... America's little sweetheart was to lighten the hearts of cinema goers that year as Heidi, the little orphaned girl from the Swiss Alps who changed the world of those who came to know her, all for the better.
Based upon the classic novel by Joanna Spryi, the film does take small liberties ... Read review
Shirley Temple, in a role that seems custom-made for her, portrays the spirited young ... more
heroine of the popular childrens novel, giving her rich emotional depth and infinite charm. When her aunt tries of caring for her, orphan Heidi is taken into the Swis...
Shirley Temple in a role that seems custom-made for her portrays the spirited young ... more
heroine of the popular children's novel giving her rich emotional depth and infinite charm. When her Aunt tires of caring for her orphan Heidi is taken into the S...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Set in the Swiss Alps during the 19th Century the orphaned girl Heidi is sent to live ... more
with her grandfather Adolph Kramer a rather bad tempered hermit. Although the old man at first refuses to speak to the girl he soon grows to love her and with the help of her animal friends they are accepted into the local community. Heidi's greedy aunt suddenly returns and kidnaps the girl selling her to the evil Madame Rottenmaier (Geraldine Chaplin) to be a companion to the invalid girl in her care...
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:Temporarily out of stock - This item will be dispatched as soon as it arrives - We cannot guarantee Christmas delivery...
Advantages: well presented, great ensemble cast Disadvantages: if you hate Shirley Temple, this is a no go
Christmas is fast approaching, and one of the things that must be crossed off any shopping list for the season is stocking stuffers and "filler gifts". Filler gifts are basically inexpensive gifts to balance out between the children so that if for any reason, the "gift pile" looks uneven, little inexpensive bits of happiness can be unwrapped. Filler gifts also sit in the box ready to be handed out for those unexpected moments ... ...yours, so that it would b rather rude not to reciprocate in some way. This happens to us every year, so it is best to be prepared!
For these little filler gifts, books and DVDs seem to be the most popular to receive, and thankfully, there are many excellent DVDs out there to had these days that cost very little. I like to go with classics, as most children seem to get the latest blockbuster as soon as it comes out, and as TV seems ... more
Christmas is fast approaching, and one of the things that must be crossed off any shopping list for the season is stocking stuffers and "filler gifts". Filler gifts are basically inexpensive gifts to balance out between the children so that if for any reason, the "gift pile" looks uneven, little inexpensive bits of happiness can be unwrapped. Filler gifts also sit in the box ready to be handed out for those unexpected moments when someone else's child decides to spontanoeusly exchange gifts with yours, so that it would b rather rude not to reciprocate in some way. This happens to us every year, so it is best to be prepared!
For these little filler gifts, books and DVDs seem to be the most popular to receive, and thankfully, there are many excellent DVDs out there to had these days that cost very little. I like to go with classics, as most children seem to get the latest blockbuster as soon as it comes out, and as TV seems to not air these like they used to, it is a fair bet that the child has not seen the film yet. We own a fair amount of children's classic films, and they always prove a big hit when the children have friends over, so it is a win win :)
Shirley Temple is inaugurably an iconic figure in family entertainment. Grab a film with her name appearing in the credits, and you know that you can rest assured of a quality production with nothing remotely objectionable to be seen along the way. In 1937, the world was a frightening place very similar to our own. The economy was suffering in America, and the shadow of war was being cast over Europe, with rumours of dark political deeds stirring. People looked to the cinema for an escape, with families spending hard earned cash to send their children and themselves for carefree respite from what was often a darker reality. Sunny child star Shirley Temple fit the bill, with her dazzling dimpled smile, golden curls, and precocious singing, dancing, and acting skills. America's little sweetheart was to lighten the hearts of cinema goers that year as Heidi, the little orphaned girl from the Swiss Alps who changed the world of those who came to know her, all for the better.
Based upon the classic novel by Joanna Spryi, the film does take small liberties in a few places, and some bits are omitted. This does not detract from the value of the film at all, remaining a high quality dramatisation of the novel while allowing the best aspects of Shirley to shine. This is not to say this film is a mere vehicle, as the rest of the ensemble are every bit as important. Of particular note is the role of Jean Hersholt who played Heidi's grandfather. A very well known and highly respected actor, he admitted he was at first quite underwhelemed when he discovered he was to play opposite Shirley Temple, but after working with her, he quite warmed to her. This may have helped him to come to terms with the initial distance felt by the grandfather who later melted towards his granddaughter, as he runs through the complex emotions with a genuine sincerity that quite endears him to the viewer.
The film is not as frivolous as many of the Shirley Temple productions, with few close ups serving merely to show off pouts, but is a quite serious attempt at making a a "serious" family film. It pulls it off nicely, and though admittedly, there are songs in the film (most notably "In Our Little Wooden Shoes"), they are appropriately placed and do not detract from the overall character of the film.
The DVD itself is a bargain price, being just over £3, so perfect for those stocking stuffer and filler gifts I mentioned earlier, though the low price belies the quality of the DVD itself. All too often cheap price means a cheaply produced DVD, and if it is a classic, this also usually means a grainy picture, scratchy sound, and generally poor, unrestored quality. Luckily, this is not the case. In 2004, Shirley Temple Black took matters into her own hands and made a deal to have her films cleaned up and then colourised so that they could be enjoyed the way they were meant to be. This means that modern children who look askance at black and white films will have no such problems when viewing this, as it is in colour, having been digitally enhanced first for a clean print.
Overall, it is a lovely introduction to the story of Heidi, which can be nicely packaged with a quality edition of the original book by Joanna Spryi for children aged 6-12. Adults looking for a bit of escapism and who have not developed a Shirley phobia will also no doubt enjoy this piece of nostalgia.
