Heidi

G

1937

1h 28m

Kids & Family

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

75%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

An orphaned young girl named Heidi (Shirley Temple) lives happily with her grouchy but gentle grandfather, Adolph (Jean Hersholt) in the Swiss Alps. When she's stolen by her ruthless aunt, Dete (Mady Christians), and sold as a servant to the wealthy Herr Sesemann (Sidney Blackmer), Adolph embarks on a journey to find his granddaughter. Meanwhile, Heidi keeps her spirits high and befriends Sesemann's crippled daughter, Klara (Marcia Mae Jones), but longs to return home.

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TIME Magazine

Like all Shirley Temple stories, Heidi traces the reaction of human wickedness to the Temple dimples; unlike many of them, it has a craftsmanlike dramatic structure.

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

It's far from being a personal work, but as always with Dwan, it's the best movie imaginable from the limited material at hand.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Shirley Temple still cheers me up even today. This is probably her best movie

Rated: 8/10

Apr 26, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

A better than usual Shirley Temple film.

Oct 7, 2019

Full Review

Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

Classic Shirley Temple film promotes positivity.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 20, 2012

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Decent film with some inventive scenes, and values that still echo today.

Jul 7, 2010

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christopher c. m

A classic Shirley Temple movie. But is it perfect? Not even close. For one thing her character Heidi isn't very bright and far too trusting. Here's a thing, if a person talks to you badly, treats you badly and does nothing but bad things to you would not have your best interest and not go with them blindly. Also, there's a bit of theme with the antagonists in Shirley Temple movies. I call them Depression Era Karens. Lastly, it's slow but most movies in the 1930s dragged. But great performances and pretty good makes this a classic.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

s r

Another lost flixster rating. This is my favorite Shirley Temple movie. It is so moving and well made to boot. A beautiful film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"Heidi" Stars An 8-Year-Old Shirley Temple Plays The Title Character. Heidi Is A Highly Intelligent, Quick-Witted Orphan Turned Kidnappee. Heidi's Self-Interested Aunts Takes Her To Live With Her Grandfather, Adolph Kramer, An Old, Introverted Grouch. When The Grandfather Begins To Have A Beautiful Bond With Heidi, The Aunt Returns To Steal Heidi Away To Sell Her To A Family In Need Of A Playmate For The Rich Mansion Owner's Sickly Daughter. Far From Home And Missing Her Grandfather, Heidi Must Learn To Adjust To A Large House, A New Friend, And A Villainous Châtelaine... I Loved This Film. It's Adventurous, Humorous, Well-Written, And Well-Directed. This Film Brings So Much Nostalgia. It Could Easily Compete And Win Over Films Such As Home Alone Or The Nightmare Before Christmas For Best Cult Classic Christmas Film If It Weren't Underrated And Already 83 Years Old... Shirley Temple Was Phenomenal As Usual. With This Film, She Proved Something That We All Knew Before And After Her Performance: Shirley Temple Is The Poster Child For Great Child Acting. Not Only Could/Did She Act -- She Sang And She Tapped Danced Simultaneously. A True National Treasure, She Did What No Child Actor Could Have Done In That Time. She Made The Movie Great. Aside From One Or Two Laughably Ridiculous Moments, Heidi Was An Impressive, Heartwarming Tale That Audiences Of All Ages Could Enjoy -- 98%

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Absolutely the worst Heidi movie ever made. As a Swiss I grew up with the book Heidi written by Johanna Spyri. Poor Johanna wouldn't just turn in her grave if she know the Shirley Temple Heidi, no she would spin like a Helicopter blade

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

steve d

Cute adaptation, one of Temple's best.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

kevin w

Once this was a go-to venerable Christmas classic shown every year on television, a staple as much as It's A Wonderful Life, but a network snafu back in 1968 somehow worked to take this (and most other Temple movies as a matter of fact) out of the public eye. Which is unfortunate. Well-rounded and charming, here is a great example of family entertainment that does not deserve to be forgotten, but rather celebrated. Temple is delightful, and the rest of the cast is admirable as a little girl finds family after the death of her parents. Don't let this one get by you at any time of year, but especially during Christmas.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Allan Dwan

Director

Shirley Temple

Heidi Kramer

Jean Hersholt

Adolph Kramer

Arthur Treacher

Andrews

Helen Westley

Blind Anna

Pauline Moore

Fräulein Elsa

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Synopsis

An orphaned young girl named Heidi (Shirley Temple) lives happily with her grouchy but gentle grandfather, Adolph (Jean Hersholt) in the Swiss Alps. When she's stolen by her ruthless aunt, Dete (Mady Christians), and sold as a servant to the wealthy Herr Sesemann (Sidney Blackmer), Adolph embarks on a journey to find his granddaughter. Meanwhile, Heidi keeps her spirits high and befriends Sesemann's crippled daughter, Klara (Marcia Mae Jones), but longs to return home.

Director: Allan Dwan
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2014
Runtime: 1h 28m

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