Heidi

This is a good dramatization of Johanna Spyri's "Heidi." It stays closer to the original plot line than some others (i.e.--Shirley Temple's). All of the actors and actresses (young and old) do a very good job with the material. Of course, one must expect a certain amount of one-sidedness of characters such as Grandfather. His character is too deep to explore in such a short movie, but his characterization is certainly adequate. This is doubtlessly a movie for kids. If you're looking for something deeper, go elsewhere. It is fun: the kids enjoyed it, and mom did too. (Maximilian Schell is VERY handsome as Herr Sessemann). I borrowed this movie but will definitely buy a copy for our family.

There have been plenty of on-screen adaptations of this story - it lends itself well to a screen. The eponymous lass (Jennifer Edwards) is palmed off on her reclusive grandfather (Sir Michael Redgrave) atop a mountain, with only him, some goats and the young "Peter" (John Moulder-Brown) for company. She is a charming young girl who soon manages to crack the erstwhile impervious shield of the old man before her wealthy uncle "Richard" (Maximilian Schell) sends word that he will care for her at his Frankfurt home. Once there she quickly befriends his housekeeper "Frauline Rottenmeir" (Jean Simmons) and his bedridden young daughter "Klara" (Zuleika Robson) and slowly a family starts to emerge and to thrive - culminating in a perfect holiday on their mountain. Simmons is gorgeous, Edwards has a charm and Redgrave a loving manner about him that sets this made for television (NBC) movie up nicely. A simple story, told with a sympathetic eye to the detail amidst some pretty (Californian as well as Alpine) scenery.

Check out the 1937 version starring Shirley Temple, you won't be disappointed!

This movie's claim to fame: On November 17, 1968, the New York Jets led the Oakland Raiders 32-29, with 50 seconds to go. It was the end of the hour, and even though the score was close, NBC switched over to the movie Heidi. In the next 42 seconds, Oakland scored two touchdowns to win 43-32. As a result, all NFL contests are now televised to their conclusion.

Again, I'd never read the favorite children's book or watched any of the various film versions of this one (though the 1937 Shirley Temple vehicle directed by Allan Dwan is scheduled to screen on Italian TV this very week), so I wasn't familiar with the plot line – other than that it had a mountain setting.

As it turned out, HEIDI proved surprisingly tolerable if hardly exciting fare – sentimental but undeniably moving, generally pleasant (despite the generous 110-minute length), and well acted by a stalwart cast: the heroine was played by Blake Edwards' daughter, Jennifer, and she was supported by Maximilian Schell, Jean Simmons, Michael Redgrave, Walter Slezak, Peter van Eyck, and John Moulder-Brown as Heidi's young shepherd-boy friend.

The story deals with an orphaned girl who finds herself torn between living with her gruff and hermit-like grandfather (Redgrave) and a wealthy uncle (Schell), who has a crippled daughter resenting the intrusion. Needless to say, Heidi's influence softens everyone towards a happy ending – subplots involve Schell's muted relationship with governess Simmons, Redgrave's religious conflicts (benevolent clergyman Slezak, then, wants him to pick up his organ-playing activity at the church) and the crippled girl's recovery (she's entrusted in the care of doctor van Eyck, but it's Redgrave's unorthodox 'treatment' which finally reaps results).

Heidi was one of my favorite books as a child, and I have been disappointed in all the filmed versions.

This one annoyed me in particular because it changed a key part of the plot. In the book, Heidi is miserable in Frankfurt not only because she misses Switzerland but because Fräulein Rottenmeier is so mean to her. One gets the impression from the book that this character is a bitter, uptight older woman who takes out her frustrations on the energetic and non-conforming Swiss child.

So who plays Fräulein Rottenmeier in this version? Jean Simmons, who was still in her thirties and quite glamorous looking. She was so not only portrayed as being really sweet and understanding, but also as being in love with Klara's widowed father.

In other respects, the TV movie follows the book quite faithfully and was well acted, especially by the girl who played Klara, so the addition of a love interest seems quite unnecessary.