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 (screen play)

Stars:

Shirley Temple, Jean Hersholt, Arthur Treacher

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shirley Temple	...	Heidi
Jean Hersholt	...	Adolph Kramer / Grandfather
Arthur Treacher	...	Andrews
Helen Westley	...	Blind Anna
Thomas Beck	...	Pastor Schultz
Mary Nash	...	Fraulein Rottenmeier
Sidney Blackmer	...	Herr 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:

alps | female protagonist | footprint | horse drawn sleigh | scheming | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Haidei

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shirley Temple suggested the idea and placement of the "In Our Little Wooden Shoes" sequence because she felt the song would liven up the movie.

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Goofs

Heidi's legs change position after she falls over whilst performing a curtsy to Herr Sesemann.

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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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Crazy Credits

Credits are printed into a Heidi storybook. Pages are turned by a hand.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Referenced in Screening (1997)

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Soundtracks

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
(1774) (uncredited)
Words by Ignaz Franz
Translated by Clarence A. Walworth (1858)
Music unknown
Sung by Shirley Temple, Jean Hersholt, and the congregation

User Reviews

Cute Movie

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 Germany. A good movie with wonderful actors/actresses, and something the whole family can enjoy! 10 out of 10 stars.