Heidi

Heidi is a 1937 American dramatic 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 available on DVD and videocassette.

Plot

Heidi is an eight year-old Swiss orphan who is taken from her mountain-dwelling grandfather to live in the wealthy Sesemann household in Frankfurt as a companion to Klara, a spoiled, disabled girl. 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) gets rid of Heidi by selling her to the gypsies. Heidi is rescued and reunited with her grandfather.

Cast

• Shirley Temple as Heidi, a young orphan living with her hermit-like grandfather in an Alpine hut
• Jean Hersholt as Adolph Kramer, Heidi's grandfather
• Marcia Mae Jones as Klara Sesemann, a spoiled and crippled rich girl
• Sidney Blackmer as Herr Sesemann, Klara's doting father
• Arthur Treacher as Andrews, a butler in the Sesemann household
• Mary Nash as Fräulein Rottenmeier, the châtelaine of the Sesemann household
• Delmar Watson as Peter, a goatherd and Heidi's friend
• Mady Christians as Dete, Heidi's aunt
• Helen Westley as Blind Anna

Production

The Alpine scenes were filmed at Lake Arrowhead, California with cast and crew staying in the Lake Arrowhead Hotel or in private chalets. Temple lived in a trailer parked on a hillside and only left it at the very last moment to do her scenes – after her stand-in had finished with lights and sound. Temple had at least eight bodyguards who escorted her to and from the trailer and about the area when necessary.

Temple had strong theatrical instincts. She suggested the musical dream sequence ("In Our Little Wooden Shoes" by Lew Pollack and Sidney D. Mitchell) and its placement in the film (Edwards 107). She developed a very possessive attitude over the scene, correcting the other children when they became confused with the dance steps and arguing back and forth with them. Director Dwan had badges made reading 'Shirley Temple Police' and every child wore one after swearing allegiance and obedience to 'Chief' Temple. Everyone on the set was soon wearing badges with Temple strutting about giving orders to the crew such as "Take that set down and build me a castle." They went along with the game (Edwards 111).

Temple made only one other film in 1937, Wee Willie Winkie. The child actress was growing older and her career flagging when Heidi was filmed, but she retained her position as number one at the box office for the third year in a row.

See also

• List of films in the public domain
• Shirley Temple filmography

References

• Edwards, Anne (1988), Shirley Temple: American Princess, New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc. 
• Windeler, Robert (1992) [1978], The Films of Shirley Temple, New York: Carol Publishing Group 

External links

• Heidi at the Internet Movie Database
• Heidi at Allmovie