...pleasantly to himself . Heidi also makes friends with Peter, the goatherd, and his grandmother, blind Anna. Just as she gets settled in to her new life, Heidis aunt comes to steal her away to Frankfurt without her grandfathers knowledge, where she is placed as a companion to an invalid, Clara, who is wheelchair bound after a spinal injury. Clara's governess, who is trying to make herself indispensible to Claras widowed father, is not happy to have ... ...to be there either, and although she soon works her own particular brand of magic on Clara, she misses her grandfather. How can she go home when the happiness of Clara depends on her company, and how will her grandfather manage without his cheerful granddaughter to keep him from his demons . The film is old, and as a result is very dated in places - for instance, one toboggan scene is clearly shot against a large TV screen showing mountainside scenes, ...
Thehonesttruth 07.10.2009
· Read full review
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Advantages: Good musical score Disadvantages: 77 minutes long
, later on in the review.)
How does this production compare? The musical score (by Wolfgang Simm) is lush and bright and there are several extras on the DVD, including From Storyboard to screen, which shows the original rough (very rough!) drawings, compared with the finished article. This is undertaken by employing a split screen technique. There's also a Heidi trailer and a picture gallery and scene selection, too.
So, what about the film? Oh, dear... WHAT about the film? The cartoon work is competent, although not really up to the standards one would expect from, say, Pixar, or Disney. At the start of the film there is something that floats through the air. It could represent a distortion in the space time continuum (oh, sorry, this isn't Star Trek Voyager, is it?) or ... well, it was impossible to tell what on earth it was intended to ...
Advantages: Chick flick, great clothes, location Disadvantages: None
but one I do think the boys will appreciate too.
There are lots of cameo's by some quite famous people as well such as the Supermodel Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum and the designer Valentino.
I have read the book as well and loved that so definitely wanted to see this DVD. It does differ from the book but I am not going to tell you how but I think you will be pleased with how they have done the screenplay.
The DVD has some great extra features. These are:
13 deleted scenes
Gag reel - this is extremely funny
A running commentary from the films costume designer
NYC fashion
Getting Valention
The film is rated a 12 as it contains mild language and runs for approximately 104 minutes.
A definite must see ...
Advantages: Stiller, Wilson & Ferrell - comedy gold Disadvantages: Not for everyone
Director:
Ben Stiller
Starring:
Ben Stiller - Deredk Zoolander
Will Ferrell - Mugatu
Owen Wilson - Hansel
Christine Taylor - Matilda Jeffries
Milla Jovovich - Katinka
David Bowie, Victoria Beckham, Cuba Gooding Jr, Winona Ryder, Paris Hilton, Natalie Portman, Donatella Versace, Lenny Kravitz, Gwen Stefani, Heidi Klum, Fred Durst, Lil Kim, Tom Ford, Donald Trump (as themselves)
Running Time
89 minutes
Release Year
2001
Certificate
12
DVD Extras
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
Outtakes
Commentaries
Promotional Spots
Photo Gallery
Plot:
Derek Zoolander (Stiller) is the three-time VH1 Male Model of the Year. His indistinguishable looks Blue Steel and Latigra have made him a fashion icon worldwide. Unfortunately his time is up - young up and coming model Hansel (Wilson) is hot on his heals, he has just had ...
Although the rough-and-ready Allan Dwan was at first underwhelmed about the idea of working with the 1930s child star, his collaboration with Temple turned out to be a pleasure for both. She stars as the title character in this adaptation of the children's classic. Set in the Swiss Alps during the 19th Century, the film opens with Heidi's Aunt Dete (Mady Christians) taking her to live with the girl's grandfather Adolph Kramer (Jean Hersholt), a rather ill-tempered hermit. Although the old man at first refuses to speak to the girl, he soon grows to love her. When Pastor Schultz (Thomas Beck) tries to persuade Kramer to bring the girl to church, he angrily refuses at first, but finally relents, and the two are accepted into the local community. Heidi's aunt suddenly returns, kidnapping the girl and taking her to the home of her wealthy employer Herr Sesemann (Sidney Blackmer), in Franfurt. He needs a child to spend time with Klara (Marcia Mae Jones), his invalid daughter, since he's often away on business. Heidi soon tries to escape, while her grandfather has already begun the 100-mile journey to Franfurt to find her. This amiable version of the classic features a top-drawer cast of character actors, and Dwan keeps thing moving along briskly.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
Release date
18/04/2005
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
0857101009
Barcode
5039036020770
Languages
Main Language
English
DVD Description
Although the rough-and-ready Allan Dwan was at first underwhelmed about the idea of working with the 1930s child star, his collaboration with Temple turned out to be a pleasure for both. She stars as the title character in this adaptation of the children's classic. Set in the Swiss Alps during the 19th Century, the film opens with Heidi's Aunt Dete (Mady Christians) taking her to live with the girl's grandfather Adolph Kramer (Jean Hersholt), a rather ill-tempered hermit. Although the old man at first refuses to speak to the girl, he soon grows to love her. When Pastor Schultz (Thomas Beck) tries to persuade Kramer to bring the girl to church, he angrily refuses at first, but finally relents, and the two are accepted into the local community. Heidi's aunt suddenly returns, kidnapping the girl and taking her to the home of her wealthy employer Herr Sesemann (Sidney Blackmer), in Franfurt. He needs a child to spend time with Klara (Marcia Mae Jones), his invalid daughter, since he's often away on business. Heidi soon tries to escape, while her grandfather has already begun the 100-mile journey to Franfurt to find her. This amiable version of the classic features a top-drawer cast of character actors, and Dwan keeps thing moving along briskly.