Heidi is a 1937 American musical drama film directed by Allan Dwan. The screenplay by Julien Josephson and Walter Ferris was based on the 1880 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 (Hersholt) to live as a companion to Klara, a spoiled, crippled girl (Jones). The film was a success and Temple enjoyed her third year in a row as number one box office draw.
The film is currently available on DVD, which features the original black and white, and newly colorized, versions of it.
Plot
Adelheid, called Heidi (Shirley Temple), is an eight-year-old Swiss orphan who is given by her aunt to her mountain-dwelling grandfather (Jean Hersholt). She is then stolen back by her aunt from her grandfather to live in the wealthy Sesemann household in Frankfurt, Germany as a companion to Klara (Marcia Mae Jones), a sheltered, disabled girl in a wheelchair.
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, the housekeeper (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, 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, Heidi's grandfather who is grumpy at first but learns to love Heidi as his granddaughter.
- Marcia Mae Jones as Klara Sesemann, a kind and crippled rich girl, but very caring, polite, and happy towards Heidi.
- Sidney Blackmer as Herr Sesemann, 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 butler in the Sesemann household who is always nice to Heidi.
- Mary Nash as Fräulein Rottenmeier, 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 Detie, Heidi's self-interested aunt who has taken care of her for 6 years.
- Helen Westley as Blind Anna, Peter's grandmother.