Heidi is a s film adaptation of a tremendously famous series of children’s books from Switzerland.
Ah, these old movies from the Goldern Era of Film Shirley Temple plays Heidi, a little orphaned girl sent to live with her grandfather in the Alps.
Shirley Temple was a huge star in the 30s, known for her dedication to acting. she’d memorize her lines and choreography before shooting began, and was an accomplished tap dancer at the age of 5.
Of course, when we watch Heidi now, the dialogue and acting seems stilted, and the plot seems predictable. After all, ours is a generation weaned on fragmented timelines like Pulp Fiction and Memento, and we like our dialogue sharp and witty.
Shirley Temple Headshot
There’s something alluring about this story, though. It appeals to the child in all of us, and there’s something so pure and loyal about Heidi that we can look past the faults of the film. I won’t go into the details, but Heidi struggles against her aunt, who can only be labelled as evil, to return to her grandfather and live in the mountains.
The story resonates in these modern times on that level. Heidi struggles against the cruel adults in the film, much the same way that children are targetted today. For all the fantastic technology we’ve invented and all the thick books we’ve read, our society is still unable to deal with crime against children.
Heidi wins in the end, of course anything but a happy ending would have been deplored by the country but it’s still a nail biting finish.
It’s quite satisfying to watch these old movies because of their age, they’re unfettered with computer graphics, intricate stunts and orchestrated soundtracks. It’s pleasing to the eye, as if you were actually looking in a window to another world.
In Heidi, we’re treated to a beautifully decorated world in the Swiss Alps, and on the snowy fields of Germany, where policemen have funny hats, and everyone rides around on horse drawn sleds.
I say: It’s worth a watch for the Shirley Temple antics, which are pretty cute. The story is a feel-good pill, like a mug of hot chocolate with those little marshmallows.
See it for: The butler is particularly dry-witted and he tries to catch a monkey. If that’s not good cinema, what is?
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