stiff butler who is really a big softie on the inside. It was a role he would repeat with Temple in the inferior The Little Princess a couple years later.Watch the black-and-white version if you get the chance, because the colourised version is an absolute horror (when are they anything else?). Everybody's lips and tongue are the same colour as their skin
jessicaf This was the first Shirley Temple film I had seen. Shirley plays Heidi, a little girl goes to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Her aunt Dede 'kidnaps' and takes her to . A good movie with wonderful actors/actresses, and something the whole family can enjoy! 10 out of 10 stars.
