(88 min) Released 1937-10-15
Director: Allan Dwan
Stars: Shirley Temple, Jean Hersholt, Arthur Treacher
Genres: Drama | Family | Musical
Should NOT be classified a musical. ST spends a few minutes acting out a story being told about a Dutch girl in wooden shoes with other children (also clad in wood) who then imagines she's in a European royal court doing a minuet-y dance with her pals, then back to Holland, then back to Heidi. I remember her singing a hymn, but not for long.
As an ST movie, it's fine. She's the usual orphan who's passed around like chattel, and she wins over most of the crusty adults. I don't understand the appeal of orphan stories. Did parents use it to control their children? Did it make adults feel better if they hadn't been orphans? Did people like the idea of detaching themselves from familial ties (they WANTED to be orphans)? Did it help parents justify a) keeping their children despite the financial burden, or b) that turning their kid(s) over to an orphanage wouldn't be a disaster because look at how well-adjusted ST is?
No wonder I don't have a strong image of Jean Hersholt. He's behind so much stage hair, he doesn't make any facial impression beyond wig and whiskers.
Fox, dir. Dwan; 6
