Heart of a Child

An early Clive Donner outing, "Heart Of A Child" is a largely forgettable Lassie-type drama transported to the picturesque Austrian Alps.

Set in the last days of WWI, Herman - the village's poor, drunkard farmer - decides to sell his remaining livestock and faithful dog, Rudi, to the butcher. Understandably, his son is devastated and sets about to prevent Rudi from being taken, even if this brings him quite literally to blows with his abusive father - menacingly played by a young(er) Donald Pleasence (with hair!)

This is pure, short RANK escapism and contains few cinematic revelations. Still, there is a certain charm to be found in these Elstree productions. Something perhaps not found in most of their US counterparts. There is a certain willingness - perhaps due to lower budgets and fewer crew numbers - to permit the inclusion of unconventional shots - giving these productions a free-wheeling effect. Not a film technician, how long exactly have Steadi-Cams been around - can we not see them being employed here?

Clive Donner's success at directing a cast of children in 'The Secret Place' sparked false hopes he might be another Philip Leacock, quickly disabused by this talky adaptation of Phyllis Bottome's 1942 novel about a cute blond kid's love for a big lugubrious St. Bernard. Described by Andrew Sarris as "a gifted artist with an eye for contemporaneous detail", the 1918 backdrop possibly inhibited him, and he didn't attempt another period subject (although all his 'swinging sixties' films now look like period pieces) until the disastrous 'Alfred the Great' ten years later.

The location work actually shot in the Austrian Tyrol makes it resemble a 'heimatfilm' of the fifties, only in drab black & white rather than the gleaming colour typical of the Austrian model of the time. And Donald Pleasance (for once sporting a respectable head of hair) isn't really intimidating enough as the "cruel, mean, pig" of a father.

This film was part of Ranks misguided attempt to reach the family audience.There is virtually nothing to recommend watching this film,not even Donald Pleasance at his most villainous.Production is particularly poor.