Heidi (VHS)

Although the rough-and-ready Allan Dwan was at first underwhelmed about the idea of working with the 1930s child star, his collaboration with Temple turned out to be a pleasure for both. She stars as the title character in this adaptation of the children's classic. Set in the Swiss Alps during the 19th Century, the film opens with Heidi's Aunt Dete (Mady Christians) taking her to live with the girl's grandfather Adolph Kramer (Jean Hersholt), a rather ill-tempered hermit. Although the old man at first refuses to speak to the girl, he soon grows to love her. When Pastor Schultz (Thomas Beck) tries to persuade Kramer to bring the girl to church, he angrily refuses at first, but finally relents, and the two are accepted into the local community. Heidi's aunt suddenly returns, kidnapping the girl and taking her to the home of her wealthy employer Herr Sesemann (Sidney Blackmer), in Franfurt. He needs a child to spend time with Klara (Marcia Mae Jones), his invalid daughter, since he's often away on business. Heidi soon tries to escape, while her grandfather has already begun the 100-mile journey to Franfurt to find her. This amiable version of the classic features a top-drawer cast of character actors, and Dwan keeps thing moving along briskly.