Heidi (1937)

A plucky little orphan girl gets dumped abruptly into her gruff, hermit grandfather's care, then later gets retaken and delivered as a companion for an injured girl.

Director:

Allan Dwan

Writers:

Johanna Spyri (by), Walter Ferris (screenplay),

Stars:

Shirley Temple, Jean Hersholt, Arthur Treacher

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shirley Temple	...	Heidi
Jean Hersholt	...	Adolph Kramer
Arthur Treacher	...	Andrews
Helen Westley	...	Blind Anna
Thomas Beck	...	Pastor Schultz
Mary Nash	...	Fraulein Rottenmeier
Sidney Blackmer	...	Sesemann
Pauline Moore	...	Elsa
Mady Christians	...	Dete
Marcia Mae Jones	...	Klara Sesemann
Delmar Watson	...	Peter
Egon Brecher	...	Inn Keeper
Christian Rub	...	Baker
George Humbert	...	Organ Grinder
Sig Ruman	...	Police Captain (as Sig Rumann)

Storyline

Eight-year-old Heidi is orphaned and her selfish maternal Aunt Dete takes her to the mountains to live with Adolph Kramer, her grumpy, old, outcast, survivalist paternal grandfather. Heidi brings her grandfather back into mountain society through her angelic ways, sheer love, and adorable personality. When Aunt Dete steals Heidi away to be the companion of a rich man's invalid daughter, the grandfather is enraged and sets out to get her back. Back in Frankfurt, loved and adored by everyone she touches except the villainous housekeeper, Fraulein Rottenmeier, she thrives but is inwardly very sad and lonely. No matter what anyone tells her, Heidi, with faith, hope, and the stubbornness she inherited from her grandfather, knows that some day she will be reunited with the him and the beloved people of the mountain's little village.

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Plot Keywords:

invalid | gypsy | wheelchair | police chase | 19th century | 

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Taglines:

Shirley's A Little Swiss Miss In The Loveliest Story of Her Career !

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Genres:

Family | Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

To agriokoritso

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

For the scene in which Heidi is butted by a goat and falls over, Shirley Temple was butted for the first few takes. Although she later said that being butted was not painful, her mother Gertrude Temple became concerned for her safety and insisted that a stunt double be used.

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Goofs

Heidi removes the ribbon from her Christmas present twice, once in a closeup, then again when the shot changes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dete: [discovering Heidi undressing in the street] Heidi! Put those on!
Heidi: Oh, not everything. I'm so hot!
Dete: Well, keep on your Sunday dress, and your coat. Hurry up.
Heidi: Oh, all right.

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Connections

Version of Heidi (1968)

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Soundtracks

"The First Noel"
(uncredited)
Traditional 17th century hymn
Sung by many at Christmas

User Reviews

Not true to the book, but oh Shirley!

The story of Heidi is kind of hard to present to film-goers. As a book it's wonderful and engaging, but it's just not movie material. Thus we get versions like this, with kidnapping and gypsies and an evil witch of a Fraulein Rottenmeier who wants to keep Klara sick and bring Heidi down.

But how can you not love Shirley Temple? She just takes any movie and makes it golden! And we also have the heart of the story: a little girl who teaches a grumpy old man to open up his heart again. And those two things by themselves help the movie to shine.

A wonderful classic, especially for young viewers, but also good for the young at heart!